Proud Geek

Gmail inbox view now has direct buttons to view Amazon...
Proud Geek Sometimes, shopping for school supplies can be so frustrating. Last Saturday, after hours of searching and visiting several stores, I got everything on my list except for a notebook page-sized map of the USA and world for my older daughter. So I ordered it this morning via Amazon, with a shipping time of 4-14 days. […]
Wed, Jun 22 2016

Believing in Magic
Proud Geek The Tooth Fairy was late. Several mornings in a row, my older daughter checked under her pillow only to find her own note along with her own tooth. Finally, my daughter awoke one morning and found an apologetic note from the Fairy; it seemed the Fairy had been working in China for several days and […]
Wed, Jun 22 2016

An Emoji For Each State
Proud Geek What if an emoji could be assigned to each state? Some emoji are obviously associated with certain states: 🗽 (Statue of Liberty) for New York, and 🌉 (Golden Gate Bridge) for California. Several other states don’t have such iconic emoji, but it was easy enough associating them with an unique emoji: 🚘 (car) for Michigan, […]
Wed, Jun 22 2016

Gmail inbox view now has direct buttons to view Amazon...
Proud Geek Sometimes, shopping for school supplies can be so frustrating. Last Saturday, after hours of searching and visiting several stores, I got everything on my list except for a notebook page-sized map of the USA and world for my older daughter. So I ordered it this morning via Amazon, with a shipping time of 4-14 days. […]
Sat, Sep 05 2015

Believing in Magic
Proud Geek The Tooth Fairy was late. Several mornings in a row, my older daughter checked under her pillow only to find her own note along with her own tooth. Finally, my daughter awoke one morning and found an apologetic note from the Fairy; it seemed the Fairy had been working in China for several days and […]
Sat, Sep 05 2015

An Emoji For Each State
Proud Geek What if an emoji could be assigned to each state? Some emoji are obviously associated with certain states: 🗽 (Statue of Liberty) for New York, and 🌉 (Golden Gate Bridge) for California. Several other states don’t have such iconic emoji, but it was easy enough associating them with an unique emoji: 🚘 (car) for Michigan, […]
Sat, Sep 05 2015

My Parents’ Regrets Led Me Here. Thank You, Martin Luther...
Proud Geek My parents’ regrets led me here. In 1988, deaf students at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. were rallying against the appointment of a new University president who was hearing and knew nothing about deaf culture. They were marching to the Capitol each day, and attracting more and more support and news attention each day. I […]
Sun, Aug 25 2013

Gmail inbox view now has direct buttons to view Amazon...
Proud Geek Sometimes, shopping for school supplies can be so frustrating. Last Saturday, after hours of searching and visiting several stores, I got everything on my list except for a notebook page-sized map of the USA and world for my older daughter. So I ordered it this morning via Amazon, with a shipping time of 4-14 days. […]
Mon, Aug 12 2013

Believing in Magic
Proud Geek The Tooth Fairy was late. Several mornings in a row, my older daughter checked under her pillow only to find her own note along with her own tooth. Finally, my daughter awoke one morning and found an apologetic note from the Fairy; it seemed the Fairy had been working in China for several days and [...]
Wed, Apr 10 2013

An Emoji For Each State
Proud Geek What if an emoji could be assigned to each state? Some emoji are obviously associated with certain states: 🗽 (Statue of Liberty) for New York, and 🌉 (Golden Gate Bridge) for California. Several other states don’t have such iconic emoji, but it was easy enough associating them with an unique emoji: 🚘 (car) for Michigan, [...]
Fri, Mar 29 2013

Justice Redefined (or Predefined)
Proud Geek Ten years ago, I had the honor of being asked to speak at the 2001 Jewish Deaf Conference. I researched and wrote this speech on the Jewish concept of Justice, and to this day I consider this among the best speech I've ever given. I think I already posted this years ago, either here or [...]
Mon, Nov 07 2011

iOS 5 Tip: Custom Vibrations
Proud Geek IOS 5 is coming! iOS 5 is coming! And with it, a lot of people will have questions on how to enable this or that new feature. It may be confusing to turn on, create, and assign custom vibration patterns to different contacts. Here goes ... First, you need to turn the custom vibration patterns [...]
Sun, Oct 09 2011

Deafening your iPhone: Configuring Notified Pro
Proud Geek Yesterday, I posted about several iPhone jailbreak apps that help “deafen” your iPhone with better notifications. I mentioned Notified Pro (and one of its add-ins, Notifications GriP) and how both have so many configuration options. Let's see if I can do a fair job listing how I've configured them. Here goes (gulp) ... First, are [...]
Thu, Jul 07 2011

Deafening your iPhone: Jailbreak apps
Proud Geek Ok, folks. As of right now, it's easy to jailbreak your phone. Just update to iOS 4.3.3 via iTunes then go to jailbreakme.com. Done? Good. (Jailbreaking is reversible and basically legal. And what jailbreaking basically does is install an ‘alternate' app store named Cydia that's full of thousands of apps, tweaks, and themes that Apple [...]
Wed, Jul 06 2011

Spam text / SMS message from IWRelay
Proud Geek Earlier today, I got this text message on my iPhone from 801-701-8103: IWRelay VRS has Top Interpreters, Fast Service, and HD video quality guaranteed. Use YOUR iPhone contacts. Try it now! [link] IWRelay is one of several video relay services (VRS) connecting deaf callers with hearing callers using sign language interpreters. Being deaf myself, this [...]
Thu, Jun 30 2011

Deafening Your iPhone: BuzzCards
Proud Geek Perhaps you're trying to keep track of those complicated coffee orders. Or you're trying to remember your kids' different Happy Meal preferences (seemingly depending on the time of the day or even the moon's stage). Or sometimes, like me, you just need to write down your order. This is where the iPhone's BuzzCards app by [...]
Sun, Mar 20 2011

iSuccumbed
Proud Geek Yes, I succumbed. Or more accurately, iSuccumbed. I've been a loyal Palm fanboy for more than a decade. I've had a series of Palm devices, including the Palm VII, several Treos, and finally the Palm Pre. I've touted Palm for years and even converted numerous (but not countless, I admit) folks to the Palm mentality. [...]
Thu, Aug 12 2010

Greater Access to San Francisco: Tweeting Complaints
Proud Geek San Francisco continues to keep up its uber-geek credo: it will now accept complaints from people via Twitter.   Just follow @SF311. Can even post photos via TwitPic. Damn.  This is terrific for deaf folks living in or visiting San Francisco.  Hope Frederick, Maryland will do the same soon.  I do know that several city and [...]
Tue, Jun 02 2009

VPAD+ Accessories
Proud Geek Now you've got your uber-cool VPAD+ from Viable.  Now you've got to put it someplace! Clear View Innovations — otherwise known as CVI Gear — has three mounts and stands for the VPAD+ which may help you decide.  All three are useful for freeing up space on your desk or counter, and for raising the VPAD+ [...]
Mon, Feb 23 2009

Don’t Forget To Register Your VRS Numbers with DoNotCall.gov
Proud Geek Now that FCC is mandating 10-digit numbers for our videophones, the major video relay / videophone companies have been busy assigning new phone numbers to our videophones.  For some of these numbers, hearing people can also call and be connected directly to you via video relay (or instant messaging or email).  In addition, we may [...]
Thu, Nov 13 2008

GMail adds Video Chat!
Proud Geek In an attempt to further cement my enduring love for Gmail (Google Mail), video chat has been added! As a deaf person and a Google lover, this is the perfect confluence of all things Google-goodness.  I can't emphasize how thrilled I am with this new development. (No, that's not me in the picture above.  That's a Google [...]
Wed, Nov 12 2008

VPAD+ Coming Out Soon
Proud Geek Viable will soon be releasing the next generation of the VPAD videophone! It'll have the following enhancements: Bluetooth technology (good for a headphone for voice carryover) Built-in WiFi capability (so that means you don't need a WiFi “stick”) Dual USB ports (good for adding keyboard, mouse, headphone, etc) Improved touchscreen function ...
Fri, Sep 19 2008

YouTube Finally Adds Closed Captions
Proud Geek Long-time readers of my blog may remember that I had a series of posts explaining how to caption your videos and recommending that they be posted onto Google Video — at that time the only “major” video host that supported .srt files (where closed captions are stored). YouTube, ironically also owned by Google, finally added the [...]
Thu, Aug 28 2008

VPAD and Some Ceiling Fans Do NOT Mix
Proud Geek I have a Viable VPAD with a wifi “stick” and a battery pack.  It's very nice being able to chat with friends from anywhere in my house without worrying about an Ethernet cable or having to plug it in! A friend of mine in California has a similar set-up.  But the first time she used her [...]
Fri, Aug 08 2008

Alarm System Interrupting DSL Internet Service, and a Fix
Proud Geek When I moved into our new house earlier this year, we immediately ordered high-speed DSL Internet service from Verizon. In addition, we installed a security system via a Monitronics contractor. While Scott, the Monitronics contractor, was installing the alarm box and hooking it up to a phone line, I asked him if there [...]
Wed, Aug 06 2008

A Jewish Perspective on Justice
Proud Geek Seven years ago, I gave this speech at the 2001 Jewish Deaf Conference.  In preparation, I did some of research into the Jewish perspective on “justice,” and I wanted to share this result with you all.  Happy reading! (People who are using RSS readers may need to click over to my blog to view this speech) When [...]
Mon, Aug 04 2008

TAP Accessible Plan is $10 MORE per month for New iPhones
Proud Geek Just got this comment from Lenny – “FYI... The TAP for the 3G is 50.00 a month... The 2G is 40.00 a month... I thought I would make that clear before folks end up surprised at the extra $10 a month for the 3G model...” Thanks, Lenny, for passing on this (bad) news. And remember, don't [...]
Fri, Jul 11 2008

Breaking: AT&T WILL Provide TAP Discount for New iPhones!
Proud Geek More info, from my friend: “I just got an email from nccd att announcing that they now do support new iphones. Off I go to Apple Store!” Go forth and buy the new iPhone and let us know what you think! I'm so tempted to buy one, but I'm not too sure about not being able [...]
Fri, Jul 11 2008

SnapVRS / Ojo Also Offers 9-1-1 Calling
Proud Geek Since May 19, SnapVRS has been making it possible for callers to be connected to 9-1-1 just by dialing “911″ on their Ojo videophones.  Sorenson began doing that last year, and Viable just yesterday.  Good move, SnapVRS, even if it's being mandated by FCC! Callers would have to provide the address where emergency services are needed.  [...]
Tue, Jun 03 2008

Viable Will Soon Connect You To 9-1-1 Emergency Services
Proud Geek Most deaf folks I know haven't used a TTY in years — rather, they just use videophones as well as text-based relay services through the Internet or via their pagers. But they still kept a “landline” phone line with a TTY next to it. For for? Ah, for emergencies! They needed [...]
Mon, Jun 02 2008

AT&T Announces Accessible Monthly Rates for the iPhone
Proud Geek AT&T has announced that it will provide a discounted rate of $40 per month for deaf users of the iPhone. This discount also includes unlimited text messages, unlimited data usage, “Visual Voicemail,” and a rather steep $.40 per minute pay-per-use voice plan. If you wanna get this discount, you'll have to apply by [...]
Wed, Apr 30 2008

VPAD Accessories, and the MVP
Proud Geek I asked Viable customer service for more info on VPAD accessories.   Viable has a vendor, Clear View, selling “CVI Gear for the VPAD” which includes the VPAD-compatible WiFi USB adapter (Wireless G, 54Mbps data transfer) for $29.99, a small rechargeable two (2) hour battery for $89.99 that can be attached to the VPAD, and a [...]
Sat, Apr 12 2008

VPAD Update: It’s $99 This Saturday ONLY, and …
Proud Geek A follow-up to my post earlier this morning about the VPADs going on sale for $99 this Saturday.  Viable says this $99 discount (down from $699) is ONLY available for the Pomona, CA DeafNation Expo at this time.  Pricing is subject to change for future Expos.  And remember, this discount is limited to one per [...]
Thu, Apr 10 2008

VPADs for $99! VPADs for $99!
Proud Geek Better sign up now for a DeafNation Expo near you!  Viable VPADs will be sold at the next several DeafNation Expos for just $99, down from the full price of $699. And Viable has confirmed that these aren't pre-orders.  People will be actually walking out with honest-to-gosh VPADs! Viable also confirmed that this special offer is limited [...]
Thu, Apr 10 2008

A Moving Experiment
Proud Geek We've been conducting a lengthy, 8-month-long experiment: we tried to sell our house and then move by just using the web and via email.  We're trying to do this without any phone calls at all.  Here's the result of our experiment: * Find a realtor via the web and who's willing to do everything thru email:  [...]
Wed, Mar 05 2008

Comment from Viable manager on the VPAD
Proud Geek Brendan Steuben Steuble, the manager of the VPAD project at Viable, left the following comment with more info on the VPAD on both Amy Cohen Efron and my blog posts announcing the VPAD. Thanks, Brendan, and we look forward to getting even more information on this from you. This new videophone is certainly [...]
Sun, Jan 06 2008

Viable VPAD Unveiled - And It’s A Beaut
Proud Geek Viable certainly didn't disappoint us. It unveiled the newest videophone, the VPAD — and it looks like it's going to be a winner. Some features that I think we'll all like: WiFi connectivity - that means we can take the VPAD to our local Starbucks, or on out-of-town trips to hotel rooms, or even to many [...]
Sat, Jan 05 2008

Viable To Unveil New Videophone This Saturday
Proud Geek Viable will be unveiling a totally new type of videophone on Saturday, January 5th (TOMORROW!) at the 2008 International CES conference. Judging from the shape under the fabric (see picture), it looks like some kind of upright tablet / monitor. Looks like it's much wider than the Ojo. Hmmm. (Speaking of which, [...]
Fri, Jan 04 2008

Video email and video wall posts via Facebook
Proud Geek A little-heralded feature of Facebook is the ability to send / receive video emails and wall posts. Very, very easy to create a video email inside Facebook and send it to your friends (or enemies), and watch their video responses as well. And these video emails show up as a thread in each email exchange — making it easy to scroll down a series of video emails or...
Tue, Oct 02 2007

Easiest way to subtitle and show your videos: Overstream +...
Proud Geek Heads up: a new subtitled bonus video at the end of this blog post — this time, of my younger daughter walking for the first time! Four months ago, I told you about Overstream, a website where you can easily add subtitles / captions to your videos. Several of you (including myself) mentioned that while this website was wonderful, there wasn't a way to [...]
Mon, Sep 17 2007

i711 Merges With HOVRS
Proud Geek It was only recently that GoAmerica, i711's parent company, merged with Verizon. And today it was announced that GoAmerica will be acquiring, uh, merging with Hands On VRS as well. i711 seems well on its way to becoming a veriable juggernaunt — will we end up with just several VRS providers soon? True, there are still quite a few VRS providers (13 at my [...]
Wed, Sep 12 2007

Bendable Batteries Coming Soon?
Proud Geek First it was razor-thin bendable televisions. And now we may soon get bendable batteries! Researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a battery that looks like paper, and "can be bent or twisted, trimmed with scissors or molded into any shape needed."  The technicalities of this breakthrough is beyond my comprehension, but according [...]
Tue, Aug 14 2007

Sorenson Adds Call-Waiting
Proud Geek You're having fun vp'ing (videophone-ing) with your best buddy who lives across the country, and you talk for hours and hours. Then you hang up and find out that other friends (or, heaven forbid, your mother!) had been trying to vp you with important news. Hearing folks has had it easy for many years; with call-waiting, they can hear a beep on their [...]
Fri, Aug 10 2007

GoAmerica Acquires Verizon's Video / TTY Relay Services
Proud Geek IP-Relay will soon have a new owner. GoAmerica recently announced that it will be acquiring Verizon's Telecommunication Relay Services (TRS) division. This division includes Verizon's TTY relay services, IP-based (via the Internet) relay services, and video relay services. At $50 million cash and up to an additional $8 million in contingent cash [...]
Thu, Aug 02 2007

Viewing Captioned Videos on Google Video
Proud Geek Google Video — a close cousin of the more well-known YouTube service — has a feature where it can display closed captions. And you can turn the captions on or off just by pressing the "CC" button. Niiiice. Here's a list of selected videos with captions. Clicking on any of the videos on this list displays the video on a separate page (with [...]
Tue, Jul 03 2007

Captioning your videos #7: OpenCaptions.com
Proud Geek Came across yet another Internet website that helps you caption your videos: OpenCaptions. Some quick thoughts below, along with yet another a 25-second captioned "bonus" video of my two daughters. OpenCaptions is somewhere between alpha and beta — meaning that it's still under considerable development and is probably slow and buggy, and the [...]
Mon, Jul 02 2007

Captioning your videos #6: dotSUB.com
Proud Geek When I first heard of dotSUB.com, a web service dedicated solely to subtitling videos, I was prepared to be skeptical. But to my surprise, I found it easy to use — and I had captioned a 29-second video (of my two daughters, of course!) in record time. Definitely two thumbs up for its speed and ease of use. While dotSUB.com's main function is to subtitle [...]
Tue, Jun 19 2007

Captioning your videos #5: YouTube (but not quite yet)
Proud Geek The popular video hosting site, YouTube just came out with a new video editing feature called Remixer. It also includes a captioning feature — and knowing just how popular YouTube is, I thought I'd give it a try. Remixer is still in beta. After trying its captioning feature out, I can firmly say that this definitely has quite a ways to go. I give it [...]
Mon, Jun 18 2007

Skipping Phone Trees
Proud Geek We all hate phone trees. And as a deaf person, I hate them even more. They were impossible to navigate using TTY relay services, and now with video relay services they're "merely" as annoying to us as they are to hearing folks. And now there's a way to get around phone trees: Bringo's No Phone Trees service. Bringo will help you skip the [...]
Thu, Jun 07 2007

New IP-Relay Feature
Proud Geek Just got an email from IP-Relay touting a new feature on its My IP-Relay service: personalized greetings. First, some background if you don't know what the My IP-Relay Number service is. You can sign up and get your own free phone number with the same area code as the state you want it to be located in. You'd have to link it (again via IP-Relay's [...]
Fri, Jun 01 2007