Yahoo’s LIVE Deaf Chat Room!
Hello everyone!
I need to share this experience with you. Today, approximately 3pm EST, Tayler Mayer IM’ed me and we had our usual “DeafRead” business chat. That’s my job as an Human Editor.
Somehow during our IM conversation, Tayler introduced me a new experimental program designed by Yahoo, and it is called, Y! Live Chat.
I joined the chat room with Tayler, and I was blown away how easy for Tayler and I were able to chat to each other. We were talking about who else we can invite to join to the room. Naturally, we asked Jared Evans.
Jared joined, then it seems working beautifully.
Tayler was so excited about this technology, and he posted this announcement on DeafRead at 3:30pm - and before we know it, more and more people joined!
We never expected the number of visitors ran up almost 80 people simultaneously!
Here’s the screen capture of the chat room for you to see…
Imagine - LaRonda Zupp, Seek Geo, Deaf Roger and Nancy Bloch, Executive Director of NAD in the same LIVE chat room with me???? LaRonda is from Bay Area, Seek Geo is from Eastern Washington State, Deaf Roger from Canada, Nancy from Maryland, Tayler in Los Angeles and me in Atlanta chatting each other at this hour?
Mind blowing! So many conversations happening at the same time. It is just like a real Deaf Club where we can mingle, and have some important conversations. Someone are watching us chatting… just like the…
Deaf FishBowl!
And…. guess what?
This chat room became so popular and it showed up on the front page of Yahoo Live Chat homepage! We are the 2nd highest ranking popular channel!
Be warned… it will cause headaches! Have Tylenol ready near you. Its very addictive.
P.S. at about 11:00pm — a ‘troll’ broke into the chatroom and disrupted the fun. Remember, this Yahoo LIVE chat room is still an experimental application/program and with these trolls - it really damped the fun.
I am so disappointed that when something is really good for our community, then someone who just like to barge in and ruined the fun. Calling us terrible names and mocking our disability.
I just hope that Yahoo can improve this to make it bit more secure and prevent trolls.
Sigh……
February 15th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
wow
February 15th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
FUN! FUN! FUN! FUN! FUN!….. I’m hooked!
~ LaRonda
February 15th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!! This cool experiment eventually got me hooked! Ohhhhhhh!!! A fabulously good job, Tayler, Amy and Jared!!!!!
~Ginny
February 15th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Yes! It is really cool! Thanks!
February 15th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Maybe you should have a channel for DeafRead
February 15th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
It’s great!
But our eyes crossed so much! LOL! We keep losing each other by getting distracted. Those FLYING HANDS were everywhere! A new whole meaning for “Lost in Translation!” LOL!
Misha
February 15th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Remember, once you have deaf people gather in one place, the live chat can continue for 24 hours. Let’s see if this live chat can make some records?
February 15th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Hi, it was fun and new….I agree with Bill.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Yesss a lot of funnn!
ASLPRIDE, aren’t you there tonight???
February 15th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I havent join yet but I did look at it and it was so amazing! Smile! Wow u Amy and Taylor are now Popluar!! We love you for that!!
Rick M.
February 16th, 2008 at 12:18 am
How amazing, this could be one of great ways to learn some signs and get feedback if I signed something wrong while getting to know you guys–in live!
February 16th, 2008 at 12:19 am
Before Jared left around 11:40 pm, Jared said they might do this chat once a week.
Today’s chat was/is (still going on) popular enough to attract the undesirables (a nudist, a spammer named Mikeyy), and some clueless hearies. ha ha
February 16th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Yes, Amy! The Troll was HORRIBLE. Then there were a few more. I also saw one of our Daef people in the community flipping people off. Ouch. It was pretty yucky. Hopefully, we will all learn how to flag and ban those kind of people so we can enjoy the space. But OMG! It’s soooooo addicting. We need to all take care!
~ LaRonda
February 16th, 2008 at 2:03 am
seriously, a troll? is it just like what LaRonda discussed in her 2nd part series? if so, omg!
February 16th, 2008 at 6:32 am
It was really cool even for a few minutes!
I already had plans so I couldn’t stick around long enough!
I managed to make my own channel but couldn’t join you all for some reason!
Some people joined my channel and even J.J. commented he could see me…
And someone from Paris was asking me questions! I was like whoa!
There was also a “matrix” video of me - it was weird. Did you get that?
I wasn’t sure if it was automatic or someone else did that to me… It was weird seeing two of me! One from me and the other one somewhere else with me in black and white (more like outlined person or ‘cartoonist’).
It was really interesting and fun! Glad you all had fun!
I’ll have to figure it out later…
February 16th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I’m sorry I didn’t join in the live chat, but it looks like it was fun–trolls notwithstanding.
If you do decide to do live chat once a week, would it be possible to do so on Fridays or even Saturdays? Just an idea.
Shelley
February 16th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Amy,
We need a couple of moderators at that live chat to boot and/or ban the trolls while they keep some peace.
Since we’re not able to use that “kick/ban” feature on the troublemakers. So what do you think if we could get a couple of moderators?
Misha
February 16th, 2008 at 8:53 am
Oh I thought you were referring to ME as the troll, grins. Yeah it was fun, and confusing at first, but we get the knack out of it. We all can have our own channels (chat rooms), but we could use a “main lobby” or the “kitchen” as a starting point — maybe tayler’s.
February 16th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Jay,
Har-har-hardy! Verrrryyy funnneeeee! *twisted grins*
Misha
February 16th, 2008 at 9:06 am
It’s only a beginning.
Time will tell when there is a change. We must have a war with the spams and hackers.
Once the moderators/editors can id’s the troll, he will be banned.
I know there will be pros and cons, I must tell you that I feel like that I am in a spy room to watch you guys having some conversations.
I have a question. Will the new “chat” generations be affect our telephone bills to be increased just like we have paid about 10-20 cents per month to the relay systems?
Just my 2 cents.
February 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Mikeyyy grrrr … I reported him three times. Pah! he was gone!
February 16th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Good Morning, Amy:
WOW! Amazing tools for us to chat among our renowned vloggers and DeafRead fans each other. I would love to join this group. How can we subscribe this matter?
Nick
February 16th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Awesome. Hope it happens again, and when I don’t have the flu, so I can join in.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I was there.. really neat!
The host of the room should have the option of kicking out disruptive visitors like certain AOL chat rooms. Perhaps Yahoo Live! will add this option
February 16th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I was there, too. It was blast! Hope we can do it again.
February 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
you all should try http://www.camfrog.com
been in use by deaf community for years now
and many rooms with global participants
happy viewing
February 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hey, It was FUN!! I had enjoy meeting you for the first time.. I’m glad I got to know you bit more. I can’t wait to do some more. It is very addicting. Other than few minor things that can be taken care of. Like that person troll, it was annoy we kept on flagging him finally that got him off.. Other than that most of us went back and having fun chatting with other people.. It felt like going to deaf club. It was fun.
I can’t wait for it to happen again. 
February 16th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I’m glad you took a screenshot of the Yahoo live chat, it must’ve been fun
February 16th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Last night, I was there and takes me 2 hours and went bed 1am. Next day, I got migraine.. (groan) By the way, I’m very much fine and alive. There was so quite amazing to meeting everyone who were there at chat room last night.
Worth to have there and getting everyone know. Sometimes I feel lost and not even much talk there. I’ll be alright and break the ice.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
YEAH IT IS COOL AND MY FREIND IN VIRGINA SHOW ME THRU VP AND I LOOK UP AT DEAF CHAT ROOM AND I LOOK AWSOME FINALLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOOD CHAT EVERYONE WHO IS BLOG PEOPLE AND JOIN THEM. MINE WEB CAM IS BROKEN CAUSE MY DAUGTHER DROP OFF THE WEB CAM ON FLOOR AND NOW IT WONT WORK SO I AM WAITING GET NEW ONE MYSELF SOON SO WE CAN LOOK UP FIRST TIME YAHOO LIVE CHAT ROOM SOON LATER ON. I THANKS MY FREIND HARLEYDAVIDSON SHOW ME ABOUT CHAT ON COMPUTER AND I NOTICE VP CAN WORK SEE CLEAR ON COMPUTER PICTURE OF GUYS. CANNOT WAIT AND SEE ALSO MY ANOTHER FREIND IN VIRGINA TOLD ME SOME ONE USE BAD LANGAUGE SOMETHING NEED TO BLOCK AND DELETE SOMEHOW ? SEE YOU SOON.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:39 am
[…] been exciting enough with the overwhelming response to the launch of Live - but these posts from Amy Cohen Efron and LaRonda Zupp, two deaf users who are having a great time with Live, really warm the heart. We […]
February 26th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Hi! Because of a 6 month voice injury I’m trying to learn ASL and find people online to sign with. Do you think it would be ok if I join in the next time y’all do this?
February 26th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
[…] interesting is where those comments came from. Dan W pointed out this great post: Yahoo’s LIVE Deaf Chat Room! about how a group of deaf users were delighted by their experience on Y! Live. Those comments above […]
March 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
i want chat with deaf people
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 pm
So glad you guys found us!
March 6th, 2008 at 1:22 am
please let me know for leave a video web cam
thank you
March 7th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Hello,
Good evening hw r u? i hope to u fine. but i hav to deaf a mute. u will give me to chat…..smileeee
March 9th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
hi I am deaf me . who you? you can open on your the computer.?
March 28th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Hi there
This is not a comment but rather a question. My husband and I are looking to learn signing to hopefully better communicate with our daughter who has moderate to severe learning disabilities. We live in West Los Angeles and were looking for at home lessons which would also include our daughters. Where would be the best place to start my search? If you have any ideas and can help, please email me at tanya@lippi.org Sorry I do apologize that this does not fit into the above discussions but I guess I need to start my search somewhere. Thanks Tanya
March 28th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Hi there, this is a question rather than a comment, My husband and I are looking for private signing lessons to better communicate with our daughter who has severe learning disabilities especially in communication. We live in West Los Angeles. I wasn’t sure where to start so I guess this is why I’m posting here. I apologies for barging in on the above discussion. If anyone has any ideas or info please contact me at tanya@lippi.org
Thanks Tanya
March 31st, 2008 at 10:19 am
Sorry to hear you had trolls, folks; as hard as it may be, the best policy is to ignore them.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
As an accessibility evangelist in Yahoo! I am absolutely psyched about this. This is a wonderful example how seemingly bad accessibility (”Flash is 99% evil”) can benefit people with disabilities if you understand that accessibility is not only about blindness.
May 7th, 2008 at 2:12 am
i am recently deaf, actually over the last few years and am totally isolated. I dont know anyone deaf and no one i do know understands me now. have been sooooooooooo depressed and lonely …just totally alone and afraid and isolated. i desperately seek anyone of you to contact me and help me or show me how to know other deaf people and friends and resources….anything and everything…how do i do the chat rooms? how do i put my picture up? how do i meet new people like me? Thank you for anyone who can respond and help me.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
hi
i’m new hard of hearing,
I never heard new deaf chat rooms?
i’m looking interesting deaf chat room.
i’m alone.