Comments on: Is GoAmerica Seeking World Domination?

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:16:10 +0000

Thanks for posting the link! In case anyone is wondering what the heck d5blokes is talking about, go to:
http://www.deafdc.com/blog/jos.....d-to-mean/

By: d5blokes

d5blokes — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:04:19 +0000

sorry to post in the wrong place, but i couldn’t post on the “what the heck is this” thread about the stick figure on the pedestrian access sign. it’s part of a street art campaign.

http://flickr.com/photos/d5blo.....203639306/

By: DeafSpook

DeafSpook — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:14:50 +0000

Josh - That Hamilton woman is not an interpreter. If you have to know, she’s DEAF.
She’s the very loyal type. I can tell judging her behavior at booth-populated events.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:05:02 +0000

Huh? What happened to the merger of GoAmerica and HOVRS announced in 2005?

See http://www.goamerica.com/news/.....rticle=255 for details.

Are they trying to get deaf community’s attention with all the flurry of their latest press releases? But who cares, right? This will be old news tomorrow.

By: Josh Mendelsohn

Josh Mendelsohn — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:27:39 +0000

Very interesting about the people used in Viable’s ads. What about “that!” woman in Hamilton’s ad? How she signs “Hamilton” and then “That!” is sometimes hypnotizing, especially after an exhausting day …

By: DeafSpook

DeafSpook — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:15:28 +0000

Recently, I learned that not all of persons showing on Viable’s advertisements are interpreters. The oriental female is not an interpreter or even staff. The blonde is an average staff interpreter. Don’t know why Viable decided to use hem for Viable advertisements. Some of the best from Viable are shown in print advertisement in form of postcards. Some of the best appear at DPHH. Just use Viable and you’ll see some variety. While I’m in agreement that they can use better for advertisement, my feeling is that you can’t judge from the “cover” and I thought you knew better.

By: feedback for Viable

feedback for Viable — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 02:52:53 +0000

Viable… Not?

That’s the impression I’m coming away with every time I visit DeafDC and look at their gif advert. The interpreters look so stiff, artificial, and like they don’t sign properly. That’s turned me off using Viable, because it’s fair to assume that they would use their top interpreters for any and all advertising. If the interpreters in adverts are not good, what does this say about their service?

Just my two cents. Do with it what you will.

By: Kent

Kent — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:56:40 +0000

Good article. I’m a mere Deaf VRS consumer with no affilation with any of them, but love following what’s going on in the VRS industry. As you clearly pointed out, the VRS industry, on a smaller size and time scale, in many respects reflects what has tended to happen in other technology/telecom industries, i.e., mergers/acquisitions, reduction of competition down to a few huge players.

The biggest frustration on my part as a consumer has been the dearth of innovation in the VRS market, thanks to the FCC’s ban on reimbursing vendors for R&D investments. Only the “rich and powerful” can afford to do that, it seems. So far, I’ve seen only a handful of VRS players significantly innovate: Sorenson with their VP-100, then the VP-200; SnapVRS with the Motorola Ojo; and Viable with their unique software-based VRS application that includes DVR capabilities (haven’t tried Vision yet though). Most of the other players seem to be relying on basic software-based applications or D-link 1000s. I give CSDVRS a lot of credit for setting up the 800 number feature, which I love using.

With Sorenson being the Microsoft of VRS providers, I wonder how much longer the bit-players can hang on. Can anyone comment on each of the VRS providers’ unique capabilities/strengths/weaknesses? For starters, I view Sorenson as having the most Deaf-friendly videophone, but some of the less consistent quality interpreters. On the other hand, SnapVRS seems to have a good staff of interpreters and a great videophone (the Ojo), but I’m not sure if their VP yet rises to the functional ease of the VP-200.

By: Michele Ketcham

Michele Ketcham — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 02:32:28 +0000

haha…you a fan of Mel Brooks? :-)

By: VRS Fanatic

VRS Fanatic — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:15:23 +0000

Yep, Viable VRS bills through CACVRS.

FYI - Lifelinks is also with GoAmerica.

AND CSDVRS is NOT an approved VRS provider. They are still billing through Sprint who is now hooked up with HOVRS.

Exciting times! Thanks for your blog, Josh