California School for Deaf gets videophone technology

[Alex]

Sorenson Communications chose to announce their next generation videophone, the Sorenson VP-200 at the California School for the Deaf, Fremont, on Monday, August 28, 2006 at 7:30 a.m. at CSD to high school students, staff, and the greater school community.

One of the latest and the best innovations in technology advancement for deaf people has been the videophone!

To make a phone call, a deaf person could sit in the living room or in the office in front of a television and a videophone. This person would see an interpreter on the screen and would use sign language to be in a conversation with a person who does not use sign language. The interpreter on the television screen would place a call and speaks to the hearing person at the other end who uses a cell or any kind of conventional phone. The speed of message being relayed is almost functionally equal to hearing-person-to-hearing person telephone conversation.

Of all places in the country, the Sorensen Communications decided to choose the California School for the Deaf as the site because of the demographics of the Fremont community. There are a large number of deaf people living in the area. The school has been viewed by the international community as one of the best educational options the country could offer to school-aged deaf and hard of hearing students. Along with a rigorous curriculum for students in Kindergarten-high school, the California School for the Deaf incorporates technology in its classrooms.

The school welcomes this opportunity for the students and community to witness the new technology being out to the public for the first time and to make use of the videophone for personal or business purposes.

THE SPECIFIC PRODUCT BEING ANNOUNCED BY THE SORENSEN COMMUNICATIONS

The Sorenson VP-200 videophone is a device designed specifically for Deaf and hard-of-hearing users who primarily use sign language to communicate. Currently available in certain areas of the country, the Sorenson VP-200 is offered at no charge to qualified applicants who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing, have a television, and high-speed Internet access. The Sorenson VP-200 makes it possible for Deaf users to place Video Relay Service (VRS)* calls to any hearing individual via a professional interpreter.

With these proprietary features, VP-200 users are able to more conveniently place free Video Relay Service calls to connect with hearing callers and to place point-to-point calls with other signing individuals

Available interviewees:

- Pat Nola, President and CEO of Sorenson Communications

- Ron Burdett, Vice President of Community Relations via sign language interpreter

- Hank Klopping, Superintendent of the California School for the Deaf, Fremont

Please contact Sorensen Public Relations Manager, Lisa Harrison Tate at p. 801-287-9897 or c. 801-913-9748 to schedule an interview or if you plan to come to the event where the new technology will be demonstrated with the students on campus.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF

For more information on the school, visit student-created website:

California School for the Deaf, Fremont or call Outreach at (510) 794-3707

Hearing Loss News and Articles: California School for Deaf gets videophone technology

 

[Heath]

That was a good place to start the Sorenson VP-200 presentation. I am sure their parents will be thrilled to not have to say ga or sk you know and I hope Sorenson has gone to the Deep South as well as the Mid-West and the NorthEast to present the Sorenson VP-200 to another Deaf schools and the parents and the kids will enjoy being able to chat with one another as well as I am sure the Deaf girls will be able to do the same thing hearing girls do , talk on the phone for 4 or 5 hours non-stop !!!!!!

And the Deaf guys now can hook up for a game of football or basketball or baseball as well as on the weekend a Deaf friend can call up his buddy and say " Hey can you come over and help me work on my car you got the time please? Ok .... here is what is wrong ..... " then his buddy comes over and helps him work on the car and when they are done then they can drive their car or truck and crusie the streets, enjoy meeting the women and having fun partying with the ladies !!!! The Sorenson VP-200 can really improve Deaf people's social life alots !!!!

 

[Tousi]

Hey, CSDR also got 75 of those units!

 

[javapride]

Im not going to pose negtivity, but IMO they shld only have 20 installed VP, for one reason only one VP per cottage, and 4 per departmental calls inculding the adminstration office. this way the VP isn't getting abused and the education isnt abused as well. but mark my words the kids will want to do the vp more often and neglect thier schooling i hope the csdf imposes rules on phone calls, and to use the VRS so they can call thier family and not just have a point to point calls to other kids. my concern is, if this was my kid in school, i would montior the calls and limit the time factors so the kids can focus on school and they can go OUT to the FAA center ( the student center) to chat with people as opposed to techonologies. thats just IMO..

but all in all its good to have that in schools so family themselves can call and also school can communicate with both worlds.