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http://www.thetowerlight.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/30/442b6bb8091b8
Birnbaum Interpreting Services showcases new technologies for deaf, hearing impaired; event speaks to students, faculty
Representatives from Birnbaum Interpreting Services spoke Wednesday in the Psychology Building about the advances in technology that affect the deaf and hearing impaired.
The lecture focused on video relay services in which a deaf or hearing-impaired person can communicate with others through a TV monitor or Web cam.
“The New Age of Technology: Sign Language and Video Interpreting” was the first spring lecture in a series sponsored by the department of audiology, speech-language pathology, and deaf studies. Jill Owens, marketing communication coordinator, shared her experiences as a deaf person.
“I grew up deaf, from an all deaf family, deaf parents, with a lot of exposure,” she signed. She also signed about how the deaf community used to use a teletype device, TTY.
“It was really loud, you put the phone on it and you typed and of course technology changed and it’s gotten smaller and smaller,” Owens signed.
She also explained the different ways to communicate and the advances a company called Hamilton Video Relay has made.
“A video relay system allows people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate with telephone users using video equipment and a sign language interpreter,” according to a handout. A D-link and TV monitor or Web cam and PC can provide the connection for the interpretation. The video relay system, VRS, is not limited to the deaf or hearing impaired.
“If a hearing person wants to call a deaf person they can and the process is similar,” Owens signed. An interpreter would take the words from the non-deaf person and sign it to the deaf recipient. This would show up on the TV screen or PC monitor for both sides of the conversation to see. The VRS even allows a person to screen calls just like a normal phone. The VRS equipment is free to hearing impaired/deaf people by Hamilton Relay.
The VRI, video interpretation service, is similar to the VRS but allows two people to use it in the same room.
This type of system could be used in an office meeting or classroom.
If a student had a question but could not understand the teacher’s signs then the interpreter would help.
The only downside to this technology is the cost: $3.50 per minute.
Liz Stevens, an interpreter and employee who is in charge of hiring and training new interpreters to the field, said the VRS will help significantly.
“This is what people say is the future of interpretation. It’s very fun, I like it a lot,” she said. Stevens spoke and signed to the audience about the mentorship program Birnbaum provides. “We have a lot of opportunities in the D.C. area. This is what I could call a mecca of interpretation,” Stevens said.
The program has workshops and activities created to improve interpreting and signing skills in a hands-on environment.
“Deaf people are just like hearing people. They go to the doctor’s, they need an interpreter; they go to court for a parking ticket, they need an interpreter,” Stevens said.
The audience consisted of students and faculty members.
Sophomore secondary special education major Valerie Ruzin came to the lecture because she enjoys sign language and believes it may come in handy for her career.
“It was interesting to know that hearing people who don’t necessarily know sign language can use this interpreter to also communicate,” Ruzin said. “I definitely think it’s a really good lecture because even though it has nothing to do with Towson, people would still be interested in it for jobs.”
Whitney Alper, a freshman biology major, also thought the lecture was productive. She learned about the lecture and went because of a class.
“It got knowledge out to people who didn’t know about it,” Alper said.
Birnbaum Interpreting Services showcases new technologies for deaf, hearing impaired; event speaks to students, faculty
Representatives from Birnbaum Interpreting Services spoke Wednesday in the Psychology Building about the advances in technology that affect the deaf and hearing impaired.
The lecture focused on video relay services in which a deaf or hearing-impaired person can communicate with others through a TV monitor or Web cam.
“The New Age of Technology: Sign Language and Video Interpreting” was the first spring lecture in a series sponsored by the department of audiology, speech-language pathology, and deaf studies. Jill Owens, marketing communication coordinator, shared her experiences as a deaf person.
“I grew up deaf, from an all deaf family, deaf parents, with a lot of exposure,” she signed. She also signed about how the deaf community used to use a teletype device, TTY.
“It was really loud, you put the phone on it and you typed and of course technology changed and it’s gotten smaller and smaller,” Owens signed.
She also explained the different ways to communicate and the advances a company called Hamilton Video Relay has made.
“A video relay system allows people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing to communicate with telephone users using video equipment and a sign language interpreter,” according to a handout. A D-link and TV monitor or Web cam and PC can provide the connection for the interpretation. The video relay system, VRS, is not limited to the deaf or hearing impaired.
“If a hearing person wants to call a deaf person they can and the process is similar,” Owens signed. An interpreter would take the words from the non-deaf person and sign it to the deaf recipient. This would show up on the TV screen or PC monitor for both sides of the conversation to see. The VRS even allows a person to screen calls just like a normal phone. The VRS equipment is free to hearing impaired/deaf people by Hamilton Relay.
The VRI, video interpretation service, is similar to the VRS but allows two people to use it in the same room.
This type of system could be used in an office meeting or classroom.
If a student had a question but could not understand the teacher’s signs then the interpreter would help.
The only downside to this technology is the cost: $3.50 per minute.
Liz Stevens, an interpreter and employee who is in charge of hiring and training new interpreters to the field, said the VRS will help significantly.
“This is what people say is the future of interpretation. It’s very fun, I like it a lot,” she said. Stevens spoke and signed to the audience about the mentorship program Birnbaum provides. “We have a lot of opportunities in the D.C. area. This is what I could call a mecca of interpretation,” Stevens said.
The program has workshops and activities created to improve interpreting and signing skills in a hands-on environment.
“Deaf people are just like hearing people. They go to the doctor’s, they need an interpreter; they go to court for a parking ticket, they need an interpreter,” Stevens said.
The audience consisted of students and faculty members.
Sophomore secondary special education major Valerie Ruzin came to the lecture because she enjoys sign language and believes it may come in handy for her career.
“It was interesting to know that hearing people who don’t necessarily know sign language can use this interpreter to also communicate,” Ruzin said. “I definitely think it’s a really good lecture because even though it has nothing to do with Towson, people would still be interested in it for jobs.”
Whitney Alper, a freshman biology major, also thought the lecture was productive. She learned about the lecture and went because of a class.
“It got knowledge out to people who didn’t know about it,” Alper said.