Apps for your Android phone on voice recognition

Here's an app, Closed Capp, that you can download to your Android phone where you can ask a person to speak into your phone and two seconds later have their words transcribed across your phone screen. This is a great app for those who have trouble hearing or are unable to hear.  Not exactly real time captioning nor real time conversation which last only 5 to 10 seconds long for a limited conversation to be transcribed each time.  But it's the next best thing for those who would want to opt for that piece of technology with the help of Google. Voice recognition technology is getting better and better as more people use it, and Google is constantly updating the service and accuracy they offer.  To understand how it works check out the Closed Capp video demo page.

It's only a matter of time that technology will improve to a point where voice recognition technology with the aid of powerful and fast computers will see accurate transcription, in real time, of at least at the 95 percentile range that will enable real time conversation without pressing the button every 5 to 10 seconds to transcribe what was spoken.

Speaking effortlessly

In a previous blog I brought up about listening and speaking by kids with cochlear implants where in videos (see here and here) I was simply amazed at the children and teens' voices and the effortless ability to speak. I could actually hear their full inflection, pitch and intonation of their accented (Australian) voices as opposed to hearing American kids with cochlear implants (they do just as well, btw). These weren't kids who struggled to speak but did so rather fluidly. Granted, the ability to speak effortlessly requires training and practice in the very beginning for a child with hearing loss whether with a hearing aid, cochlear implant or not (e.g. with very mild hearing loss). That part we know.

However, some people persist into thinking that just because a person born with a hearing loss would end up unable to speak effortlessly. And that such speaking cannot become 2nd nature or natural for him or her. I think this thinking is simply a misplaced perception thinking the impossible. To speak effortlessly is to speak without thinking where words simply flows forth fluidly. It can become natural for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to speak, and over time be able to speak fluidly and effortlessly. Granted, I'm not speaking that this is true in ALL cases but there are indeed deaf/hh people out there who can and do speak effortlessly. I'm making the acknowledgement that it's the early exposure on talking and making the practice on the proper enunciation during the early years on speech development. No one ever got on a bike as a child for the first time and rode it flawlessly.

The captioned video below is Vint Cerf speaking effortlessly. He was born with sensorineural hearing loss and wears a hearing aid. He is known as the "Father of the Internet." As you can tell, he speaks effortlessly. His words are enunciated clearly. And speaks fluidly like any other hearing person.

Google ranking on rape at universities

Just as I was hoping it'd turn out the way I expected to when it comes to Google search results on rape and universities when I blogged on a very serious issue of rape on campus by supplying some facts and numbers last week. Now, when you Google the words"Gallaudet University" and "rape" will you find my recent blog on forcible sex or rape at Gallaudet University as #2 on the list of search results while a blog piece I did in 2006 came up as #1. So, hopefully my recent research will help those come to a realization on just how many students' lives have been affected by that crime. And start asking serious questions for a change.

It's a bit sickening whenever one puts the value of rape victims at a much lower priority in the effort to protect Gallaudet University at all cost.  I'd say that these things need to be exposed often and hopefully somebody or the administration will find a way to address this very problematic situation that has been going on for years. And by doing so would make Gallaudet University a better and safer university for that matter. If people can't see that then certainly something is wrong with them. Heartless would be the word. Shame on them for protesting against raising awareness of this serious forcible sex crimes or rape against students at Gallaudet University.  Loyalty is certainly misplaced. Think of the victims for a change instead of your own selfishness.

The missing ASLrocks.net video pages.....how to find them

Just recently I heard about the numerous complaints of videos disappearing from ASLrocks.net. And how some are calling it "unfair" or violation of their "freedom of speech". This "freedom of speech" violation is laughable because the owner owns that website and can do well what he or she pleases when it comes to operating it. Nobody's "freedom of speech" was violated there because it's a priviledge posting there, not a right. Please know your rights first. This is not one of them.

There's a very simple trick to all this if you want to see the old videos along with the video comments made. No mystery here but a very simple trick. This is what you need to do first.
Go to the original vlogs in YouTube's site and the videos in question that disappeared from ASLrocks.net pages. Be sure to write down the full title of that original video in YouTube.

Go to Google.

-Type in the words like - "ASLrocks.net" and be sure to put them in quotes.
-Then type in exactly the words of the name of the original video in YouTube that's gone missing in ASLrocks.net. For example, "Tidewater & USA" and make sure it's in quotes.

It'll look like this in Google search result.

And then click on one of the search results cache link which will finally get you to the cache page that captured the last snapshot of the missing videos that were removed. This includes all of the video comments from other participants as well you will see. Those video comments work fine if you want to view the video responses and the original video.

You can repeat this using other original video titles that have gone missing in ASLrocks.net. Make sure you put them in quotes "" and make sure you include "ASLrocks.net" at the same time in the Google search engine. Everything is there as far as I know. You can only view them and you cannot respond but they are there for your enjoyment.

Enjoy!

BTW, if you're wondering, I don't go to ASLrocks.net to watch. I like my DVTV when I'm in the mood. Sorry to disappoint ya guys.

The "everything technology" on communication for everybody

I am continually amazed with the ongoing improvements in the field of communication technology, especially benefitting those with hearing loss. And how technology can almost literally give people the gift of "hearing." In other words a way to communicate with hearing people through real time interaction such as using the UbiDuo face to face communication device as if you are a "hearing" person interacting with a hearing person even though no voices are used or exchanged. What makes UbiDuo unique is the real time conversation that takes place and without waiting for a typed response each time you send it out and wait for a reply. The key to this "everything technology" on communicating with deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people is the real time conversation nature it requires. The UbiDuo satisfies that. So does the video phone when it comes to signing and talking. So does using the phone for everyday conversations used by billions of hearing people when interactions are done in real time. Even Google has gotten into the act through YouTube by establishing a free service using their voice recognition software to transcribe the spoken words on YouTube videos into captioned words. A perhaps someday soon a much improved speech recognition software will able to transcribe the spoken words in real time. Though this YouTube's version is not entirely perfect but it's a start on the merging of communication technology with the growing social networking field.

Right now, I see on the horizon things will change and improve for the better on communication technology for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people when this "everything technology" will gradually meet everybody's communication needs and be a part of the growing social network society. A society where we are tethered and connected to each other. Communication technology will continue to diversify, merge, adapt and change from the many hundreds of different companies from Research in Motion (they make Blackberries), communication carriers like AT&T and Verizon, YouTube, Facebook, sComm (the maker of UbiDuo) and many, many more. There is always room to grow while being resourceful and inventive with new ideas on how to make it all seemlessly work together. But some of the best inventive ideas comes from people with hearing loss. I can guarantee you one thing. We will see more of these things explode in the days, weeks and years ahead of us when it comes to communication technology. So, be sure to keep your eyes and ears open or you just might miss the ride.

Google Posts Deafhood Warning on Search Site

I couldn't help but note the irony of this warning about a particular "Deafhood" website. Almost prophetic if you ask me. Clicking on the link to a particular discourse "may harm your computer." Isn't that a riot? This came about in a Google search where I put the word "deafhood" in and it gave me a list of links. One of them was the "deafhood discourses." We didn't need to have Google tell us on how harmful it may be for us....er, our computers if we click on it.

Also, be sure to check out, "Deafhood? No thanks." More of a good reason to click on "Deafhood? No thanks," lik than the link what Google is warning you of.

The dangers of using Wikipedia to look up the word "avdism"

By the way, as an after thought after my recent blog on the banishment of the word "avdism" (misspelled on purpose). Googling in the word "avdism" you will find it at the top of the search result and without thinking or forgetting that you're dealing with a questionable site to begin with you click on it.

At the top of the main page it has these dire warnings:

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2009)

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (April 2009)

Lack of references or sources and that neutrality is disputed? It certainly makes it questionable on their so-called authoritative explanation of the "avdism" word. So, if you're going to quote something as authoriative please do not use Wikipedia as an example and source.

Also, be sure to check out this Holism blog on why some Deaf organizations and such are a closed society, and this guy is a Deaf blogger/vlogger, too.

In the past few weeks I've been receiving answers on why I just don't get along with Deafhood, Deaf Bilingual Coalition, Avdism Free America and their so-called big "D" status. The answer is quite simple. Closed society. That's what these people are.

Interesting. Maybe he's an "avdist," too?