100 Decibels

Category: Deaf awareness

  • Caption Designs Over the Years

    With the recent reactions from the Deaf community and advocates about how hearing-owned companies selling caption glasses as well as using Deaf influencers to sell their product, I had the time to mull it over on why this issue keeps happening again.

    I’m all for accessible and inclusive AI and technology but it appears many of these are repurposed.

    Let’s look at captions:

    I recall when captions first came out, my parents purchased a caption box for me. We use them by connecting the cable to the tv and switch channels using the caption box. I was able to enjoy television by reading the captions.

    Eventually, tv’s had captions installed in them and caption boxes were no longer needed.

    Then there are captions for videos online.

    Then there were auto-captions leading to rely on AI.

    Then it became a tool the masses could use in their smartphones to access information and conversations around them.

    Now, captions are implemented in glasses.

    With the rapid rise of technology going caption boxes to caption glasses, the one thing remains is the design of captions are still the same.

    I’m not a designer, just a Deaf consumer who consumed these products.

    Also, I communicate in ASL.

    Over the years, these captions give one-way access to information then folks took this as an attempt to access conversations but it only achieved one-way access. And not inclusion where Deaf folks can be part of the conversations in their language which is sign language.

    So, I implore folks exploring access and inclusion using AI or devices to take into consideration how to contribute and create true access and inclusion where people can have conversations and interact in their languages especially sign language.

    I have yet to see this happen.

  • Are Caption Glasses Truly Accessible for Deaf Individuals?

    There’s been recent buzz about caption glasses, with some in the Deaf community feeling they exploit rather than empower. As a Deaf individual who communicates in ASL, I wanted to share my perspective.

    What Caption Glasses Offer

    Caption glasses can provide one-way access to information—primarily converting spoken language into English captions. While this may be useful in some contexts, it doesn’t create an inclusive environment for ASL users like me. Conversations require two-way communication, and captions don’t allow me to contribute equally.

    Free or Affordable Alternatives

    Many free apps offer similar or even better voice-to-text capabilities:

    • Otter AI
    • Microsoft Translator
    • Google Transcribe
    • Apple Live Caption

    Other tools include:

    • Apple Notes
    • Google Docs
    • Cardzilla

    These apps are either free or far more affordable than the steep price of caption glasses.

    What’s Missing? Sign Language Access

    Relying solely on captions ignores the importance of sign language for full inclusivity. Tools like VRI On-Demand (Video Remote Interpreting) can bridge this gap, allowing real-time conversations in ASL.

    What’s Your Experience?

    Have you tried caption glasses or other tools? Do you know of accessible solutions that prioritize sign language? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

  • What is a creative outlet? (And how do I leverage it to make an impact?)

    I asked Chat GPT this question and this is the response I received:

    A creative outlet is a means of expressing oneself and channeling creativity. It can be any activity or medium that allows individuals to explore their imagination, emotions, and ideas. Examples of creative outlets include painting, writing, playing an instrument, dancing, crafting, and photography. Engaging in a creative outlet can bring joy, fulfillment, and a sense of personal expression. It can also serve as a way to relieve stress and explore new possibilities.

    It’s pretty accurate in what I do. I love what I do because it is an outlet where I can manifest my creativity. With the ability to connect and converse with people sparks my creativity whether they’re roadblocks, barriers, or conflicts. Like diamonds, they are a result of being under pressure. Creativity is like that under some kind of restriction and results into something beautiful out of it.

    As a Deaf person, the problem isn’t me being Deaf or even Deafness itself. It’s the systemic barriers being imposed. In my case, I’m referring to audism. It’s always been there long before it even had a name. Like death, it’s inevitable. So, we just need to learn to manage it with tools and resources with a community. It’s a team effort and requires a community to make it through.

    However, it’s deeper than that. It’s all from within. Our drive, perseverance and more importantly, our mindset. What drives our mindset though is finding and understanding our why. By focusing on audism, we’re just simply banging ourselves against a wall. Like I mentioned, death is inevitable. So, what do families do in preparation for death? They get life insurance, critical illness, wills, estates and a funeral plan.

    With audism, we create inclusion and access by raising awareness about Deaf Culture, teach ASL, provide ASL interpreting services, and so on. There are many ways Deaf people and allies with entrepreneurial spirits pushing through to create solutions getting over the hurdle.

    This goes back to what I love I’m doing. Creating stories, creating solutions that matter and creating impact. My creative outlet is an opportunity to transform Deaf lives and the community through meaningful conversations.

  • 7 Ways to Build Resilience or Grit

    When you want to thrive in tough times, here are some ways to build resilience or grit:

    1. Practice self-care:Examples of these are:
      • Take care of yourself by getting enough sleep
      • eating healthy, and engaging in regular exercise. 
      • Practicing self-care helps improve your physical and mental well-being. It is essential for building resilience.
    2. Maintain perspective:
      • Try to maintain perspective and focus on the bigger picture. Remember that tough times are often temporary. You have overcome difficult situations in the past.
    3. Practice mindfulness:
      • Practice mindfulness to help you stay present at the moment. Also, avoid getting overwhelmed by negative thoughts or emotions.
    4. Build a support network:
      • Build a strong support network of family, friends, or professionals. They can offer emotional support and practical help.
    5. Reframe negative thoughts:
      • Work on reframing negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive and realistic ones. This can help you build a more positive mindset and reduce stress.
    6. Focus on your strengths:
      • Instead of your weaknesses or the things you cannot change, focus on your strengths and what you can control
    7. Set goals:
      • Set achievable goals for yourself and work towards them, even if they are small ones. This can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and progress, even in difficult times.

    In summary, building resilience in tough times involves practicing self-care, maintaining perspective, practicing mindfulness, building a support network, reframing negative thoughts, focusing on strengths, and setting achievable goals.

    What other skills that were not listed above that helped you build resilience or grit in tough times?

  • The ONE Thing I Usually Do When Picking Up Groceries

    The other day I went to pick up groceries. You know when you order groceries through an app then you get assigned a date and time when they’re ready to be picked up? That.

    Sometimes I go by myself, sometimes with my wife, or with my toddler. Or all of them together. Anyway, at times, when I go by myself or just with my toddlers, I’d arrive and park at the stall. Then I’ll call the number on the stall through on-demand interpreting services. Or most know this as VRS. Then I’d give the name and stall number I’m parked in. Then while waiting, if I’m by myself, I’ll be taking the time to think about my next post or just simply take the time to meditate. If I’m with the kids, then I’ll have a conversation with them.

    Then when the employee comes out with the groceries, I’d typically get out to open the trunk. Usually, my intention is to at least connect with a basic conversation with them. First, I’d sign, “How are you?” The expected response is they freeze like a deer caught in headlights. Then I get sure with the thumbs up. This typically eases the tension. Then I’d get back in the car and let them load the groceries into the trunk. After they’re done, they usually know to get my attention or make eye contact with me before they close the trunk then go. This usually ends with a wave or thumbs up.

    Now, for those you watching or reading this, what would you do in a similar situation like this and why? Comment below. I’m curious to know.

  • Quality of Accessibility for Deaf Customers

    I came across this quote:

    Your net productivity is the balance of the productive and unproductive forces in your life.

    A great deal of time and energy is spent thinking about how to increase effort, but there is a lot to be gained by reducing friction.

    A car will travel faster not only if you press the accelerator, but also if you remove the speed bumps.

    This made me ponder on how, not what, I deliver to clients. Remote work is becoming the norm or has been made more convenient. As well as the corporate landscape has shifted and become more remote. There are technological advances making things more accessible and convenient. For example, there are video conferencing platforms. In the case of providing remote interpreting services, not all platforms are well-suited for the users.

    To date, Zoom has been a favourable platform for users because of its multi-pinning capability. When screens are being shared, Sign Language interpreters are still visible while allowing users the flexibility to adjust the size. Whereas MS Teams, get pushed to the smaller screens. (If this has changed at the time of reading this, please let me know!) I’m aware there are other platforms like WebEx, GoToMeeting, etc. With that being said, there are too many variables since companies have to choose platforms that based on privacy or security reasons. This causes inconsistency, unpredictability, and uncertainty for the users and providers involved. This then compromises the quality and creates varying expectations of the services provided. For example, when I set up meetings with clients with interpreters, they provide the platform their organization or company uses. Often, they don’t realize the journey or the experience of the users would be wildly varied because of the varying platforms.

    As a Deaf user myself, this journey is all too familiar whereas it is new for hearing users who never had to think about this. Even more so, when they are the ones that are using the platform, they are not familiar with setting things up ensuring interpreters are to remain visible. I can imagine they’d feel burdened by this as it’s typically new to them and stressful for them to manage. This is where I come in. Regardless of the car you have, I’ll ensure the road is smoothened for everyone on the road to ensure the accessibility journey is a smooth one.