The introduction of mobile phone may have made several lives easier, but it missed out on a section of the society. Those with hearing disabilities or the deaf haven’t been able to use the handset to communicate as they rely on action and lip movements more than the vocals. Well, the Z has decided to ease out their difficulties with what it claims to be ‘the world’s first truly mobile video relay service (VRS)’ entitled, the ZVRS. Users who face hearing problems can now make and receive calls on their iPhone 4s through real-time video connection.
“We may not be the biggest VRS provider, but we are definitely the most innovative,” commented CEO Sean Belanger. “We are dedicated to providing deaf and hard of hearing consumers with options that meet their personal communication needs. Over the past few years, we’ve introduced four videophones to the deaf market—by far, more than any other VRS company. Now, we will offer the ultimate breakthrough: VRS calls through iPhone 4.”
Launching later this month, the ZVRS service will be in time to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). People with hearing disability can now have telephonic chats with friends and family with the use of the unique ZVRS service. The app functions innovatively with the help of a videophone which enables real-time video conversation.
“We are thrilled to continue moving deaf and hard of hearing people closer and closer toward true functional equivalency,” stated Chris Wagner, vice president of marketing. “Hearing people can make phone calls any time, anywhere. Now, deaf and hard of hearing people can experience communication freedom like never before.”
This app uses the iPhone 4’s embedded FaceTime tool to let users access the video ZVRS calls. They can ensure that the person on the other side will comprehend their entire sign language dialogue with the help of an interpreter. The translator ‘relays’ the entire discussion between them by converting the user’s signs into vocals and vice-a-versa so that they both can understand each other well.
The ZVRS application will be out in the market from July 26, 2010 onwards.