Ann Reflection

Follow my journey in Art × Technology

2025-07-22T01:40:00.000-07:00

Follow my journey in Art × Technology as a

multi-sensory artist, lantern-maker, access designer, and artist-scientist.

🌕 Currently creating:

Animal-shaped sculptural lanterns · Chinese ink brush painting · Puppetry

Shadow & light performance · Disability dance · Access guides

🔧 I’ve recently revamped my artist & accessibility site — annchou.github.io — to better reflect my dual-track practice in Art × Technology, from handmade lanterns to inclusive design systems.

📌 Explore more of my work via my link in bio: beacons.ai/annreflection

☕️ If you’d like to support my creative and community-based work, you can do so here:

ko-fi.com/annreflection

#ArtAndTech #Accessibility #LanternMaking #SlowTech #DisabilityArts #AnnReflectionStudio

911 Text Messaging Trial

2012-02-25T15:48:00.001-08:00

An improvement on the accessibility of communications services for the hearing and speech impaired:

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced a three-month trial that will allow 911 call centres to communicate with pre-registered participants with hearing and speech impairments by text message.

http://deafbc.ca/archives/6324

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

The Debate: are we ready for paperless society?

2011-11-21T12:43:00.001-08:00

The Debate: are we ready for paperless society?

http://www.zdnet.com/debate/great-debate-the-paperless-society-are-we-there-y...

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Making bag from Banners.

2011-11-03T13:28:00.001-07:00

I like this idea.

http://bannerbags.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/banner-bag-program-update/

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell) Phones: FCC mandates ANSI C63.19

2011-10-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

the following info comes from Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

FCC Mandates Cell Phone Compatibility with Hearing Aids- ANSI C63.19

FCC Mandates Cell Phone Compatibility with Hearing Aids- ANSI C63.19
March 22, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
Mobile phone manufacturers have one year to comply with a U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate requiring mobile handsets built or used in the U.S. to comply with the American national standard for cell phone-hearing aid compatibility.
Issued in 2003, the mandate is intended to ensure that new mobile phones available on the market are accessible to individuals using hearing aids.

According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), mobile phone manufacturers and service providers will have to ensure that at least 50% of all handsets marketed in the U.S. meet the requirements of ANSI C63.19:2006 - Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids by Feb. 18, 2008.

Approved as an American national standard in 2001, ANSI C63.19 was developed by the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) C63 on electromagnetic compatibility, a group administered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

A measurement standard for hearing aid compatibility with wireless communications devices, ANSI C63.19-2006 aims to achieve an acceptable level of performance between cell phones and hearing aids by reducing the interference of radio frequency emissions.

The standard defines emissions and immunity-to-interference requirements, as well as test methods to determine the level of interoperability between the devices. The standard is intended to apply to all types of hearing aids with acoustic output.

According to ANSI, an estimated 28 million Americans have some degree of hearing impairment; by 2030, this number is expected to double. The Hearing Aid Compatibility Act of 1988 (HAC Act) directed the FCC to ensure that all telephones manufactured or imported for use in the U.S., and all "essential" telephones - including phones provided for emergency use, coin-operated phones and phones in the workplace, hospitals, nursing homes and hotel rooms - be hearing aid-compatible.

The increasing reliance on wireless mobile phones for business and personal use, coupled with the growing number of technologically-savvy baby boomers, led the FCC to put pressure on wireless carriers and equipment manufacturers to increase the number of hearing aid-compatible wireless phones available on the market.

IEEE C63.19 2007-JAN-01 • Active/Current •
Methods of Measurement of Compatibility between Wireless Communications Devices and Hearing Aids

This standard applies to both wireless communications devices (WDs) and hearing aids. It sets forth uniform methods of measurement and parametric requirements for the electromagnetic and operational compatibility and accessibility of hearing aids used with WDs, including cordless, cellular, personal communications service (PCS) phones, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) devices, operating in the range of 800 MHz to 3 GHz. However, this version is focused on existing services, which are in common use. Accordingly, in this version tests are provided for services in the 800 MHz to 950 MHz and 1.6 GHz to 2.5 GHz frequency bands. Future versions may add test for other frequency bands, as they come into more common use.

This standard is intended to apply to all types of hearing aids with acoustic output, including, as examples, behind-the-ear (BTE), in-the-ear (ITE), in-the-canal (ITC), and completely-in-the-canal (CIC) types. Test methods are provided for hearing aids operating in acoustic (microphone input) mode or in T-Coil input mode.

The field levels called for in various places shall be maintained within the limits for radio frequency (RF) safety, set forth in ANSI C95.1-1999.1

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell) Phone: Visual Voice Mail

2011-10-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Normal 0 false false false EN-CA ZH-HK X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

the following info comes from Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Visual Voice Mail (Voice to text messaging)

There is a new service being provided by Telus (and perhaps other carriers). It is called Visual Voice Mail.

Telus describes it as:

"Don’t worry about missing important messages when you are unable to answer your phone. With TELUS Visual Voice Mail, there’s no need to dial in to pick up your messages, you just read them on screen.

Read it instead of listening to it

Visual Voice Mail converts your voice mail messages to text and delivers them straight to you as SMS or email within minutes. The converted message will include the phone number of the caller embedded in the text.

Keep record of your voice mail.

You can view all of your messages in one convenient inbox and have a visual record of who called and what they said. "

Telus provides this service for a monthly fee of $7.50. However it is currently being offered for a free 30 day trial.

This is the link to the information.

or you can call: 1 800 316 0979 or Visit your nearest store

Comments from WIDHH staff using this service already:

"It works well except if a person does not speak clearly when they leave a msg, a word will either be skipped or spelled phonetically. Also, if the voice message is long, it will cut out some of the mssage and leave a request for you to call and listen to the rest of the message."

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell) Phones: How to buy one that is hearing aid compatible and adapt hearing aids to it

2011-09-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

How to Buy a Hearing Aid Compatible Cellphone

The following info come from Western Institute of Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

There are so many cellphones on the market these days, it can be overwhelming when it comes to finding a phone appropriate for you. Following are some tips on what to look for in a cellphone so that it will be hearing aid compatible.

Look for a Cellphone with a rating of AT LEAST M3/T3
In the US all cellphones are tested for hearing aid compatibility. The M# represents how well the cellphone will work with a hearing aid in microphone mode. M1 is the lowest rating and is an indication of high interference. M4 is the highest rating and indicates low interference.

The T# rating represents how well the cellphone will work with a heairng aid in T-Coil mode. Again T1 is the lowest rating and T4 is the highest.

The whereabouts of this information differs with all cellphone manufacturers. Commonly it can be found on the display card next to the device, on the product packaging, or in the phone manual. Some websites such as PhoneScoop maintain a database of this information. (note: when you go to the website, type in the name of the phone in the Jump to a phone box - top right of main screen. When the phone information comes up scroll down to features and click on 'show missing features'. You will find the M/T rating under Accessibility, Hearing Aid Compatible)

Choose a Provider that Uses CDMA rather than GSM

In Canada, both Telus and Bell operate on the CDMA network. Rogers, Fido and all other carriers operate on the GSM network. Phones connected to the CDMA network will interfere less with your hearing aid.

Choose a "Flip" Style Phone

A cellphone's antenna is a significant source of interference. Generally speaking, the antenna on a flip phone will be positioned farther from the speaker than on a candy bar phone. Be wary of phones with no visible antenna.

Find a Phone with a Smaller LCD Screen

The screen is also a significant source of interference. Often phones with very large or multiple LCD screens (such as iPhones etc)will have low M# ratings. Look for a phone with one small screen.

Be Mindful of the Cellphone's Outer Casing

There is a growing trend towards manufacturing metallic phones. The idea being that a metal phone is stronger when dropped than a plastic phone. While this is all well and good, metal phones will not work as well with your hearing aid.

Try Before You Buy

In the US it is mandatory that all phone retailers have a 'live' phone in store for you to try. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Canada. Still, many retailers will have working phones to demo.

Test that the volume is adequate, and that you can hear clearly on microphone and T-Coil modes.

Know the Return Policy

In store testing is no substitute for the real world. Be sure to try the phone in a variety of listening situations: at home; in the car; at a noisy restaurant etc.

Usually the return policy is based on both days and usage. Ensure that you have adequate time to do your own testing, and can exchange the phone if it is unsuitable for your needs.

Look for a Headset Jack and Bluetooth Connectivity

There are several accessories designed to assist you in hearing on a cellphone. Almost all of these rely on either a 2.5mm headset jack or Bluetooth connection. If your phones has these useful features, you will have a lot more options to assist you.

Two of the most common accessories that you can plug into the 2.5mm jack are:
1. Silhouette cord - a small thin piece of plastic is worn behind your ear, beside your behind-the-ear hearing aid. It emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid when the hearing aid is on the t-coil setting. The silhouette cord has a microphone for handsfree operation.
2. Neckloop - a 'necklace' style cord you wear around your neck. The neckloop emits a magnetic field and transmits the signal from the phone to your hearing aid while the hearing aid is on the t-coil mode. The neckloop as a microphone for handsfree operation. Note custom hearing aids with t-coils are not always stong enough to use with a neckloop - you may have better success with a silhouette cord in these cases.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell) Phones: Voicemail for Deaf People (Telus Relay Service)

2011-09-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Voicemail for Deaf People

The following is the info from Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Hi my name is Janice Jickels. I work at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing as head of the interpreting department.

I’d like to share with you some information, maybe its information you already know about, but I want to make sure the word gets out. Many deaf people have cell phones or blackberries, or devices from Telus, Bell, Fido, Rogers etc.

Deaf people have been frustrated with voicemail. You know what voicemail is, it’s like the answering machine function on a TTY, except it is spoken language left on your cell phone, we can’t hear the message and we tend to ignore them.

Cell phones and blackberries also have feature on a called voicemail. Now how can you use your voicemail feature?

First you need to set up a voicemail account, contact your provider, and ask to have voicemail added to your phone. There is a small monthly charge for that service. Once you have added voicemail you need to open the account and personalize it. You can do that by calling TRS, ask the operators to call the number provided to you by your cell phone company to access your voicemail.

The operator will then call the voicemail number, and you will have several options to choose from. The option you choose is “I want to set up my voicemail” you will be given an option to record a greeting, the TRS operator will do that for you. You can pick a standard greeting or personalized greeting.

You will find that you already have a password as part of setup the voicemail, use that password. The TRS operator will set up the greeting then your voicemail is activated and ready to go. If a hearing person calls your phone they will leave a voice message in the normal way and you will see on your phone “new voicemail.”

To retrieve that message, call 711 (Telus Relay Service) give the Telus operator the phone number the company provides to access voicemail, and your name and password.

Then the operator will type the messages that are recorded on your voicemail. And that’s all! The TRS operator will ask you if you want to delete or save the current message. You have the ability to save the message as long as you want on your cell phone. This is a great feature for deaf people because hearing people will be able to leave voicemail messages in the normal way, and we have the ability to retrieve those using TRS or any other relay service.

It is great to share this information because we’re all trying to get equal access, and you know how many of us get frustrated explain how to use TRS services, but now we can retrieve our own messages directly. It’s a great thing!

Many hearing people feel uncomfortable with having to go through a two step process. But now you don’t have to bother with that explanation. You just give them your cell phone number.
It becomes the deaf persons responsibility to collect their messages, But that’s already a big improvement, imagine if your trying to leave a contact number for a family member or employer, you just have to give them one phone number they can leave their message.

If you have any questions or want to share any tips with me, you can e-mail me at jjickels@telus.net or you can contact me through videophone it is 24.85.225.129

Thank you!

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Cell/Work) Phones: 2 ears are better than one! Using your FM system with your telephone

2011-09-07T07:00:00.001-07:00

2 ears are better than one! Using your FM system with your telephone

If you are having difficulty hearing on the telephone with one hearing aid, consider using your FM system so that you can use both hearing aids. You can either have the signal transmitted to your FM receivers snapped on to the bottom of your hearing aids, or to a bodyworn receiving unit with an induction loop such as the Phonak MyLink receiver unit. The bodyworn receiving unit will transmit sound to your hearing aids through the induction loop. The hearing aids must be set on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' position. Remember that when your hearing aids are on the t-coil position you can't hear anything other than the phone. Consider asking your audiologist if one or both of the aids can have an 'M-T' program put in (this means the microphone and the telecoil are working at the same time-so you can hear around you and you can hear on the phone. You don't have to worry about feedback because the ear piece of the phone doesn't need to be next to your hearing aid anymore - the sound is being sent by the FM transmitter to the FM receivers or the FM induction loop around your neck (i.e. the Phonak MyLink).

Parts required:

Your FM system
You will need to purchase a device made by Nexxtech. It is a Telephone Recording Unit. Part #4318237. This is available at The Source.
To Connect the FM Transmitter to the telephone:
1. Unplug the telephone receiver from the telephone.
2. Plug the Telephone Recording Unit into the telephone.
3. Plug the telephone receiver into the Telephone Recording Unit.
4. Plug the 3.5mm jack from the Telephone Recording Unit into the Audio jack located on the ‘battery charger’ unit connected to the bottom of the FM transmitter (This is on the right side of the battery charging unit, upper jack. It says 'Audio'). The battery charger unit must be attached to the bottom of the Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink FM transmitter.

The Phonak FM transmitter (Smartlink, Zoomlink, Easylink or Microlink) should be ‘off’. It will turn on automatically when you pick up the phone and start to make a call.
If you are using 'boot' receivers snapped to the bottom of your hearing aids, when you pick up the phone the FM transmitter will automatically start transmitting the sound to your receiving units.
If you are using a body worn receiving unit with an induction loop, you will need to make sure it is turned on. Wear the loop around your neck. Your hearing aids need to be on the 'telephone' or 't-coil' program when you are speaking on the phone.
If necessary, adjust the volume by adjusting the volume on your hearing aids (if you are using the FM receivers boots) OR on the bodyworn receiving unit.
The earpiece of the telephone handset does not need to be near your hearing aids but you will still need to speak directly into the mouthpiece of the telephone handset.

Note: for systems other than the Phonak Smartlink, Zoomlink or Easylink - you just plug the callcorder into the 'auxiliary audio input jack' of the FM transmitter. For some FM systems the jack is a 2.5mm, or a 3-pin eurojack - and the Call Corder will not fit. You will need to purchase a dual mini jack coupler (Radio Shack part number was 274-886). Plug the call corder into the coupler jack, use the DAI (direct audio input) cord that came with the FM system and plug one end into the remaining side of the coupler and then plug into the auxiliary audio input jack of the FM transmitter.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

How to Make Paper Balloon Lanterns

2011-08-31T17:14:00.001-07:00

As fans of lantern making and lantern-making, I bet you already know how to make paper balloon lanterns. If you don’t, you can follow the instruction here, or attending our workshop:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4797962_paper-balloon-lantern.html

Once you master this basic balloon lantern, you can make lovely puffy fish, angry bird, monkey, rabbit, bee, flower, eerie robot or insect! You name it.

Here are some examples what others start with balloon lantern:

Send us the picture of your creation too so we can post it here :>

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Making Lanterns from Milk Jugs!

2011-08-31T16:46:00.001-07:00

Running short of time and idea to make lanterns for the festival?

Beautiful lanterns, or bizarre ones if it is the way you want, can be made quickly.

What you need:

Rinse the milk jug and remove label.

Cut opening that is big enough to put a tea light candle, or a LED one, in.

Cut more shape for your own design.

Give color and patterns to the milk jug by either gluing colored tissue paper or paint.

Here is a collection of what people do with their milk jugs. Start your creativity now!

Eerie Luminarias – Cat, Dog

http://www.bhg.com/halloween/outdoor-decorations/eerie-luminarias/

Spirit Jugs

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/spirit-jugs-673388/

Universal lamp shade polygon building kit

http://www.instructables.com/id/Universal-lamp-shade-polygon-building-kit/

Milk jug Jack-O-Lantern

http://www.instructables.com/id/Milk-Jug-Jack-o-Lanterns/

Recycled Milk Jug Lanterns

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/recycled-milk-jug-crafts3.htm

Other projects:

Recycled Jar Jack O Lanterns

http://www.instructables.com/id/Recycled-Jar-Jack-OLanterns/

Milk Jug crafts for kids

http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/milkjugscontainersartscraftsideaskids.html

Milk bottle lamps

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/06/milk-bottle-lamps.html#0_undefined,0_

How to Make a Lamp Out of Vintage Glass Milk Bottles

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/165620/how_to_make_a_lamp_out_of_vintage_glass_pg2.html?cat=24

http://www.designswan.com/archives/11-cool-and-unusual-lamp-designs.html

http://www.plantea.com/milk-jug.htm

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Communition Strategy for hearing impaired: Visualizing the Scenario

2011-08-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Tuesday Tips: Planning Ahead – Visualizing the Scenario

Imagine you were visiting Montreal and you know some French, enough to get by. However, you haven’t used your French in eons. You want to go to a local boulangerie to buy some fresh baguettes. If you’re like me, you would practice in your head exactly what you want to say (I want one baguette, please – en francais, of course). Then you are going to practice what they might say back to you (That will be $4.95 – again, en francais). Of course, you may want to practice something that’s totally off topic (Where did you get that dress), but that wouldn’t fit the context (or maybe it will).

Visualization is a technique that is often used by athletes in preparation for difficult maneuvers. We can use the same when approaching difficult communication situations.

Envision the scenario that is about to happen. Important visual and aural cues are missing with hearing loss, but the brain can fill in the gaps if you know what is happening.
Anticipate what is going to be said. In a place like boulangerie, there are certain phrases that are commonly used. Practice those phrases. The practice would help your brain to be prepared for what is about to be said.
Different situations means different possibilities. So what you might expect in the bakery would be different from what is said in a doctor’s office from what is said in a restaurant. Context is everything.

Visualize the scenario and anticipate the speech and your brain will be warmed up for each and every difficult situation. Just like many things, planning ahead can help you to avoid unwanted pitfalls.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Ann's fish lantern will be at fringe festival in Centennial Square tonight :>

2011-08-23T15:03:00.001-07:00

Ann's fish lantern will be at fringe festival in Centennial Square tonight :>

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

How technologies shape our health care? Health avatar? Tailored therapy according to dna? Doc get paid by outcome? shaphttp://www.fastcompany.com/1773215/six-major-disruptions-still-to-come-in-health-care

2011-08-16T11:53:00.001-07:00

How technologies shape our health care? Health avatar? Tailored therapy according to dna? Doc get paid by outcome? shaphttp://www.fastcompany.com/1773215/six-major-disruptions-still-to-come-in-health-care

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Communication Strategy for hearing impaired: Restaurants

2011-08-14T18:39:00.001-07:00

Tuesday Tips: Restaurants

Restaurants must be the bain of all hearing aids. Hearing aids do well with isolated noises, but with noise from all directions, it becomes quite confusing. A few strategies when dining out, however, can help minimize problems.

Pick your restaurants carefully. Restaurants with a lot of ambience tend to be bad. Ambience in restaurants usually come in the form of low-lighting, background music, and hard, funky surfaces. The best restaurant from an acoustic standpoint is one with upholstered furniture, no background music, good lighting, and low ceilings.
Go early for dinner. You can miss the bulk of the noisy dinner crowd and you usually have your choice of any seat in the house. So pick the potentially quietest corner or table in the restaurant.
Choose your table wisely. If you can choose a table, pick one that’s in the corner. Two walls mean a little less noise. However, make sure you’re not right by the kitchen; otherwise, you’ll hear all the cutlery and chopping emitting from there. If there are booths available, they are often better for communication. The enclosure of your table can reduce the amount of noise that you hear.
If you do get to choose a seat at your table, pick according to where the noise is. If you have hearing aids, you should set the aids to the noise mode and sit with your back to the restaurant while facing the wall. The wall doesn’t make as much noise as your fellow diners, so it’s better to be facing it. If you don’t have hearing aids, then sit beside the wall so that at least you can hear some of the conversation from one ear.

Sometimes, you can do all the above and still have a difficult time in the restaurant. Be patient and have a good humour about misunderstood conversation. Sometimes the misunderstanding can lead to good joke for everyone to share.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Tuesday Tips for communicating with hearing impaired: Reducing Background Noise

2011-08-14T18:32:00.001-07:00

Reducing Background Noise

It doesn’t take too much to make a conversation easier to hear. Just reduce the background noise. I’m not asking you to stop the world from turning and getting all the noise out of the world, but you can do some simple things to reduce background noise.

Turn down or off any unnecessary music or sound. That could be your own TV or the radio. You may have to ask the owner of the device to turn it down. A conversation is lot easier without music covering over all the words
Close the windows. If the windows are open and you get all the traffic noise, shut the sound out by closing the windows. It’s a tough call during a hot summer day, but less noise makes a huge difference
Move away from the noise. If you can’t control the sound, at least move away from it. Just stepping a few feet away, or even out of a room, from the noise, it will be a relief to your ears and your conversation partner.

There’s no one end-all answer to reducing background noise. Use your best judgment and reduce any background noise that you can reduce.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Using (Land/ Cell Phone) Phone at home: Bluetooth hub / adaptor

2011-08-07T19:23:00.001-07:00

Normal 0 false false false EN-CA ZH-HK X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

The following info comes from Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Bluetooth for home phones
There are a couple of options here.

1. VTech makes a Bluetooth cordless phone system. Item # LS6245. This can be paired to the Bluetooth adapter. If you have the Bluetooth adapter paired and connected to your cellphone, you will need to forward your cellphone to the VTech phone and then disconnect the cellphone from the Bluetooth adapter (the disconnect option is in your Bluetooth menu on your cellphone). The reason you need to do this is that the phone (cellphone or regular) takes priority in the Bluetooth adapters. The two phones will be competing for access to your Bluetooth adapter. So if you are talking on the cordless phone at home and a cellphone call comes in – if the cellphone is not disconnected from your Bluetooth accessory, then the cellphone may kick you off your cordless phone call. It’s best to have just one phone connected to your Bluetooth accessory at a time. The benefit of having the cordless Bluetooth phone is that you can be about 10 metres (30 feet) away from the phone in your house and still be able to get a phone call wirelessly with your Bluetooth adapter.

2. For non-Bluetooth home phones (which is most phones) some of the manufacturer's make an adapter to attach to your phone and convert it to Bluetooth. After some in-house experimenting here, it appears that some of the manufacturer’s Bluetooth phone adapters are compatible with other manufacturer’s products (for instance the Oticon phone hub works very nicely with the iCom and uDirect. While I can’t say for sure – it will most likely work with the other Bluetooth adapters as well.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Communication Strategy for hearing impaired: Visualizing the Scenario

2011-08-07T18:51:00.001-07:00

Tuesday Tips: Planning Ahead – Visualizing the Scenario

Envision the scenario that is about to happen. Important visual and aural cues are missing with hearing loss, but the brain can fill in the gaps if you know what is happening.
Anticipate what is going to be said. In a place like boulangerie, there are certain phrases that are commonly used. Practice those phrases. The practice would help your brain to be prepared for what is about to be said.
Different situations means different possibilities. So what you might expect in the bakery would be different from what is said in a doctor’s office from what is said in a restaurant. Context is everything.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Communication Strategy for hearing impaired - Lighting

2011-08-07T18:42:00.001-07:00

Tuesday Tips: Lighting

The amount of light in the room is not the first thing you think about when you talk about hearing. However, you can hear better if you see better. Think of the last conversation you had with somebody standing in front of a brightly-lit window. It wasn’t fun, was it? There are often shadows that can fall on people’s faces. That makes it hard to see their facial expressions and lips, which are important to the context of any conversation. Then there’s that awful glare from staring towards the window too long. I can see imprints of light in my eyes just thinking about it.

Increase the light if it’s too dark. As romantic as conversations in the dark are, it may not be the best for your communication. Turn on the lights and you’ll often have an easier time talking to each other.
Move away from glaring sources of light. So as with the brightly-lit window scenario, it may be best not to stand right by that window. It can be tiring for all talkers involved and harsh shadows on the face just don’t look endearing.
Put your back to the window. If it’s not too bright, then the window can provide just the right amount of light. However, you will likely want your back to the window so that the light falls on the face of those you’re speaking to.

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Assistive Technology Co-operative: Community Needs Assessment

2011-08-07T16:40:00.001-07:00

Assistive Technology Co-operative: Community Needs Assessment

A co-operative is a business organization that is owned and operated by a group of individuals who become members for their mutual benefit. In order to become a member, you must make a one time share purchase. To learn more about co-operatives, and how they may apply to assistive technology, click here.

In order to better understand what people with disabilities, their families and supporters think about the idea of an assistive technology co-operative we are launching a community survey using small group meetings in various communities as well as an on-line questionnaire.

Please help us to better understand if an assistive technology co-operative could help you to meet your needs or the needs of someone you know.

Take a few minutes to fill out our online-survey by clicking the link http://bcatcoop.wordpress.com/

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Bluetooth compatibility – Accessing Technology with your Hearing Aids

2011-08-07T10:20:00.001-07:00

Bluetooth compatibility – Accessing Technology with your Hearing Aids

Posted via email from Ann Reflection

Reflection when initiating systematic literature review

2009-10-22T22:14:00.000-07:00

Here I am in the library again, the only location that I can do work: initiating systematic literature review for my directed study. Here is the wiki(http://hinf490.pbworks.com) for it

The following is my reflection:

What is the information need for laboratory data?

What is the audience? Audience matters in the area because expert knowsledge and computer literacy affect the cognitive process of the information processing.

What is intrinsic to raw clinical laboratory data?
- mostly numeric
- unit matter
- time matter
- some canned text, some free text
- some image
- some sound
- usually flat structure
- few have hierrchary or network when combo-test is ordered, e.g. complete blood count
- some calculated, e.g. total creatinine clearance
- context matter, depended on personal / family health history.

For my systematic review, should I exclude medical images? and just focus on multi-variants?

Hide in Dungeon for six months!

2009-10-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

I must say that I had horrible summer. Taking six courses and work at the same time is not fun at all, particularly complicated with the exhausting co-op job applications and interviews. Thus I hide in the sweating computer lab night and day. I realized how much I missed the lovely summer nights, lantern, travel, photography and pottery!
With my favorite fall color, I found my norm again today. I will come out of the dungeon!

Which cell phone in Canada have hearing aid compatibities?

2009-04-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

Beside microphone volume, and sound clarity, radio frequency interference from the cellular phone with hearing aids is a huge obstacle for hearing aid users.

Some cell phone create a magnetic field that can be coupled with a telecoil-equipped hearing aid while some other fails. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) has mandated that cell phones have to test for hearing aid compatibilities and report microphone ( M ) rating and the telecoil coupling ( T or t - coil ) rating. The scale for hearing aid compatibility ranges from one to four providing four possibilities: shaky ( M1 or T1 ), fair ( M2 or T2 ), good ( M3 or T3 ), and excellent ( M4 or T4 ). Canada does not have this regulation.

In preparation to get myself a new cellular phone, to replace the one that I lost, I asked telus, who still carries my contract, for a list of dealer who have workable demo. So I can go and test them with my hearing aids before spenting money. The link of dealer that the representative sent me was not accompanied with information of which dealers have workable demo. I went to dealers and they have dummy phone only. As a person with hearing impairment, I have difficulty phoning the dealers one by one to ask if they have workable demo. Plus, I am not allowed to "test" the phone without actually buying the phone, which is very inconsiderate.

I did some internet research and find that both motorola krzr and BlackBerry(r) Pearl(tm) Flip 8230 smartphone have hearing aid compatibility (HAC) of M3, which is great.

However, the dealer was unheard of this terminology.

Due to the bad experience with cell phones, I was not willing to commit more of my money before having trials on them. Therefore, I chose Motorola krzr, which is a "pay and talk" phone on sale. However, I would like to make use of the text-based communication (email, messaging) which is offered by BlackBerry(r) Pearl(tm) Flip 8230, and are much more useful for me, if I can have trial on them first before being committed for another 3-year contract.

Oh, there are some links I found from my internet research.

Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Page on how to buy hearing aid compatible phone

http://widhh.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-to-buy-hearing-aid-compatible.html

Motorola's page on HEARING AID COMPATIBILITY

http://direct.motorola.com/ens/accessibility/Hearingaid.html

Experience No Interference by Using Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phones

http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/experience-no-interference-by-using-hearing-aid-compatible-cell-phones-514101.html

Hearing loss group complains to FCC about iPhone:
They want Apple to make it usable for those with hearing aids

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9037999

iPhone and M3/M4 hearing-aid compatibility?

http://theappleblog.com/2007/02/26/iphone-and-m3m4-hearing-aid-compatibility/

I strongly suggest that Telus mobility put a summary page on their web site about hearing aid compatibility (HAC) on their line of phone. Since they are one of the two CDMA providers in Canada, hearing-aid users turn to CDMS providers for their portable communication needs. (Yes, GSM providers are rule out, because of the interference of the phones with hearing aids). Please be considerate for hearing aids user. They are a growing consumer population and willing to spend money on accessories to make their phone works for them. People who posted on the above website have buy bluetooth device, conducing neckloops, captioning service, and visual voicemail. By introducing hearing aid compatible phone and making their information easier to find, the business of Telus or Bell business will expand despite the depression.

UVic Library Reflection - A pair on bench under Full Moon, the first

2009-04-08T23:38:00.001-07:00

UVic Library Reflection - A pair on bench under Full Moon, the first night that the fountain is refilled in 2009.
Originally uploaded by annchou

I returned from the Craigdarroch Ceremony last night. When I walked past the library. Something special caught my eyes. My beloved reflection of the library was back. UVic must decided that the winter was surely over and refilled the pond again. It must be the first night that the pond/fountain was filled. The reflection was perfect without the running fountain. When I checked fountain this morning, the fountain was on, and no more perfect reflection.