[Trainer-Talk] Help finding a better conference calling service for the Deaf Blind Division

[Scott Davert]

Marsha is correct. It's also worth noting that these are automated tools, meaning that you aren't likely to get much higher quality out of them than dictation on your phone. There may also be accessibility issues surrounding these options, I have not tested them. Also, for those not tech savvy enough, Zoom and Skype still leave them without options. You may wish to consider having folks call in through VRS, CapTel, or IP-Relay as well. These 3 options are free, and are mostly not automated. In the case of CapTel, it's automated with human intervention, so should be fine.

HTH,
Scott

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 9, 2019, at 12:02 PM, Marsha Drenth via Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Maurice, 
> 
> I believe that both Skype and Zoom have the options you are looking for. But
> I do believe in both that its not free and that it must be paid for. 
> 
> Thank you, 
> Marsha Drenth
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trainer-Talk <trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
> maurice.mines via Trainer-Talk
> Sent: Sunday, December 8, 2019 9:01 PM
> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
> <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: maurice.mines <maurice.mines at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Trainer-Talk] Help finding a better conference calling service for
> the Deaf Blind Division
> 
> Hello,
> I am writing this email on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind
> Deaf Blind Division board.
> I am looking for advice on what conference calling service to switch to
> other than Freeconference.com. The reason is simply this. Unfortunately free
> conference calls audio levels of each caller vary so much that at times it
> is impossible for us to hear each other. Then one must take into account
> that all of us wear hearing aids, that can handle telephone audio at varying
> levels. So unfortunately it is important to find a calling service where
> there is a way to hopefully get better audio out of each individual caller
> so that we can all hear each other. In addition looking for a service that
> would allow either the caller to mute themselves when not talking, or the
> conference leader to mute all callers except for the one that is speaking. I
> think the ability to either mute oneself or the chair to mute all callers
> except for the one who currently has the floor is critical. Because of the
> issue that I explained above regarding the fact that we all wear hearing
> aids of different types.
> The other issue that this email is also going to touch upon is looking for a
> text based messaging service that can supplement any potential calling
> service so that if we have attendees who can't hear an audio call can
> receive either a text message or a written record of the conversation that
> is occurring. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we should proceed?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Maurice Mines, Board Member
> National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division
> Email: board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org <mailto:board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org>
> Website: www.nfbdeaf-blind.org <http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org> Live the life
> you want.
> The National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division, a proud division
> of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of members and
> friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day
> we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
> 
> 
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