NPR Labs Workshop: Captioned Radio – Ready for Launch! by guest blogger, Megan Clancy

The radio can be tough to understand for many people who have hearing loss.

National Public Radio (NPR) Labs will be covering the Presidential election debates in October and the November 2012 elections, Mike Starling, Executive Director of NRP Labs, said. NPR Labs captioned their first radio program in 2008, after expressing interest in creating captioned radio technology in 2005. 

Their Captioned Radio system will offer emergency alert systems for deaf and deaf-blind citizens through the use of bed shakers to save lives, Starling said.  Emergencies include inclement weather emergencies and missing persons. The mission of the NPR Labs is to serve the underserved. “We want all people to hear the radio, because if we all can’t hear then we are all hearing challenged,” said Maryfran Tyler, Director of Enterprise Strategy and Planning for NPR Distribution.

However, the captioned radio service is still at a “pilot” stage, since NPR is seeking funding to cover their full schedule of shows on the radio. NPR has received funding to develop the technology through grants at this point. Also, NPR Labs provides technology consulting for various radio stations for revenue. They have received two captioning related grants from the National Institute for Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) through the Department of Education, Tyler said.

NPR Labs also circulated paper surveys to HLAA attendees to investigate their desires of which radio show they want captioned first. Also, Tyler said NPR Labs will use social media and the press during summer 2012 to promote viewership during the captioned elections in October and November. Starling then went over findings of the survey—showing that 73 percent of HLAA attendees who responded to the survey wanted emergency alerts to be implemented for their safety, and include captioned radio information about weather, traffic, talk shows, sports and music. “These results will show skeptics that you will use captioned radio shows on our website which will help us with the funding,” Starling said. 

To participate in the survey online, visit www.nprlabs.org/hlaa.

Mobile App - new pages in the Information Booth

From the main menu on the mobile Convention app, select "Info Booth." From there you will see pretty much everything that is also listed in the Convention Program & Exhibit Guide in the General Information section (see page 18). 

Lately though, as word of the Convention gets out in the local community, I am getting emails from restaurants in downtown Providence announcing special offers for our attendees. 

So far I have posted information about the 20% discount from Uno Chicago Grill (love their pizza!) - they are located in the Providence Place Mall, not too far from The Westin Providence and the RI Convention Center. Just show your badge at the restaurant or when they deliver to you.

Also posted is Pane e Vino Ristorante on Atwells Avenue - I have been there once before and it is divine! They are offering a free calamari appetizer for parties under 10 and a complimentary Prosecco toast for parties over 10. 

I will post these items as I receive them so check back on the app to see what is new. I don't anyone will go home hungry! Bon appétit!

What's my favorite thing about our mobile Convention app? Go into Workshops and then choose a worshop - once you attend this presentation, you can do the questionnaire on your mobile device and voila! it will automatically tabulate the responses. Otherwise, responses must be tabulated by hand - yes, for over 30 workshops!

What happens to the results? Each presenter is given the results so they know how they did - the questionnaire will give them invaluable feedback. We also use the results as a way of knowing what topics and presenters should be included in future Conventions.

Your feedback is important! Be sure to complete the questionnaire (and say "no" to the hard copy offered in the workshop)

David Myers, Ph.D. to Deliver Keynote

Unfortunately Howard Weinstein who was the scheduled keynote, had to cancel. But fortunately for us,
David Myers, Ph.D. is able to pinch hit. Hope College social psychologist David Myers is the author of seventeen books, which include psychology text books and "A Quiet World:  Living with Hearing Loss."  He is the creator of hearingloop.org and, since 2002, the author of 30 articles that advocate assistive listening that is directly hearing aid compatible.



David Myers, Ph.D.

In his speech titled, Accelerating Progress toward the Looping of America — and Doubled Hearing Instrument Functionality, Dave will report on the growing momentum nationwide in support of making assistive listening directly hearing instrument compatible.  Local and state initiatives, media visibility, and the growing support of hearing and audio professionals foretell an improving future for people with hearing loss. 

Don't miss David Myers, Ph.D. at the Convention 2012 Opening Session on June 21, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

The mobile Convention app, sponsored by CTIA- The Wireless Association, has live feeds from Twitter and Facebook! In fact, you don't even need to have a Twitter account to follow the conversation, but if you do, then: Follow @nmacklin

To get in on the conversation, Tweet #HLAA2012

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