The iPhone and other technology at the Catholic Confessional for the deaf and hard of hearing- Catholics with Hearing Loss: Captioning the Catholic Mass

     The iPhone and other technology at the Confessional for the deaf and hard of hearing

"It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to complete the spiritual life than to be ever beginning it over again." - St. Francis de Sales

        

One time I was at a face to face confessional, and couldn't understand the priest. I didn't have pen and paper with me, or my laptop. So I grabbed my iPhone (yes, deaf people have phones, they use them for SMS, emails, internet connection, Skype, FaceTime etc. ).  I set up an email framework on the phone,  and had the priest click on the microphone picture (voice recognition feature). He spoke directly into the mic of the phone softly but clearly and the words typed out on the screen of the iPhone; " for penance say …………' I read.    I was surprised it came out clearly.  Part of it is because the priest said it directly to the mic of the phone closely to his mouth, deliberate and clear,yet softly or so it seemed, and the voice recognition picked up his voice and converted it into text.  This method allowed him not to raise his volume when others were waiting outside because he merely spoke directly into the iPhone mic and words printed out on the phone screen for me to read instead.  It also allowed him not to have to laboriously  finger type the words on the small iPhone as all he had to do was speak into the phone.  Before I left the confessional, I merely deleted the text.  The email was never set up to send to an address. I just used the framework to facilitate communication and then erased it afterwards.

It would be nice to be able to  have a screen option for those who would like more privacy with a slit or 'bank teller drawer'  to slide these iPhones/iPads back and forth with the deaf or hard of hearing person either verbally confessing the sins or typing them, giving it to the priest, and the priest using the speech to text to communicate, passing it back through the slit near the screen wall between the priest and penitent.  Canon law does allow privacy screen options for hearing people. It would be nice if they would do the same for those with hearing loss and deafness.  It would also be nice to have a streamline confessional app specifically designed for those who are deaf and hard of hearing to go with the iPhone (or iPad). Got an app for that?

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Creating Access to the Confessional for

 the deaf and hard of hearing : 

http://captioningthemass.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=9

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"When looking at face to face vs. behind the screen, we have to look not at preferences and what makes us feel good, but what facilitates a more thorough confession and hence a firmer reconciliation to God with the reception of more grace." (Source: http://unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com/2007/08/confession-behind-screen-more-than-just.html.  

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The downside of face to face confessionals

 versus the screen:  http://unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com/2007/08/confession-behind-screen-more-than-just.html

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Volume and Privacy at the

 Confessionals and the deaf and 

hard of hearing:

http://captioningthemass.blogspot.com/2014/11/volume-and-privacy-with-deaf-and-hard.html

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Choose your language in the Iphone:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-to-voice-realtime-interpreter/id692721794?mt=8   

Gotta text to text app version of this?

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Catholics and Confession: http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/priests_forgive_sins_call_no_man_father.php

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       Captioning Shares the Message

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Can you envision the Captioning on Glass in the near future with ever improving speech to text software, being updated and installed?  Its your personal interpreter transforming spoken words to text, reading it off the screen on the upper right hand corner of your Glass.  See http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/22/4013406/i-used-google-glass-its-the-future-with-monthly-updates

Wait, there's more then just conversion of spoken language to text 'subtitles'  in real time of the same language!   Now envision the translations of all language on Glass from French, Spanish, Vietnamese etc. , and even Sign Language reading off the words (and with earplugs-sounds),  or signs on the screen -all in real time with a short lag time like any  interpreting.  Like the article says above about technology, it is not a matter of 'if' but when.  

For Catholics, we are all going to be able to go to any Catholic Mass and have access to it in our own language whether its captioning, sign language, French, Spanish, Vietnamese etc.  It will help with confessionals too in reducing or eliminating communication barriers.

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Hearing Aids and iPads:  https://audicus.com/why-does-a-hearing-aid-cost-six-times-more-than-an-ipad/

Hearing Loss, Seniors and Technology:  http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/helping-seniors-learn-new-technology/?_r=0

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"Which way do you prefer to go to confession?

• behind a screen or grate (88%, 1,924 Votes)
• face to face (12%, 264 Votes)

Total Voters: 2,188"

Source:  http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/02/poll-face-to-face-or-behind-the-screen/

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St. Michael the Archangel prayer:

http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/michael.htm

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Lord Hear Our Prayer

LIGHT a CANDLE:  http://www.lightingacandle.org

Welcome !    See  http://www.catholicscomehome.org

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Pray For Us All!

See: http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/mary_do_catholics_pray_to_her.php

100,000 Christians are Killed – PER YEAR  ANNUALLY-  because of their Faith Per Vatican:  See http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/06/02/vatican-spokesman-claims-100000-christians-killed-annually-because-faith/

Please Pray for Iraq and Syria Catholics: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/20/us-iraq-security-christians-idUSKBN0FP0R120140720 and others in Africa and the mideast.

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Come Pray the Rosary with others - together Online:  http://www.comepraytherosary.org

(text guided version offered to follow along)

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"Accessible meeting space allows 


everyone to participate." 


(Source: http://www.ada.gov/business/accessiblemtg.htm













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"Of all the barriers to full participation and inclusion, the barrier of unexamined attitudes is the most difficult to address," states Ginny Thornburgh, director of the American Association of People with Disabilities' Interfaith Initiative." 




(Source:  http://www.disabilitiesandfaith.org)




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"We depend on captions for television, movies, relay phone calls, live theater and meetings, etc. However, captions are lacking at churches and synagogues. As a result we no longer attend. We feel excluded from the spiritual communities." (Source:  http://xpressivehandz.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-churches-and-synagogues-need-to.html)




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Former Roman Catholics:  see http://www.oncecatholic.org

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US Bishop Statement:  







'It is essential that all forms of the liturgy be completely accessible to people with disabilities, since these forms are the essence of the spiritual tie that binds the Christian community together' 

(Source:  http://www.disabilityawarenesstraining.com/component/content/article/3/40)



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The purpose of this blog is to raise  Diversity Awareness among those with hearing loss and deafness, and to raise  awareness that many  with hearing loss are being excluded from full participation at the Mass if the church does not have Captioning. Catholics with hearing loss deserve the fullness of their faith.   Does your Diocese/Archdiocese have at least one Mass service in Captioning at a church that one who benefits from it can reasonably travel to in order to fully and actively participate at the Mass? Contact your Diocese/Archdiocese - find it here:    http://www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses.cfm.)




















Is your church or Diocese/Archdiocese  inclusive to all those with hearing loss and deafness by providing Real time Captioning, Sign Language and Audio Loops?   If not - Diversity and Inclusion Awareness is needed in order to share the joy of the gospel by applying Universal Communication Access.  It is very important to share the Word of God with everyone.  Let's pray for that!







Prayer of Inclusion: http://www.ncpd.org/ministries-programs/spirituality/prayers












"Be not Afraid, Open Wide the Gates" - Pope St.  John Paul II   (Source: http://jp2forum.blogspot.com/2013/12/be-not-afraid-resounding-from-1531-to.html)

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