Jeffrey is the writer and creator of "Ohio Monthly Communicator"
The mission is to educate and enhance the quality of life for HH / Deaf individuals and promote accessibility and inclusion within the community. It's a monthly newsletter that will serve as a place to keep our community connected.
Past articles:
Subtitle Glasses By Aircaps
AirCaps has developed smart glasses that display real-time subtitles for conversations. They developed these glasses inspired by loved ones with hearing loss, aiming to make it easier for people to follow conversations and stay connected.
Aircaps claim the subtitles are extremely accurate, and the glasses even work well in noisy environments and with multiple speakers - they can identify & separate individual speakers in group conversations.
The company further claims that many of their early testers have said these glasses are “life-changing” and allow them to feel more connected and involved in conversations they once struggled to follow
You can see more on their website: https://www.aircaps.com/. If you want to get in touch with them, you can email them at aircaps@aircaps.com or schedule a free live demo on their website.
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O.M.C. Welcomes Olivia Tull (President) and Marleigh Winterbottom (VP) of the Ohio State University’s Deaf-Hearing Club. Located at 1739 North High St. (3rd floor)
Club Overview:
What is the name of the club?
The Deaf-Hearing Club at Ohio State University.
Can you tell me about the mission and goals of the club?
To bring people of all ages and all levels of fluency in ASL, within and outside of OSU, through social activities, and educational seminars that affiliate with the Deaf Community and/or the use of American Sign Language. We aim to foster community and connections between the Deaf community and OSU ASL students.
Membership and Participation:
How many members does the club currently have, and what are the demographics of the members?
We typically have 15-30 people at our meetings. The majority of our members are OSU ASL students ranging from beginner learners to more advanced signers. We also have some Deaf membership between students, faculty, and community members that we are hoping to grow.
What types of activities or events does the club organize to engage members?
DHOSU hosts a collection of biweekly social and educational events for members to interact in ASL, encourage Deaf awareness, and create community. Regular events that we hold include Game Nights, Dinner Socials, and Accessible Valentines Craft Night (for CCEC). We have also held other events including a community CODA showing and discussion, an ASL Interpreter Panel, ASL Hand Painting, Bingo Night, and an ASL Poetry Slam.
Learning and Teaching Sign Language:
What resources do you provide for members who are new to sign language?
While DHOSU is not an ASL-teaching club, we provide a space for students and community members to learn from each other and practice conversational skills. Since our meetings are silent events to promote an ASL-inclusive environment, we provide support for all of our meetings for beginner signers through the use of visual supports, writing, and the display of simple signs that would be helpful for our activity. We prefer to leave more formal ASL teaching to the Deaf community and OSU ASL courses, but we, as a club, aim to provide adequate support and resources to those still learning and developing their skills to allow everyone to follow along and be included in every meeting.
Can you describe any challenges that beginners typically face when learning sign language?
Challenges that beginners tend to face when learning ASL include following longer ASL conversations and/or discussions and expanding their own use of ASL to hold casual conversation on a variety of topics.
Community Involvement:
How does the club engage with the wider community?
DHOSU aims to participate in the greater Columbus Deaf community, and we have held events including volunteering at OSD’s [Ohio School for the Deaf] annual Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat and we extend invitations to the community for larger events such as our CODA movie screening and discussion and our ASL Interpreter Panel.
Personal experience:
What inspired you to get involved with the sign language club?
Marleigh: I joined DHOSU because I wanted a place to practice my ASL skills and keep up with my signing in semesters when I was not taking an ASL course. I was excited by the opportunity to sign with Deaf students/community members and enjoyed the ability to connect with other students through social events. My continued membership has increased my ASL skills exponentially and helped me be more comfortable in casual conversation, ASL expansion, and interacting with Deaf signers.
Olivia: I joined DHOSU to continue having the ability to use and improve my ASL skills. I really enjoyed learning ASL in high school and being a part of my high school’s organization, so I knew I wanted to continue taking ASL classes and participating in Deaf community events in college. I think what really kept me involved with DHOSU was the opportunity to join the leadership team. Both Marleigh and I joined the board during our first semester, and it’s been quite formative for our college experiences. Since joining DHOSU over two years ago, my signing has greatly improved, in addition to my confidence and interpersonal skills to interact with new individuals, whether Deaf or hearing using ASL.
Future Plans:
What are some upcoming initiatives or projects the club is planning?
Our biggest goal currently is to increase Deaf membership and attendance. With a goal of creating a community of Deaf individuals and ASL learners, we appreciate any and all Deaf involvement and pride ourselves in making sure every meeting is Deaf-accessible. We also aim to hold more educational and community/guest speaker events to expand our members’ knowledge and understanding of Deaf culture and the local community.
How do you envision the club evolving in the next few years?
In the next few years, we envision the club increasing regular membership attendance and increasing in membership size more generally. We hope to have a greater representation of Deaf membership and to bring Deaf members onto our executive board for further meetings and event input from the Deaf community.
Impact:
Why is learning sign language important, in your opinion?
Marleigh: In my experience, learning sign language has reshaped how I think about accessibility and communication. It has opened my eyes to the barriers that exist in everyday environments and has made me much more aware of the access issues that many people face and how I can work to increase accessibility within my own spaces. Sign language has also expanded my understanding of what communication can look like and helped me appreciate the diversity of how people can connect and express themselves. This perspective has especially impacted how I view my future career in Speech-Language Pathology and motivated my commitment to specializing in alternative communication methods, focusing on language inclusion and advocating for accessible communication in all forms such as ASL, AAC, etc.
Olivia: Learning sign language has changed my life. After taking my first sign language class, I learned about Deaf culture and how ASL and other sign languages are so much more than just a language. They are also a community and way of life, and learning about the experiences and insights of the Deaf community has been eye-opening as someone looking to pursue medicine in the future. I originally began learning sign language as I hoped to be able to communicate with more diverse patient populations. As I learned more from Deaf individuals about the systemic barriers they face in healthcare, my focus shifted. I began to see not just the importance of language access but also the need for advocacy. These experiences ignited my passion for addressing accessibility inequities and ensuring that all patients—regardless of their language—receive the care and respect they deserve.
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O.M.C. Welcomes Andre’ Brown, founder of The Technical Spark
What inspired your invention?
The inspiration behind The Technical Spark stemmed from my passion for creating and showcasing electronic components on my YouTube channel. I was originally inspired by the idea of making technology more interactive and accessible. While demonstrating how individual components function, I worked with a sound sensor and used a light as a visual indicator to prove that the sensor was responding accurately to sound. This simple experiment initially served as a technical demonstration, but it quickly inspired me to think beyond just turning on a light.
I realized that this technology could be more impactful, particularly for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. That realization became a major source of inspiration, pushing me to explore its potential further. Wanting to validate my idea, I reached out to some of my deaf followers on my tech and engineering-focused Instagram and YouTube pages. Their feedback was incredibly inspiring—they not only confirmed its usefulness but also provided multiple real-life scenarios where such technology could significantly improve accessibility.
Their enthusiasm fueled my inspiration even more, leading me to refine the concept and develop five different use cases based on their input. As I continued showcasing the idea, even more members of the deaf community came forward with additional applications, further inspiring me to push this innovation forward. What started as a simple test of a sound sensor became an inspiring journey of discovery, proving that technology has the power to create meaningful change when approached with the right vision.
How did you develop your idea from concept to prototype?
The development of this concept into a functional prototype was heavily influenced by my background in electrical engineering. Initially, I envisioned creating a compact chip that could integrate with components I already owned, allowing the device to capture sound and generate light. Once the core functionality was established, I focused on designing a more efficient power solution. Rather than relying on a fixed wall connection, I optimized the system to be powered via a USB interface, making it compatible with standard phone chargers.
To enhance portability, I selected a smaller chip that allowed the device to operate independently of a fixed power source, enabling it to be used in any setting. This approach provided greater flexibility, ensuring that users could take the device anywhere without limitations.
Beyond functionality, aesthetics also played a key role in the design process. I developed an attractive housing to enclose the components, ensuring a clean, polished appearance while still allowing the device to capture sound effectively. This combination of technical innovation and thoughtful design resulted in a product that is both visually appealing and technologically unique.
Additionally, I implemented custom coding to ensure seamless operation. The system was programmed to function automatically upon being powered, whether through a portable charger or a direct wall connection. This level of integration was made possible by my expertise in both electrical engineering and coding, allowing the concept to transition from an initial idea to a fully developed prototype. Without this technical foundation, the idea may have remained just a concept rather than becoming a tangible, functional product.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during the invention process?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in developing The Technical Spark was optimizing the sound sensor to accurately detect specific sounds and trigger an electrical pulse. Unlike human hearing, sound sensors can be overly sensitive, often picking up frequencies beyond the audible range, which can lead to inconsistent or unintended activations.
To overcome this, I had to fine-tune the sensor’s sensitivity and implement precise coding to ensure it responded only to sounds within a typical human auditory range. Additionally, I had to establish a reliable detection range of approximately 32 feet, ensuring consistent functionality within a room-sized environment.
Another key challenge was managing how the sensor triggered the electrical pulse. By default, many sound-sensors either remain activated indefinitely once they detect any noise or fail to register subtle variations in sound levels. Through careful calibration and programming, I was able to develop a system that allows the sensor to capture sound, emit an electrical pulse in real time, and deactivate as soon as the sound stops — resulting in a more efficient and controlled response mechanism. This process required a deep understanding of both hardware and software integration, as well as extensive testing to achieve the desired level of accuracy and reliability.
How did you overcome these challenges?
I successfully overcame these challenges by implementing a numerical approach to pinpoint sound detection thresholds. By analyzing the sensor’s ability to detect sound at levels perceptible to the human ear and identifying the point at which detection ceases, I was able to establish precise measurement criteria. This process was then translated into code, ensuring accurate and reliable sound level detection.
Who is your target audience for this invention?
My target audience for Technical Spark is the Deaf/deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
What steps did you take to commercialize your invention?
I have recently captured videos and taken photographs featuring Technical Spark, and I have also received content from other users. I plan to promote all of this content across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to engage and expand my audience.
Did you consider patenting your invention?
Yes, I already patented the invention.
Where can consumers purchase your product?
In order to purchase a Technical Spark, please contact me via Instagram or Facebook, or reach out to me directly via email: dretheplug123@gmail.com
This will allow you to specify your customization preferences, including the type of light, battery, and housing for your portable device.
Please note that pricing may vary depending on the selected features and specifications. I’ll work with you to ensure your Technical Spark meets your exact needs.
Facebook: Andre’ Brown
Youtube: @Dretheplug
Instagram: Dretheplug123