While it is possible to feel a personal connection withsomeonethat we happen to meet at the grocery store, in the gym, orat acoffee house, randomly stumbling on a genuinelymeaningfulconnection with another person is relatively rare.Today'stechnology helps improve communications with people wealreadyknow, but in what way can it help us connect with folks wedo notyet know? Many apps and websites offer photos as a filter,butpictures do not reflect personality or generate deeply felthumanconnection.
The blind and visually impaired community understands how wecanfind relationships without photos, based on personalityandchemistry. It's time for the rest of us to learn. Vorail isbasedon the most human form of communication, our voice. After all,itis our voice that opens the window to our soul. Hear aquestion,speak an answer, ask a question, listen to the answers.Whenmeeting people at a party, asking a question is the natural waytostart talking. Choosing which questions to answer in asafeenvironment that protects privacy is a risk-free way to jointheconversation. Vorail never request phone number or email, andanyperson who communicates in a way that makes you uncomfortableorany topic that makes you feel upset can be added to your mutebinso that communications between you and that person or topic willnolonger take place. Vorail is a community where healthyandmeaningful communication happens because people learn to trustoneanother by listening to the authenticity and sincerity thatcanonly be expressed using the human voice. Likewise, people whoarenot authentic and sincere are recognized as such andsubsequentlymuted by many in the community. Experience life throughyour ears,and it will add more vision to your sight. Go where eyescan't takeyou.
"You fall in love with the voice first, there’s so muchrichnessand intonation within a voice that gives clues to aperson’spersonality" (Kevin Satizabal, Royal London Society fortheBlind)
Vorail in the news:
RNIB App of the Month, May 2016 -Vorail(http://www.rnib.org.uk/blogs/technology-blog)
AppleVis Extra #43 Scott Davert and Thomas Domville talkaboutVorailathttp://www.applevis.com/podcast/episodes/applevis-extra-43-interview-developers-vorail
The Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast, Robert and Allison speak withadeveloper and a user of the new social media app called Vorailathttp://dr-carter.com/podcasts/20160509withchapters.mp3
Randy and Jason feature Vorail on American Council of theBlind'sMain Menuathttp://acbradio.org/sites/default/files/archives/shows/mainmenu/mm20160610.mp3
iAccessVO Episode 15 by Ed Plumacher and Brian Fischler chatwithVorail developersathttp://traffic.libsyn.com/iaccessvo/iAccessVO-015.mp3
AppleVis podcast by Scott Davert demos Vorailathttp://www.applevis.com/podcast/episodes/get-talking-vorail-ios
"Social networking through voice rather than vision"(E-ACCESSBULLETIN)
http://www.headstar.com/eablive/?p=1192
Vorail principles:
No abuse. Zero tolerance towards abuse, mute bin for people&threads.
Relax and enjoy. An old Chinese saying "Apart from birthanddeath, nothing is a big deal in life." (生死之外无大事) Relax,really.There is nothing to lose. To use the service,nophoto/profile/phone number is required. Let the trueyouemerge.
Vorail voice over implementation:
.. rotor action on feeds to connect with voices and peopleindifferent ways.
.. four button touch to bring focus to tabs.
.. magic tap on feeds and inbox to pause and resume playbackofquestions & answers.
.. magic tap on IM screen first time starts recording, secondmagictap ends and saves.
.. magic tap on record screen first time starts recording,secondmagic tap ends and saves.
.. magic tap during play-all on feed skips to next answer fromnextperson.
.. scrub to return to previous screen.