Faces of Technology
Bridging the Gap with
Telecommunications
Lydia Runnels was leading research and
development teams of more than 200
engineers at a large telecommunications
corporation when she was presented with the
opportunity to work for ZVRS in Clearwater. It
was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse.
“I felt like it was the perfect way for giving
back to a wonderful community – the deaf
community – and it married technology and my
passion for working with people,” said Runnels.
As vice president of product development
and engineering for ZVRS, also known as “The
Z,” Runnels oversees product innovations and
feature enhancements, as well as growing
and maintaining the information technology
infrastructure. As the irst company to introduce
unique video communication technology for
the deaf, The Z sparked an industry that now
enables the deaf and hard of hearing to speak
on the phone with the help of an American Sign
Language interpreter.
Lydia Runnels
Vice President, Product Development and Engineering
ZVRS | www.zvrs.com
Education: B.S., Computer Engineering, University of South Florida
“A deaf person has a 10-digit phone
number just like you and me,” said Runnels.
“However, when they pick up the phone to
call their doctor, lawyer, or anyone in the
world, our system recognizes they need an
American Sign Language interpreter and
they can communicate through video. The
interpreter has a headset and can also speak
simultaneously to the hearing person.”
Runnels and her team of engineers created The
Z’s mobile phone and computer applications
to be compatible with a wide range of
devices. Similar video services exist, but The Z’s
innovation lies in its research and integration
of other technologies. Runnels and her team
constantly search for leading-edge discoveries
they can use to improve The Z’s features,
functions and video quality. She has even
worked alongside engineers from companies
such as Apple to align The Z’s products with
some of the world’s revolutionary mobile
technologies.
Company: ZVRS provides videophone services to the deaf and hard
of hearing including Video Relay Service (VRS). This service
allows the deaf to call anyone with the help of an American
Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. ZVRS has 30 call centers
across the United States and employs more than 600 ASL
interpreters.
projects on the horizon, speciically with advancements in emergency services.
She’s leading efforts to integrate The Z’s technology into existing 9-1-1 emergency
communications systems, as well as the creation of a device that knows its user’s
geolocation, which will help emergency personnel more quickly ind the person in
need.
Along with learning from top computer engineers and projects on the horizon,
Runnels is excited about learning more about deaf culture and assisting people in
need.
“A third of my staff is deaf or hard of hearing,” said Runnels. “It’s enlightening
working in that culture, understanding their needs and what we need to do for
them. Listening to them has been critical.”
As The Z continues its mission to improve quality
of life for the deaf, Runnels is excited about
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