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www.kansascity.com | 12/16/2007 | Demand increases for face-to-face communicator for the deaf
David Curry can hear, but his son, Jason, was born deaf. Two years ago, frustrating communication between father and son led them to invent UbiDuo.
It is a small wireless computer device with a flip-top screen and two keyboards that enables the hearing and the deaf to communicate by typing back and forth without a translator. It works as an instant messaging system, but the two people have a face-to-face interaction.
Less than a year after their invention hit the market, the product is catching on. The devices have been sold to governments and businesses in 40 states, including Missouri, Kansas, Arizona and Minnesota, according to Sandie Kelly, director of operations/education at sComm, the company producing the device.
Karin Sack, an independent living specialist and deaf advocate at the Independent Living Center in Joplin, Mo., has been using the device for about a year.
“I can’t live without the UbiDuo,” said Sack, who is deaf. “I can communicate without a barrier, unlike before when I had to wait for an interpreter to contact me or postpone the meeting at his convenience,” Sack said.
Since January, about 500 UbiDuo devices have been sold. The staff has grown from two to 10, and co-inventor Jason Curry expects the staff to hit 30 in three years.
The demand for the device has been so high that sComm, which stands for Simultaneous Communications, is moving from its Independence office to larger headquarters at the Raytown Park Plaza, 6238 Hadley St. The company is scheduled to start operation Jan. 11 in Raytown.
Raytown officials see sComm’s relocation to the city as a boost to its downtown revitalization. Mayor David Bower says the relocation “further confirms the community strategy to promote Raytown as a great community for entrepreneurial ‘applied technology’ companies ... a great place for growing companies to make their mark.”
Curry, sComm’s president and chief executive officer, says the device is changing lives by enabling users to communicate with co-workers, managers, customers and clients.
“The goal is freedom and independence in face-to-face communication for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf and blind, and foreign-language speakers,” Curry said. “The UbiDuo changes the landscape for face-to-face communication.”
Sonny Wasilowski, an office and administrative specialist, is the only deaf person in his office at the Minnesota Department of Health Services. People are more eager to interact with him because of UbiDuo, he said.
“The best part is that it is wireless, so I can sit anywhere and use it,” said Wasilowski, who has been using the device since May.
“It’s amazing how it has changed people’s attitude toward me,” Wasilowski said.
Todd Lowe, a lead therapist in the home health department at Olathe Medical Center, says his staff has used the device about 40 times since it was bought six or seven months ago.
“We now get out to see people in a timely manner,” Lowe said. “Before, we had to take an interpreter along.”
The device is saving businesses and governments money on interpreters’ fees, Curry said.
Stephanie Brady, director of programs at the Independent Living Center in Joplin, agrees.
“We usually spend about $500 to $600 a week on interpreters,” she said. “With UbiDuo, we’ve only made a one-time payment of $1,800. Imagine all the savings.”
Robert Maile, superintendent at the Kansas School for the Deaf, says the school is interested in UbiDuo and has applied for a grant to buy two of the devices.
“We’re going to try it and see how it works for our students,” Maile said. “We’re looking at it as something useful for persons who cannot use sign language to communicate with a deaf person.”
Gallaudet University, the acclaimed college for the deaf in Washington, D.C., says the device is not useful for their students while on campus, although it might be useful off-campus.
“There actually isn’t a need for it here at Gallaudet, because we are a bilingual, signing community here,” said Erin Casler, spokeswoman for Gallaudet University.
Curry sees UbiDuo’s effect beyond campus for deaf students.
“Users have talked to their families with whom they have been unable to communicate for years at family functions like birthday parties or family dinners,” he said.
David Curry can hear, but his son, Jason, was born deaf. Two years ago, frustrating communication between father and son led them to invent UbiDuo.
It is a small wireless computer device with a flip-top screen and two keyboards that enables the hearing and the deaf to communicate by typing back and forth without a translator. It works as an instant messaging system, but the two people have a face-to-face interaction.
Less than a year after their invention hit the market, the product is catching on. The devices have been sold to governments and businesses in 40 states, including Missouri, Kansas, Arizona and Minnesota, according to Sandie Kelly, director of operations/education at sComm, the company producing the device.
Karin Sack, an independent living specialist and deaf advocate at the Independent Living Center in Joplin, Mo., has been using the device for about a year.
“I can’t live without the UbiDuo,” said Sack, who is deaf. “I can communicate without a barrier, unlike before when I had to wait for an interpreter to contact me or postpone the meeting at his convenience,” Sack said.
Since January, about 500 UbiDuo devices have been sold. The staff has grown from two to 10, and co-inventor Jason Curry expects the staff to hit 30 in three years.
The demand for the device has been so high that sComm, which stands for Simultaneous Communications, is moving from its Independence office to larger headquarters at the Raytown Park Plaza, 6238 Hadley St. The company is scheduled to start operation Jan. 11 in Raytown.
Raytown officials see sComm’s relocation to the city as a boost to its downtown revitalization. Mayor David Bower says the relocation “further confirms the community strategy to promote Raytown as a great community for entrepreneurial ‘applied technology’ companies ... a great place for growing companies to make their mark.”
Curry, sComm’s president and chief executive officer, says the device is changing lives by enabling users to communicate with co-workers, managers, customers and clients.
“The goal is freedom and independence in face-to-face communication for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf and blind, and foreign-language speakers,” Curry said. “The UbiDuo changes the landscape for face-to-face communication.”
Sonny Wasilowski, an office and administrative specialist, is the only deaf person in his office at the Minnesota Department of Health Services. People are more eager to interact with him because of UbiDuo, he said.
“The best part is that it is wireless, so I can sit anywhere and use it,” said Wasilowski, who has been using the device since May.
“It’s amazing how it has changed people’s attitude toward me,” Wasilowski said.
Todd Lowe, a lead therapist in the home health department at Olathe Medical Center, says his staff has used the device about 40 times since it was bought six or seven months ago.
“We now get out to see people in a timely manner,” Lowe said. “Before, we had to take an interpreter along.”
The device is saving businesses and governments money on interpreters’ fees, Curry said.
Stephanie Brady, director of programs at the Independent Living Center in Joplin, agrees.
“We usually spend about $500 to $600 a week on interpreters,” she said. “With UbiDuo, we’ve only made a one-time payment of $1,800. Imagine all the savings.”
Robert Maile, superintendent at the Kansas School for the Deaf, says the school is interested in UbiDuo and has applied for a grant to buy two of the devices.
“We’re going to try it and see how it works for our students,” Maile said. “We’re looking at it as something useful for persons who cannot use sign language to communicate with a deaf person.”
Gallaudet University, the acclaimed college for the deaf in Washington, D.C., says the device is not useful for their students while on campus, although it might be useful off-campus.
“There actually isn’t a need for it here at Gallaudet, because we are a bilingual, signing community here,” said Erin Casler, spokeswoman for Gallaudet University.
Curry sees UbiDuo’s effect beyond campus for deaf students.
“Users have talked to their families with whom they have been unable to communicate for years at family functions like birthday parties or family dinners,” he said.