One of more than 200 beta testers for the UbiDuo communication device was a deaf lady named Tamara who help run an antique store called Antique Memories, Inc near Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. UbiDuo is produced by a deaf-owned company called sComm, Inc.Tamara has been in the antique business for 2 years helping the owner run the store. The biggest challenge has always been to communicate with potential hearing customers using the tried and true but very old method of pen and paper. But all of that changed one day when a good friend of Tamara's told her about the UbiDuo in her story to Kokonut Pundits by signing via the Sorenson Video Phone.
Tamara: My friend, Lynn, told me about UbiDuo and I thought about it thinking it sounded interesting. She recommended that I try it for my work because she thinks that using it would be easier to communicate with customers and people. I thought about it and I was willing to try it.
Kokonut Pundits: How did you feel about using the UbiDuo for the first time.
Tamara: The first time using UbiDuo I felt awkward and nervous. Felt afraid on how to use it. But afterwards I felt confident. It's great. I can communicate with people easily. It's easier than pen and paper which takes much too long. Using the UbiDuo is faster and cuts time.
Kokonut Pundits: Who do you interact mostly with? Did you ever have a deaf person come to your store?
Tamara: Most of my customers are hearing but I had one deaf person come and saw the UbiDuo and asked what's that for. I explained to him that's a UbiDuo. He never saw one before. I explained to him what it was. I recommended to him to consider the UbiDuo. I'll see what happens.
Kokonut Pundits: Who would you recommend the UbiDuo to?
Tamara: I would recommend this for both hearing and deaf people. Suppose you have a deaf customer shows up at your store and sees the UbiDuo, the deaf customer will appreciate it. Some hearing people wrote to me that they appreciated UbiDuo. I think it's great. Using the UbiDuo has helped increase business at the store by being successful in communicating with customers. Most of the customers are hearing and noticed the Ubi Duo. I ask them "May I help you?" on the Ubi Duo. Customers see the UbiDuo and recognize the keyboard. They become comfortable in using it. It's better. Most know how to type. Some don't or are nervous about the technology. Some request pen and paper. Or have a friend type the UbiDuo.One story happened to me with one customer who tried to talk to me. I couldn't hear and tried to type to the customer. I encouraged the customer to type on the UbiDuo. The customer liked it. I felt good. Happy for the communicaton and make him feel satisfied and not have him feel like I was ignoring him. I noticed more people are now more friendlier with me.
Kokonut Pundits: Any other good stories?
Tamara: I forgot to bring UbiDuo at work and realized that I can't live without it. I went to work without it one day. Then customers come and ask "Where's the UbiDuo?" I felt bad. I realize that I can't live without it. Using the UbiDuo cuts down on time instead of pen and paper. So I hurried back home to get the Ubi and brought it back to work. I really can't live without it....I notice that it is a lot better. It's worth it. People tell me their opinions that it's great. Easy to communicate. People say that it's worth it to use it.
Tamara:I get confident with potential customers using the UbiDuo. They see me using the UbiDuo and they get interested and fascinated. Get impresesed. They tell other people about the deaf antique saleswoman with the UbiDuo. I tell other people my stories about the UbiDuo. I tell them I think it is good for you to have that. I tell them not to be afraid to use it. I know some tend to be afraid of it. I tell them "Come on, you can do it! Don't say 'I can't. I can't' You can do it!".
Kokonut Pundits: What do people think of your UbiDuo?
Tamara: People come to my store and tell me their opinion. They are impressed with the UbiDuo. Think it is a good idea and helps increase business and communication` with hearing and deaf. Using the Ubi people prefer it over the pen and paper method. Saves time. I feel it's worth. I'm happy with the Ubi. It's great. I'm happy to see that it can help me communicate with both deaf and hearing people.
Sometimes I get customers who find no price tag on an antique item and come to me. I have to call the owner to get the price tag information using the Sidekick to contact the relay operator. On the Sidekick, it takes awhile thumbing and telling the customer to wait. Now, I thought about the UbiDuo. Perfect. I can use it for communication. For calling. All at the same time instead of using the Sidekick. Using the UbiDuo is much faster. I like to do things faster and don't have customers wait on me to get information over the Sidekick. I think the UbiDuo is worth it. I want to see it help hearing and deaf customers to be more satisfied rather than to wait. It's perfect.
Kokonut Pundits: Can you do business without using the UbiDuo?
Tamara: I can't live without it. I think it's worth it to use that. It really helps alot that deaf people use that.
Kokonut Pundits: Do you think the UbiDuo will be successful?
Tamara: I think it will become very successful. It will spread. I want to see deaf people succeed with UbiDuo. I look forward to the future with these successes.
Previous blogs on sComm, Inc and UbiDuo:
Greater Independence for Deaf People with UbiDuo
US Government Approves UbiDuo!
The Ubi Duo
sComm to Debut a New Revolutionary Communication Device Today at DeafNation Expo
sComm, Inc Set to Debut Unique Communication Device for the Deaf at Expos Nationwide
sComm, Inc Received Their $1.3 Million NIH Award
sComm, Inc Wins $1.3 Million NIH Award
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