No Communication Barrier

How is that possible? How is it possible to have 100% no communication barrier between a deaf guy and hearing people and be able to communicate in real time just like signing or talking using voice? How is it possible to have 100% communication without signing or talking? Without writing using pen and paper? Without an interpreter 24/7 following you like an unwanted 3rd shadow? Take a look at this picture and figure out how it is possible and you tell me. How can a deaf guy translate his hiking experiences and other stories as a deaf person to a bunch of hearing person using this piece of amazing communication technology?

If you want to follow Julio on his hiking quest on the Appalachian Trail click on the picture icon on the left column of this blog.

If you want to know more about the UbiDuo communication technology visit sComm, owned and operated by a deaf CEO and co-founder.

The reward of unimpeded communication on the Appalachian Trail

Emma Curry is the mother of Jason Curry, CEO and co-founder of sComm, shared her thoughts with Jason and many other people in an email about Julio Rodriguez who is currently hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

On Facebook, Jason has been following the "posts" of a young man who is deaf who lives in Florida.   This young man decided to WALK the Appalachian Trail this summer from Florida to Maine.  His name is Julio Rodriguez.  As Jason watched the "posts" and saw that Julio was truly walking "alone" and missing the broad experience and fun of talking to people along the way -- Jason contacted Julio.  Jason offered to send Julio a loaner UbiDuo for the rest of his walk.   Julio was in a little tiny town.  He went to 5 businesses and asked them if they would allow an overnight mail shipment to come to their business.   4 of them refused.  The 5th one - a little tiny cafe owned by the man that Julio wrote his note to -- said:  "Sure,."   This is a picture of what happened the very afternoon that Julio picked up the UbiDuo.  

Another man -- who is hearing -- walked into the little cafe.  This man was clearly walking the trail also.  Julio started talking to him on the UbiDuo.   They decided to camp together that night and talked for 2 hours on the UbiDuo.

Now Julio is talking to lots of people that he is meeting along the Appalachian Trail.  Changed his entire trip - ultimately will change his life!!!!   He has now asked Jason if he might sell the Ubi in the South.  His Facebook posts are being read all over the United States.........

This story does make me have tears.   Takes lots of courage to be deaf......and often be isolated from everyone around you who is hearing.......but to see the difference that this Ubi makes in anyone's life brings me up straight in my seat with thankfulness.  A great device.   Good for David.   Good for Jason.

A summary of one of Julio's private texts to Jason said this:           

"So many of us who are deaf didn't even realize how hard we were making it on our lives by not taking advantage of this new tool."       

That's the difference between choosing pen and paper, gesturing, and/or lip-reading in the effort to try and get the full interactive and unimpeded communication with a hearing person that will ultimately fail each and every time. This sleek next generation UbiDuo solves that. No bluffing. No guessing. No embarrassment. Just real time conversation in a language that both people can understand and enjoy in a face to face communication environment. It's the exact same communication environment seen between two deaf persons signing to each other or two hearing persons talking to each other. But what about between a deaf and hearing person? The UbiDuo offers that real time communication environment between deaf and hearing persons.

If you have any questions about Julio Rodriguez hiking the Appalachian Trail or using the UbiDuo  please visit his personal Facebook page and ask. I'm sure he's more than happy to answer your questions.

Video of Announcement of the Next Generation UbiDuo

If you missed the announcement you can still go and watch the recording of the announcement of the next generation UbiDuo by Jason Curry, CEO of sComm.  And you can also watch the YouTube recording (Part 1, 2, 3, and 4) with captioning provided by a CART typist. Videos uploaded to YouTube were done a blogger, Mike McConnell, who attended the widely anticipated and celebrated event.

LIVE STREAMING AT SCOMM TONIGHT!

On Saturday, January 26, 2013 starting at 6:45 PM CST (7:45 ET, 5:45 MT, 4:45 PT) will be a LIVE STREAMING EVENT at sComm. Be sure to tune in according to your time zone.  sComm will be live streaming the unveiling of the answer that two men found in the trunk. For the exciting conclusion to the Project Black video series, please visit LIVE STREAMING sComm. Jason Curry, CEO of sComm, has an important announcement to make tonight.

If you've missed parts 1-3 of the Project Black videos then please click on one of the three Project Black videos seen on the left side of this blog site.

Check out this video of a pre-launch party and get a glimpse on who will be attending today's launch party.




I will be live blogging this event. So, watch for more pictures and videos!

UPDATE!  The streaming live TV will be delayed until 7:15 (CST) due to a large number of people attending as we get things squared away.

When famous people use the UbiDuo

Don't think well known or famous hearing people use the UbiDuo, the face to face communication device, to talk with other deaf people? Think again. How about Benard Pollard, the Baltimore Ravens (2013 AFC champion) talking with Jason Curry (CEO and co-founder of sComm the maker of the UbiDuo) for over an hour? Check out this priceless picture.

Just two guys having a good time talking with each using the UbiDuo.  Not feeling like a 3rd person with an interpreter in tow, the UbiDuo can give a deaf person a real sense of empowerment and control. No waiting for conversations to change hands, taking turns like using a pen and paper that's good only for limited conversation. Using the UbiDuo there is no misunderstanding or missed words when you have face to face real time typing conversation going on. 



Hat tip: Greg Gunderson

Anytime...anywhere....not afraid to communicate.

On an airplane flight in one of his many business flights and being the only deaf person on board surrounded with hearing travelers certainly was not an excuse for him to keep quiet. Wherever he goes whether at a bar, a convention, or on an airplane there's never a lost opportunity to whip up a discussion with a hearing person anytime, anywhere...no problem. And communicate easily, unimpeded in real time conversations and not miss a beat or a single word. Never knowing that by introducing himself to a hearing person could open up a whole new level of networking. Just like the day on an airplane when he bumped into one of the top sports writer for The Kansas City Star newspaper Joe Posnanski who eventually wrote a story about this deaf man and his good friend, Greg Gunderson back in July of 2006. A story that I was directly responsible in reuniting these two old deaf friends who have not seen each other since the days when they were camp roommates at Boys Town.

Jason and engineers spent three years testing the device, working and reworking the design, and interviewing deaf people for ideas. When the prototype was done, Jason needed some people to test it. He contacted Mike McConnell, perhaps the nation’s best known deaf blogger. Mike said he knew the perfect guy.

He wrote: “Do you know about Greg Gunderson, who is trying to become the first deaf NASCAR driver?"

When Jason came across Greg’s name, he did not recognize it. But when he went to the Web site, he saw a photograph, one he had a hundred times before. It was Greg on a snowmobile. Jason remembered everything. This was his old camp roommate. He was trying for something big. And he needed help.

So, Jason got in touch, and they cried as they remembered. Jason’s Independence-based company sComm bought Greg his fire suit and helmet (with the words “Ubi Duo” prominent on both) and he offered Greg his invention to use on the show. This way, Greg could communicate with fans and media members and the other drivers on the show. This way, Jason’s invention could be seen by America.

See, Jason believes in destiny, too.

“The other day, I had a long chat with my brother-in-law on the Ubi Duo,” Jason wrote. “It was the first in-depth conversation we’d ever had. When I went over to their house, I used to be off to the side, alone. It was hard.

“Now, this device … it will change people’s lives. I know it. It will help deaf people do jobs. It will bring family members together. And it will help my old friend Greg become the first deaf NASCAR driver. I know it.”

Greg knows it, too. The story has to end happily. A few weeks ago, Greg came across a room key and he realized: It was to their room at Boys Town. Greg never knew why he kept that key — he was supposed to give it back at the end of the camp — but he did keep it. And every time he thought of throwing it away, something stopped him. Now he knew. He gave the key to Jason.

“What is the key to?” I type into the Ubi Duo.

“The future,” Greg typed.

Indeed. The future continues to look brighter with each passing day for sComm only because communicating with hearing people using the UbiDuo has proved its worth the weight in gold time and time again.  It's the little bold things like talking next to a hearing passenger sitting next to you while showcasing the face to face communication device to a fellow passenger that led to much bigger things. With the UbiDuo deafness becomes a non-issue anytime, anywhere and never an excuse not to communicate with any hearing person.

So, what's stopping you from communicating with a hearing person sitting next to you?  Your deafness? It certainly did not stop Greg Gunderson or Jason Curry.

"Being your best advocate"

That was a phrase coined by Stephen Hopson, who is deaf and became the first deaf person in aviation history to earn an instrument-rated pilot's license, spoke as a commencement speaker in front of the graduating high school class at Clarke School in Northampton. He told students that his life and accomplishments were proof that you "have to be your own best advocate."

Stephen Hopson, the first deaf person in aviation history to earn an instrument-rated pilot's license, told students that they had to stand up for themselves and ignore naysayers in order to succeed.

"If you do, your life will change and your life will change other people's lives. You have that power," he said.

Hopson, who was born deaf, also had a successful career as a Wall Street stockbroker and is now a writer and inspirational speaker.

And that's true. There will be naysayers who will attempt to detract your efforts  by negatively saying what you do will not work or succeed, especially against deaf people such as those in the global microbrand business. Jason Curry, CEO of sComm, is an example of that by "being your best advocate." He believed in his vision that a new product of his will help deaf and hard of hearing people communicate better with hearing people without the need of a sign language interpreter. And he did exactly that by designing a patented communication face-to-face device called "UbiDuo" which made its debut on April 22, 2006 after starting up his business in 2002. Most new businesses fail within 5 years but in the face of a downturn economy Jason's business continues to thrive and grow only because he became his own best advocate. That is key on ensuring success along with drive and focused determination. If you believe then you can succeed.

Global Microbrand

There is a new concept in the business world called "global microbrand" that was coined several years back. For those not familiar with the phrase it basically means in a niche market you have a brand that sells all over the world but not yet at the tipping point on being able to produce in massive quantity the product being sold. There are some deaf-owned businesses that does this on their own designing, making and selling their own technology products. sComm is one of those very few businesses that does that. And by saying "very few" it's a true statement around here. sComm has a global microbrand called the "UbiDuo" which has been sold worldwide and it continues to grow. No matter how small or big this niche market is as long as there is big enough interest in a product there's money to be made and profited. In this case the UbiDuo has been proven to be a money maker ever since the first year it debuted.

sComm began as a company in 2002 and debut the UbiDuo communication device on April 22, 2006 at DeafNation. Jason Curry, who is deaf and the CEO of sComm, never looked back once his product took off that year and saw sales rise each year. It has been 5 years since the opening day when the UbiDuo was made available to the public. Most new businesses do not survive past 5 years and go out of business. But sComm is nothing but normal as a business in an economy that has been suffering for the last few years. In fact, in a depressed economy sComm is actually thriving because people are quickly finding out the value of 100% accessible communication of the English language. 

Looking back 5 years ago the year when UbiDuo first exploded into the conscious minds of many deaf people you had your naysayers and detractors on this new technology, a soon to be global microbrand. You had your deaf techno geeks and so called "experts" who derided and made fun of the Ubiduo and the CEO of sComm for making that communication device seeing it as "worthless" and not "doable."  This was a product I recognized several years back seeing it as potentially a valuable communication device for deaf people. A niche market I knew that Jason Curry, the CEO, could easily help fill not just in the United States but worldwide for deaf users who know English. And that's a lot of people my friends. Not really so "niche-y" if you think about it.

I first heard about the upcoming communication device back in 2004 from Jason Curry, CEO of sComm. Even the people at NIH was impressed with Jason's vision that his company was awarded a $1.3 million dollar grant in February of 2005 to help fund the Phase II of sComm's product that would enable face-to-face communication betweeen deaf and hearing people, and between people in other communication-challenged situations.

Again, you had those deaf self-appointed techno-geeks and so called "experts" on technology and communication laugh at Jason's vision and product only to be proven wrong year after year after year.  Jason easily made fools of those so called "experts" in the world of micro branding. The superb quality that goes behind every Ubiduo stands on its own. I've seen it with my own eyes which validated my strong belief that Jason's vision was right on the mark that this communication device can help deaf people communicate effortlessly with hearing people. And that alone could potentially help a deaf person's own career as well with the ability to effortlessly interact with hearing people.

But in a world of deaf people who rely on sign language to communicate where some have been resistant and one-minded that they must have interpreters  24/7 available to them in order to communicate with their hearing peers, friends, co-workers, supervisors or bosses, that idea simply will not work in all cases. Not everybody can have the luxury on having a personal interpreter shadow you all day long like Marlee Matlin's own personal interpreter.  Don't get me wrong, having an interpreter is quite important in many cases but having or demanding an interpreter in nearly every single situation doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the world of business where English is king. Most of your co-workers, supervisors, clients and customers are hearing people who use English to communicate on a daily basis whether on paper or by voice. It makes good business sense to interact with hearing people using English on a daily basis.

Let me ask you this question.

What would you say about a deaf worker who worked as a greeter at Sam's Club for 12 years without having any other responsibilities or promotion? What would you say upon learning about a deaf worker who obtained a piece of communication technology called the "UbiDuo" that allowed him access to hearing customers and because of that technology he was promoted three times and now supervises 20 hearing people in a space of a few years? How much would you pay for that piece of technology that would allow you to interact and communicate with hearing people where signing isn't involved nor required?

Before you answer that there's a sobering reality what many culturally deaf people do not realize in the world of business.  In the United States in one federal agency with 37 deaf employees it had to spend $2.7 million dollars a year on interpreting fees alone.  On average that turns out to be $73,000 per year for each deaf person. In a time of budget cuts, downsizing and rising unemployment rates the bottom line has become quite apparent for all federal agencies, state government agencies and companies in lean times all over the world, and not just in the United States. There are efforts underway by companies and such to find ways to help control their cost , especially among those who are not so "English-impaired" and can communicate using English instead of acting like helpless people who don't know a lick of English and demand sign language interpreters in every possible or impossible scenarios.

Deaf people have a choice. Either they take the reign and show what they're capable of by showing their independence on their capability to interact with hearing people. Or become overly dependent on interpreters when their English is sufficient to communicate in the first place in face to face scenarios. If you can chat online, use the email, use the TTY, go on discussion forums over the internet and type everything in English, then certainly you have the capability to use the UbiDuo instead of using interpreters as a crutch.  Either you can stand up and speak for yourself in your own words or have a third person do the speaking for you all the time. The choice is really yours to make.

Newly revamped UbiDuo Website

If you're curious go and check out sComm's newly revamped UbiDuo website. Lots of new features, information, videos and news to check out. If you refresh the main page you'll see a different picture each time with people using the UbiDuo.

The wholly deaf-owned and run company has certainly grown ever since they opened their doors in 2006 to begin selling their award winning patented UbiDuo communication device to the public. Ever since that day the company has grown to 15 employees in lock step with the growing demand for the UbiDuo communication device. This is a company to watch out as they continue to build upon their successes with the mission to be the premier provider of innovative technology solutions that shatter communication barriers and empower people with the freedom to communication with anyone, anywhere and at any time.

Go and check it out!

What to look for in a successful deaf-owned company

The biggest aspect of what a successful, deaf-owned company would look like would be the ability to exude a positive outlook with a specific goal in mind without resorting to political correctness. One company fits that profile and that is sComm, Inc, a wholly deaf-owned company, home of the popular UbiDuo face-to-face communication device.

Over five years ago when I first heard about this company I was impressed with the company's founder, Jason Curry, believing that technology is the answer to help level the playing field among those with hearing loss as seen in their mission statement on their main webpage.

Our Mission: To be the premier provider of innovative technology solutions that shatter communication barriers and empower people with the freedom to communicate with anyone, anywhere and at any time.

Note their mission is to become the premier provider of innovative technology solutions. The company is all about innovation. A bootstrapper with the goal in mind to increase that communication freedom with anyone, anywhere and at any time.

Back then I realized just how serious and positive this company was in their goal to succeed I decided to blog about the company's ongoing development and watched it grow starting from 2005. Because I, too, believe that technology is the answer and that us deaf and hard of hearing people are in a better position to determine which kind of technology would be beneficial.

Technology continues to improve and expand to the benefit of those with hearing loss whether the person has a mild hearing loss or is profoundly deaf. When it comes to technology there are very few companies in the United States run by a deaf CEO. Or a company that patent, design, make and distribute their own technology products and at the same time employ deaf, hard of hearing and hearing employees. sComm, Inc fits that bill nicely.

Back in 2007 I spoke at the first ever vlog/blog convention at Gallaudet University with a conviction believing that technology will continue to increase communication access between deaf/hh and hearing people. And it will. You can see a video of my speech in Gallaudet University's video catalog (or click here to watch the video in external mode that comes with a time stamp which I recommend doing so). My speech comes with an ASL interpreter. I am introduced at the 1 minute 54 second time mark along with other bloggers. My speech begins at the 29 minute and 14 seconds time mark and ends at the 45 minute and 35 seconds mark). And a side note about this is that I was the only deaf/hh person to have spoken using my voice and I explained my reason for doing so in my 2007 blog piece. The summary of my technology speech on "Futuristic Classrooms" covered questions like:

• Is it about the ability to interact?

• Is it about communication needs and preferences?

• Is it about accessibility when it comes to the free flow of information whether coming from a computer or human being?

• Is a “futuristic classroom” on campus only?

• How about off campus?

• Is it always about classrooms? What about outside of classrooms? Can learning take place outside of the classrooms?

When it comes to technology for all deaf and hard of hearing people such a technology ought to be seamless and intuitive while providing a completely accessible and transparent communication medium.

One thing to realize about technology is that it is moving faster than ever before. Technology and performance doubles every 2 years. Technology will play a major role in how deaf and hard of hearing people will interact with anyone on and off campus, and any place whether it's for business or pleasure. This can make difference on improving the odds for deaf owned businesses to thrive and compete with anybody since many businesses do not survive past the 5 year mark. For any deaf owned companies in the technology business sector they must plan 2 to 4 years in advance and take into consideration future technology not quite ready for the market but has been demonstrated such as the flat screen panel that’s thick as a playing card you can put up on a wall. Planning ahead is about surviving.

Area of technology that is growing fast.

• More efficient (rather than faster) computer chip such as IBM's Core chips (which are very small parallel processing architectures and that parallel processing does a better job on multitasking).
• More memory for the buck such as flash or thumb drives that can be purchased at the gigabit scale.
• Cell phones such as qwerty phones seen in Blackberry phones with camera lens for video and picture taking.
• Internet connection and the meshing of video, music, and even video phone on demand.
• Voice recognition – it is widely being used today. Many cell phones have voice recognition features built into them.
• ASL or sign language recognition later on down the road.
• The integration of technology that will improve the seamless communication interaction between deaf, hearing, hard of hearing and culturally deaf people

UPDATE: Just wanted to add some additional information about my vlog/blog conference speech by including some video time stamps during a question and answer session. The first one begins at the 1 hour, 15 minute and 10 second mark and ends at the 1:19:09 mark. Another question and answer starts at the 1:23:57 mark and ends at 1:27:45 mark. And the last one at the 1:34:00 mark.

When Technology Produces a Shift in Communication Model Thinking

How interesting it is to watch people react to a certain technology being used and how it changes people’s perception for the better when it comes to communication access issues.

For example, some Deaf people are sometimes vexed on trying to be completely loyal by adhering to an “ASL-only world” in all situations versus wanting total independence when it comes to communication (i.e. ability to freely communicate with anybody even those who do not sign) and the feeling of inclusion. But they are faced with a reality that living in an “ASL-only world” is not always possible (unless you happened to live on the campus of Gallaudet University) due to numerous reasons (e.g. interpreter shortages, lack of quality interpreters, unavailable interpreter nearby, timeliness of interpreters showing up, scheduling conflicts, 3rd party “independence” or your “shadow,” hiring costs, and so on). Not all Deaf people have this access to this “ASL-only world” in every situation. One good example of how one piece of technology continues to help solve one communication situation between deaf and hearing people and that is the UbiDuo communication device. But over the last year or so there has been some fear and backlash about the UbiDuo thinking it is meant to permanently replace ASL interpreters, must have good English skills or that the device “threatens” Deaf culture.

“This is not about replacing interpreters,” Curry said. “This is about the power of face-to-face communication and the ability to strike up a conversation on the spot.”

"There is a lot of misperception that deaf people with strong (American Sign Language skills) can’t use it, 95 percent of our (UbiDuo) customers are ASL users. It doesn’t matter if your English is good or bad.” - Jason Curry (co-founder and CEO of sComm, Inc).

Now, if several hundred UbiDuo devices were sold since beginning of last year mostly to customers who are ASL users then shouldn’t that fact alone be enough to dispel the notion that using such a technology cannot destroy Deaf culture? Or that user is required to be proficient or “perfect” in the English language to use the UbiDuo? Facing the unknown can produce irrational fear. Jason reiterates his point again in his latest UbiDuo newsletter about English skills.

Some people (hearing and deaf/hard of hearing) think that ASL users can’t use the UbiDuo because of their English skills. I want to emphasize that ASL users with low level English can and do use the UbiDuo. So many clients who use ASL have made it clear to us that they are thrilled to have the ability to communicate independently and freely for themselves with hearing people. Don Garretson, a strong ASL user, made this statement: “It is not about my English, it is about me being able to talk to anyone I want on my own.” sComm is committed to giving those who are deaf or hard of hearing the power to converse independently and freely no matter what their grammar skill levels are.

Also, another shift in communication model thinking involves several hospitals, such as hospitals under the Baptist Health System Beaches in Florida, which purchased several UbiDuo devices last year to help address their “special needs communication” area. But it’s not what you think if you’re thinking about “special needs” part of it. Rather, the UbiDuo is mostly geared toward hearing patients. At first, people assumed that the device will receive little support but the reaction was the opposite. There was lots of overwhelming support for this device in the clinical area.

For example, in one hospital in Florida a staff took the UbiDuo communication device around to various in-patient and out-patient units where various staff members worked and simply placed the UbiDuo on the counter without saying a word and began typing. Every staff member from various hospital units that came into contact with the machine figured out how to operate it within a few seconds. And opened up a conversation using the communication device and showed how easy it is to use such a communication system.

Hospitals like the ones under the Baptist Health Systems Beaches are now exploring additional applications for the UbiDuo for vented patients (intubated patients for breathing but talking is impossible), closed head injury patients (loss of control of vocal cords, stuttering, brain injury affecting speech, etc), Autistic patients and even patients with post-cancer laryngeal surgery. Any patient without the ability to utter speech could benefit from the communication device along with the added feature of wireless portability and the ability to save, print and post transcripts for their records.

Again, the UbiDuo is not in the business of replacing interpreters but rather in the business of providing greater communication freedom and choice in face-to-face situations. Over time this communication freedom will simply get better for us all.

Can you name other technology that has helped produce a shift in communication model thinking from deaf and hard of hearing people?