About sComm
One family’s efforts to find a communication solution has resulted in bringing access to a market estimated at 37 million Americans with hearing loss. Imagine what it would be like to have a son - a grown son with whom you share the same interests: real estate, business, finances, etc. - but you're unable to communicate meaningfully with him at a detailed level. Imagine you're a young man, eating breakfast with your father, and trying to have an in-depth conversation about real estate or finances - but you can't, because you're deaf. Your father can sign, but not as fluently as he would like so that the two of you would be able to discuss complex topics. Between the limitations of sign language, finger spelling and lip reading, your conversation is low-level at best and incredibly frustrating at worst.
The Idea
The UbiDuo was born out of frustration in 2002 when Jason Curry, who is deaf, was visiting his parents who are hearing. "My dad and I were trying to communicate with each other over breakfast one Saturday morning at a restaurant," Jason recalls. After trying to communicate for 15 minutes, David Curry came up with the idea of the UbiDuo. "I have an idea, let's go home." Jason continues, "When we walked into the kitchen, Dad picked up a marker and drew the design of the UbiDuo on the white board that my parents always kept in their kitchen. Dad said, 'If we had that in the center of the table, it would be so easy and fast to communicate.'"
sComm co-founders David Curry (left) and his son Jason, communicating freely at last using their groundbreaking invention, the UbiDuo"When I saw him draw that design out I knew that was the device that was going to change the world for people who are deaf or hard of hearing."
Making It Happen
sComm, which stands for "simultaneous communications," was founded in 2002 to design the UbiDuo. The company's focus is on enabling people to communicate directly with each other without face to face barriers. To expand the concept further, sComm obtained two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants from the National Institutes of Health to test the feasibility of such a product, determine if it improved face-to-face communication between deaf and hearing people, and identify desired features. The second grant in 2005 supported development of a prototype of what is now known as the UbiDuo. "Ubi" comes from the word 'ubiquitous' – means being present everywhere at once; being or seeming to be everywhere at the same time; omnipresent – and "Duo" – for two people. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent for the UbiDuo to sComm in 2005.
Awards
sComm has been recognized with several awards over the past four years including the MoFast Economic Development award at the University of Missouri's Client Showcase and Legislative Breakfast in 2005, second place in UMKC's New Business Venture Competition in April 2006, the Missouri Governor's Technology Company of the Year Award by the Missouri Department of Economic Development in September 2006, and the 2006 Inclusion for Universal Design Award from the Governor's Council on Disability.
sComm is Sole Engineer, Manufacturer, and Direct Seller of the UbiDuo
The UbiDuo enables deaf/hard of hearing people to communicate with hearing people without any face to face barriers. The UbiDuo is a two-screen, two-keyboard electronic communication device. It is completely portable, wireless, and operates in real-time. The device is completely stand alone.
Why Order Direct From sComm?
We want you to order the UbiDuo directly from sComm so that you will receive complete customer and technical support from our staff. We want to stay in touch with you to make sure you're fully satisfied with the UbiDuo. When you order directly from sComm, you will receive our full attention. sComm maintains operations, sales, customer service, technical support, and R&D at its Raytown, Missouri headquarters. Raytown is a suburb of Kansas City.
