Interpretype or the UbiDuo?
Thursday November 8, 2007
The Associated Press has an article, "New Devices Open Communications for Deaf," that mentions both the Interpretype and the UbiDuo. Both are devices that enable hearing and deaf people to communicate through typing to each other. Have you had experience with either or both of these devices? If both, which one did you prefer? I myself have had only one experience with the Interpretype, at a hotel in Rochester, and it wasn't working well.
Comments
At the Henrietta NY auto license bureau, there was a similar device, but it was difficult to use because of overhead lighting reflecting on it. The counter was high and I am shorter than average, so the situation could not be improved upon. I ended up using pad and pencil.
With hearing relatives, pad and pencil is the best because it allows one to doodle, draw cartoons, faces, and diagrams as well as write. For Deaf people not fluent in English, this is probably the ideal choice for bridging relationships to hearing people.
My skepticism grows with the price of these devices. How can they compete with the elegance, flexibility and cost effectiveness of the traditional pad and pencil?
Well, anything that helps people with hearing loss communicate is better than nothing. If pen and pad were all that was necessary, we’d not be hearing about how Deaf people feel slighted because a dentist didn’t want to fork out $90 for an interpreter for a $25 dental exam that takes 15 minutes.
My dentist emails me for appointments. And if I don’t understand, he has pen and paper ready, too.
But, in groups of 3, or 4 when an interpreter is not available, the UbiDuo might help.
I’ve never used it, but as I said before, anything is better than nothing.
:o)
Paotie
Try the pocket sized face-to-face devices that go for under $50. Theres new ones looking like the blackberry and it’s wireless not IR. The new version of the iPhone will double as a face-to-face communication device. Theyre all cheaper than the 2 ancient devices mentioned in the article.
My work provides me with a UbiDuo and I love it! The best part of it is the wireless capabilities and its capability to run on batteries for 4 t 6 hours.
I’m glad your work provided you the means to communicate with an UbiDuo!!
How often do you use it?
I use it on a daily basis.
Great! How has it helped you and the company? And whose idea was it to suggest the Ubiduo to the company or boss? Was the boss that receptive to the idea of buying a communication device like the UbidDuo?
Thanks for any response.
ubiduo is wonderful when you have a person who does not have neat writing. My writing is awful and I tend to hurry a lot. I can type much faster than I can write and I am more comfortable with typing. Albeit I can lipread well there are still those times when I misunderstand the word and with the ubiduo I understand real fast what the person is saying to me. Just plain conversation with people in my office has been a “dream” that has come true. I no longer feel left out but am included. I don’t have to have an interpreter with me in meetings - it saves my employer so much money on interpreters and as a result I could get the job using the ubiduo without an interpreter because the hiring manager could see that I could communicate quickly and effectively!
I don’t know of any dentist exam that lasts 15 minutes, nor costs $25.00. Providing a competant interpreter is law under the ADA. So, whereas these may be tools may work in social situations, they should never replace a qualified interpreter in health, legal, or mandatory business meetings.
What is ubi/duo??? and how does it work?
As for telephoning, I just got a Captel phone and I love it!! I had an extra phone line put in so neither my callers nor I have to dial for relay. I became deaf as an adult so this really helps me keep in touch. All of the people I know are hearing; I am not. I would like to become more of a part of the Deaf community but I live in a fairly unpopulated state, Vermont, beautiful as it is.
I HAVE BEEN IN WHOLE MY LIFE IS SIMPLE AS WRITE DOWN TO TELL HEARING PERSON WHAT YOU SAID, WHEN I HAD APPT WITH DR OR DENTIST OR ELSE IT NOT TOO BAD AND SIMPLE AS YOU KNOW, BUT IF IN CASE EMERANCY HEALTH PROBLEM YES NEED GET INTEREPTURE FOR THIS IMPORTANT WHATS SAYD AND WHATS GOING ON, BUT IT NOT BOTHER ME AS I THINK, I AM USED READ LIP MOST OF MY LIFE BUT NOW IS FAIL LIPS READ BECAUSE I AM GETTING OLDER AS I GET AND NOT MEET HEARING AND DEAF PEOPLE AT MUCH,, I DONT LIKE CROWD PEOPLE AND IT GET ME PANCAKE ATTACK, SO IT NOT WORTH IT, SO I AND MY HUSBAND BOTH DEAF MOST OF OUR LIFE FOR 16 YEARS MARRIED, HAD TWO HEARING KIDS, HOW EVER THIS IS NOT TOO BAD BUT I KNOW IT COST$$ INTEREPUTER TOO MUCH, I DONT LIKE THAT IDEA, LIKE THAT..HEY WHY NOT THEIR COMPANY INTEREPUTER JOB HAS TO PAY FOR INTEREPUTER NOT DOCTOR OR ELSE PAY FOR IT, IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE,, THATS PROBABLY WHY THEY CANT AFFORD FOR INTEREPTURE.. I KNOW HOW IS FEEL IT,ALSO WHEN IF I GET JOB, IT WILL DAMAGE THERE COMPANY OR ELSE THAT WONT HIRE ME OR ELSE.. NEVER KNOW.. I DONT WANT DESTORY OUR LIFE WHATS GOING HAPPEN.. WELL IF YOU THINK NEED INTEREPTURE FOR SERIOS REASON NEED OR NOT NEED JUST SHORT APPT THEN CHECK UP THEN GET IT THEN GO, OTHER WISE SERIOUS WHEN GET INTEREPTUER FOR THIS, THATS ALL I AM SAYING …
I’m a 90% hearing loss so I have lots of problems communicating in public, yet I can’t say I think lugging an extra 6 pounds of equipment with me on the off-chance that I might need to talk to someone is the answer. and what about the people who can’t type?
When are they going to make a voice recognition communicator that translates voice to print? Now that’s something I’d carry around!
I have the CapTel phone at work and love it! I am going a VCO phone for home as soon as I can. I have tried the Interpretype at work, and the general public will not use it. My agency got it as a way for me to communicate with the hearing and it was a total flop. I have less that 10% hearing for speech in just one ear now. I do lip read and am trying every way I can to transfer to another office where I won’t have to hear and can use the VCO phone for any calls I have to make.
I guess the interpretype would work OK for those who can type, maybe late deafened adults in a situation like a hotel or car dealership? My agency got it for another hoh/deaf person, it did not work out, sent it to me and it is stiiing in a box right now, has not been used in 2 years.