UbiDuo Users – East Tennessee Technology Access Center Review Stevin’s and Lois’s feedback on the UbiDuo in their work environment.

Deaf perspective Stevin Amonett, ETTAC Comptroller 1)How do you feel after using the UbiDuo to communicate freely with your hearing co-workers in your office? Stevin: Having the UbiDuo in the office to communicate with other coworkers and clients has been a great feeling, and it makes things much easier than having to struggle to understand the person when lipreading or writing back and forth on piece of paper, the UbiDuo makes it much easier. It has made me feel more confident with my job and my relationship with the coworkers/clients has also improved too. 2)How has the UbiDuo improved your job performance in your work environment? Stevin: It has improved the job performance by having less confusion, clear understanding when instructions are typed out, or if questions are asked, its easier to type the questions out and answer too. My boss and I communicate daily on the UbiDuo and it has been great for us to make sure things are in the clear and there is no confusions. 3)What situations have you used the UbiDuo in such as meetings or other functions in the office? Stevin: I have used the UbiDuo for clients that come by, coworkers who have questions or want to have personal conversations, or when ETTAC gives tours to new clients, the UbiDuo is great to do a brief conversation with the client. I have also used it for various expos, workshops, and some events that I am available to do. It is great to start new conversations with the clients/individuals. 4)What are your thoughts and emotions as you are able to hold your own face-to-face conversations on the UbiDuo? Stevin: My thoughts and emotions consists of being more focused, and understanding what the person is saying to me on the other end, and it is often less stressful for me since I can use the UbiDuo to communicate rather than try to talk or try to understand the person that is talking to me that I am not familiar with, the UbiDuo makes it much more easier to do that by typing out what you want to say. 5)What other comments would you want to share about the UbiDuo? Stevin: The UbiDuo is a great device and I strongly recommend it for those that are thinking about getting one, and the best thing about it is that it is portable so you can take it anywhere you’d like to communicate with others, especially wireless. I hope to plan to save up money to purchase one sometime in the near future when funds allow for it. Hearing Perspective Lois Symington, Ph.D., Executive Director, East Tennessee Technology Access Center 1)How do you and the other hearing employees feel after using the UbiDuo to communicate freely with your deaf employee Stevin in your office? Lois: We all use the UbiDuo to communicate with Stevin so that he knows what is going on in the office. We all sign/use ASL with various ability, so the UbiDuo provides absolutely clear communication especially when he and I are working on ETTAC’s books and accounting needs. 2)Have you noticed a difference in Stevin’s job performance using the UbiDuo? Lois: I believe that the UbiDuo has allowed Stevin to grow in his job, in that words that might be difficult to sign/define/explain such as the word “allocate” can be explained very clearly through use of the UbiDuo. 3) What situations have you or the other deaf employees used the UbiDuo in with Stevin such as meetings or other functions in the office? Lois: The Ubi Duo is part of other events and activities at ETTAC, other than in Stevin’s office. It has been used at our golf tournament, to register people who are deaf at workshops or other public events, and to demonstrate to classes who visit ETTAC. It is also used to introduce guests, board members, and other visitors to Stevin. 4)What other comments would you want to share about the UbiDuo? Lois: This is a powerful device for communication if someone is very literate (good foundation in writing and reading). It would be helpful if banks, post offices, drug stores, and all public buildings had them – not just for people who are deaf, but also for people who might speak with an accent, those who have had a stroke or have difficulty being understood, or those with varying amounts of hearing loss. 4)What other comments would you want to share about the UbiDuo? Lois: This is a powerful device for communication if someone is very literate (good foundation in writing and reading). It would be helpful if banks, post offices, drug stores, and all public buildings had them – not just for people who are deaf, but also for people who might speak with an accent, those who have had a stroke or have difficulty being understood, or those with varying amounts of hearing loss.