Our target

People who need it ! Even though it is a niche market.

The original purpose of Yubidenwa was to make silent calls on trains during rush hour. Then, because Yubidenwa makes conversations possible without speaking we realized it could be a telephone for people who have speaking difficulties. So, we devised the current interface.

We think it is specific to Japanese culture to not use phones in trains. But both catching a train on time and using a phone is are very important issues for Japanese people. We think that it’s very important that even people who can’t speak can have the possibility of using telephones. Whether a person’s vocal cords have been removed, can no longer or not have enough power to speak, or just simply have a cold, all these are reasons to use Yubidenwa. Even though it many not be a huge market, if it can help people that have difficulty speaking and communicating, then we are happy about this project.

You may think that it’s already possible to make conversations with SMS, sign language and a white board and so on. We think all of them are necessary and they have their own advantages. But we also think that Yubidenwa has its own advantages. After Yubidenwa has found its place, it will make people’s lives more convenient. Some people may only have a telephone and neither a PC nor a smart phone. You can not see sign language on a phone for instance. And even with a TV-phone, you have to know what the sign is. A white board may help you make a conversation with a person in front of you but Yubidenwa can make it easier in this situation as well. For instance, it’s easier to select and say a whole a sentence when you already know what the conversation is going to be about.

Say that one word that counts.

People who don’t have an iPhone can still use Yubidenwa as long as they have internet access. By using an iPod touch and/or an iPad with an internet application such as Skype they can make low cost calls. Yubidenwa may not be ideal for ALL requests and conversations but if you can manage to tell someone one important word in a situation where you are unable of talking, it makes a huge difference : “I am safe.” , “Help!” , “I can’t move, my leg is broken.” “I have been stung by a wasp.” “I am in the kitchen.” “There is a burglar in my house.” “ “I love pumpkins so much!.” “Thank you. I can survive.”

Other possibilities…

The original target of this project was to make an application that makes it possible to have a telephone conversation when you are in a situation you aren’t able to talk. Its good for using in silent and noisy places. Then, we realised that it could help people with speech difficulties. And now, the use and purpose of this project is expanding more and more.
Yubidenwa is not just Yubi (Finger) + Denwa. (Telephone). It means to tell a story with your fingers. As long as there are stories which can be told by fingers, Yubidenwa can help people. From here, we are considering developing a phone for people who can not hear, imagining conversations between different languages. A tool for people who have problems listening or communicating. We will continue to provide tools that can be your partners in making your life easier.