Pst! – The PhonicStick™ Technology Transfer Project
Providing Children with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) with access to Phonemic Speech Output
Project funding by: Capability Scotland, The Nuffield Foundation
Introduction
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a field within assistive technology which has advanced rapidly
since the early 1980’s. AAC devices usually have a voice output facility and are designed to be used by people with physical
impairments, e.g., using touch screens or switch input. Since the late 1980s, there has been a research focus on using AAC
technology to improve the communication and the quality of life for people with disabilities. This has resulted in the development
of systems that help individuals with no functional speech to (a) communicate; (b) communicate at a faster rate; and (c) develop
language.
Most speech generating devices (SGDs) provide access to pre-stored words or phrases using a code system. Several mnemonic systems
are available to assist code recall, e.g. semantic compaction which uses multi-meaning icons and dynamic screens which use a
hierarchical set of picture pages. The use of icons and pictures caters for non-literate users; the pool of pre-stored messages is
thus not necessarily created by the user but by the supplier, therapist, carer etc.
A major problem with current SGDs is the high cognitive load imposed on users who have to master the retrieval system employed by
their system. Users are seldom able to create words from scratch but need to remember what words or phrases are stored and what codes
are needed to retrieve them.
User Studies
In our experience, it is often very difficult for individuals with physical disabilities to co-ordinate the operational use of
conventional SGDs. However, these children often exhibit good control of powered mobility using a joystick. We wish to exploit the
ability of these children to operate a joystick by developing a prototype joystick (to be known as the PhonicStick™ ) which will allow
children with CCN to have direct access to spoken phonemes.
A number of studies in different countries using the PhonicStick™ have been conducted by now. Masters students in Speech and Language Pathology (Logopedi) at the University of Uppsala conducted studies in Scotland, Sweden and South Africa. Please look at our publications page for links to their theses and further accademic output.
Current Status
Ha Trinh is conducting her PhD research into prediction techniques for the PhonicStick™ . (Matriculated 2009 - Full Time, funded partly by SICSA). Rolf Black is leading the technology transfer project 'Pst!' with funding from Capability Scotland to make the PhonicStick™ availbale outside of the research communitiy.
Related and Preceeding Projects
Contact
Please contact Rolf Black (email: rolfblack@computing.dundee.ac.uk or see other contact details on the people page) for more information.
PhonicStick is a University of Dundee Trademark.
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