ASSETS 2009 - A Reconfigurable Augmentative Communication Device

A Reconfigurable Augmentative Communication Device

Kris Schindler, Robert Dygert and Eric Nagler

Eleventh International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility - Posters and Demos (ASSETS 2009)
Pittsburgh, PA, USA, October 26-28, 2009

Summary

In this demonstration we present a highly reconfigurable augmentative and alternative communications (AAC) device. The people in need of these devices often have a wide range of disabilities, and the setup required to start a person using an AAC system is often time consuming and labor intensive. Our device streamlines the setup process, allowing a caregiver to quickly configure the interface to best suit the user's needs. Setup times compared to previous AAC devices are reduced from hours to minutes. This reduced setup time allows the caregiver to maximize the effectiveness of the device for the end user. It also makes it possible for the device to be adapted over time as the user's needs change.