Project Activities
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
Product: Speak Agent AAC will be an app for tablets or handheld phones designed to increase communication and accuracy rates for students with speech disabilities. Students will use the app to construct phrases or sentences by selecting symbols, with the app converting input into computerized speech to enable effective communication. The app will generate customized profiles for each user by feeding data into its predictive algorithm, resulting in faster communication rates with greater accuracy for individual students based on their own usage patterns over time. The app will also include assessment diagnostics that service providers will use to guide instructional practice related to communication and speech.
Supplemental information
Video Demonstration of the Phase I Prototype: http://youtu.be/0FtoN0AX6PE
Purpose: This project team will develop and test an app, Speak Agent AAC, intended to increase communication rates and provide individualized supports to students with speech disabilities who use assistive technology to communicate. Among school-aged children with speech communication disabilities, students with Autism Spectrum Disorder are most frequently affected, as are students with cerebral palsy and apraxia. To communicate effectively, many of these individuals rely on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, which convert symbols representing words and phrases into sentences read aloud by a computerized voice. While AAC systems do provide a means of communication, the rate (or speed) of current systems to convert symbols to computerized speech is often too slow for use in school settings. Furthermore, these systems do not offer customized supports to address the needs of individual users.
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To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.