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Voice Access of Computers for People with Limited Speech
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Email: TJAKOBS@ISO.NET
DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this research is to provide persons who have
physical impairment and unintelligible speech with an access method for
assistive devices that (i) significantly reduces the physical fatigue
experienced during device access and, (2) enables multiple access methods to be
used in tandem. This will be accomplished by developing an access method that
enables people, who have the ability to reliably produce a small number of
distinct vocalizations, to use their speech for command-and-control access to
computers, alternate communication devices, and environmental control units.
The central element of this Voice Access System will be speech recognition
software that will serve as an interface between the user and the assistive
device. This software will include a training mode that automatically "learns"
a set of vocalizations that the user can reliably produce. Once the system is
trained, it will configure the assistive device for voice access. The Voice
Access System will be a full-featured access method for people with
disabilities. The opportunity to "mix" access methods may significantly reduce
the fatigue inherent in accessing assistive devices via a single access site.
Reducing fatigue is likely to increase the productivity of assistive device
users, making device access more rewarding and effective.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
The Voice Access System will provide a low-cost (approximately $200), low physical
demand, computer access method for people with limited physical and speech capabilities.
It is anticipated that the access method will be appropriate for standard computer
applications such as word processing, as well as augmentative communication and
environmental control application. Long-term application to stand alone assistive devices
is likely. The commercial potential is excellent for this market.
* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *