Augmentative and Alternative Communication Platform for Visual Impaired People

Abstract

The population with severe visual impairments depends solely on the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Techniques (AAC). Unfortunately only a minute fraction of them have access to Advanced Assistive Devices (AAD) which are still very expensive and beyond affordability for a major portion of the people in India. Thus it should be our endeavor to make these assistive devices accessible to the common multitude. This paper describes the design and development of a communication aid for the visual impaired people to communicate and control the system and cell phone. Commands DATE and TIME are given as an input to android cell phone for current date and time voice out-put. When RECORD and E-MAIL commands are given the recorder of the cell phone is ON, the recorded audio file is sent as an attachment to the mail. Finally visual impaired people can use the SHUTDOWN command to power OFF the computer using PIC controller.