People with intellectual and visual disabilities access basic leisure and communication using a smartphone’s Google Assistant and voice recording devices

Abstract

Purpose This study assessed a new technology system to help six participants with intellectual and visual disabilities manage leisure engagement and communication with distant partners in an independent manner. Methods A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to assess the effects of the new technology system. This included a Samsung Galaxy J4 Plus smartphone with Android 9.0 operating system, mini voice recording devices, and a Bluetooth speaker. The smartphone was provided with a Google account and Internet connection. The participants could activate the smartphone’s Google Assistant and thus access leisure events, start telephone calls or send messages by triggering mini voice recording devices. Each device, when triggered, uttered a specific verbal request (i.e., a request for a leisure option or for a communication partner to call or to reach by messages). Messages received from those partners were read automatically by the smartphone. Results During baseline (when the voice recording devices were not available), the participants did not manage to activate the smartphone’s Google Assistant and thus did not access leisure events and did not make telephone calls or send messages independently. During the post-intervention phase (when the voice recording devices were available), all participants accessed leisure events and made telephone calls or sent and received messages independently, remaining positively engaged throughout the 10-min sessions. Staff rated the new technology system positively. Conclusion The new technology system may be a useful resource to help people like the participants of this study access basic leisure and communication independently. Implications for rehabilitation A technology system relying on commercial devices may be practical and acceptable in daily programs for persons with intellectual and other disabilities. Such system may be used for supporting the persons’ independent leisure engagement and communication with distant partners. A system may be accessible to persons with significant disabilities if the responses needed to operate it are simple. Simple hand-pressure responses may be sufficient to operate a system that relies on the input of mini voice recording devices