Augmentative Communication Technology Research Articles

Recording and Transcribing Interactions of Individuals Using Augmentative Communication Technologies

The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with tools and recommendations for collecting data and making microanalytic transcriptions of interaction involving people using Augmentative Communication Technologies (ACTs). This is of interest for clinicians, as well as anyone else engaged in video-based microanalysis of technology mediated interaction in other contexts. The information presented here has particular relevance to young researchers developing their own methodologies, and experienced scientists interested in social interaction research in ACTs or as well as other digital communication technologies. Tools and methods for recording social interactions to support microanalysis by making unobtrusive recordings of naturally occurring or task-driven social interactions while minimizing recording-related distractions which could alter the authenticity of the social interaction are discussed. Recommendations for the needed functionality of video and audio recording equipment are made with tips for how to capture actions that are important to the research question as opposed to capturing 'generally usable' video. In addition, tips for processing video and managing video data are outlined, including how to develop optimally functional naming conventions for stored videos, how and where to store video data (i. e. use of external hard drives, compressing videos for storage) and syncing multiple videos, offering different views of a single interaction (i. e. syncing footage of the overall interaction with footage of the device display). Finally, tools and strategies for transcription are discussed including a brief description of the role transcription plays in analysis, a suggested framework for how transcription might proceed through multiple passes, each focused on a different aspect of communication, transcription software options along with discussion of specific features that aide transcription. In addition, special issues that arise in transcribing interactions involving ACTs are addressed.

Alternative and Augmentative Communication Technologies for Supporting Adults With Mild Intellectual Disabilities During Clinical Consultations: Scoping Review.

BackgroundPeople with intellectual disabilities (IDs) face significant communication barriers when accessing health care services; they find it difficult to identify and describe conditions clearly enough to support practitioners in making an accurate diagnosis. In addition, medical professionals generally have little knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with ID, which may result in the use of consultation techniques that do not cater to their patients’ skills.ObjectiveThis review aims to identify and synthesize the literature on alternative and augmentative communication technologies that are used to support adults with mild ID during the exchange of information with medical practitioners.MethodsWe performed a scoping review of studies published in English that describe the technologies that are used to promote communication with patients with mild ID during medical consultations. The databases searched were PubMed, ACM Digital Library, and Google Scholar. A qualitative framework-based approach was used to synthesize the data and discern key recurring themes across the identified literature.ResultsOf the 1557 articles screened, 15 (0.96%) met our inclusion criteria. The bulk of the communication aids used focused on low-tech solutions, including patient passports, note-based prompts, Talking Mats, health diaries, and easy-read information sheets. Their influence on current practice ranged from advancing medical professionals’ knowledge of the health and communication needs of people with ID to increasing interagency collaboration, patient advocacy skills, and health promotion activities. The major barriers to the implementation of low-tech aids were a lack of portability and increased maintenance efforts. Only 3 studies explored the use of mobile apps to promote communication. Their findings indicated that high-tech solutions offer greater customization with regard to the accessibility and health care needs of people with ID.ConclusionsAlternative and augmentative communication technologies have the potential to increase the quality of care provided to patients with mild ID; however, little work has been carried out in this area. Greater emphasis must be placed on (high-tech) two-way communication aids that empower patients to become involved in decisions regarding their care. Quantitative evaluation methods should be used to discern the true benefits of such aids, and researchers should describe their study protocols in depth to promote replication and generalizability.

Design Requirements for a Digital Aid to Support Adults With Mild Learning Disabilities During Clinical Consultations: Qualitative Study With Experts.

BackgroundAdults with mild learning disabilities (MLDs) face a plethora of obstacles when accessing effective health care. Central to many of these barriers is communication, with medical practitioners often remaining untrained on how to interact with patients who have learning disabilities (LDs). To date, research on how to promote this communication has largely centered on the development of low-tech aids.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of utilizing tablet technologies to promote communication between general practitioners and patients with MLDs. We achieved this by identifying a set of design requirements from experts in LDs.MethodsA set of design guidelines was formed during a 2-phase process. Phase 1 involved conducting a series of requirements-gathering interviews with 10 experts in LDs—the protocol of which emerged from the results of a separate scoping review. The interviews were subjected to a framework analysis to discern the key requirements discussed by the experts, and these were embedded within a technology probe. In phase 2, this probe was presented to a subset (n=4) of the experts during a round of usability studies, and the feedback received was used to update the requirements identified in phase 1.ResultsAn initial set of design requirements has been produced that may assist in the development of clinical Alternative and Augmentative Communication technologies for adults with MLDs. Factors that must be considered range from the health, physical and cognitive needs of stakeholders, to the more individual needs of users.ConclusionsThe experts involved in the study were optimistic about the proposed app. They believe that such technologies can help to alleviate time constraints and promote communication by presenting information in a form understood by both practitioners and patients.

A new concept of assistive virtual keyboards based on a systematic review of text entry optimization techniques

Abstract Introduction: Due to the increasing popularization of computers and the internet expansion, Alternative and Augmentative Communication technologies have been employed to restore the ability to communicate of people with aphasia and tetraplegia. Virtual keyboards are one of the most primitive mechanisms for alternatively entering text and play a very important role in accomplishing this task. However, the text entry for this kind of keyboard is much slower than entering information through their physical counterparts. Many techniques and layouts have been proposed to improve the typing performance of virtual keyboards, each one concerning a different issue or solving a specific problem. However, not all of them are suitable to assist seriously people with motor impairment. Methods: In order to develop an assistive virtual keyboard with improved typing performance, we performed a systematic review on scientific databases. Results: We found 250 related papers and 52 of them were selected to compose. After that, we identified eight essentials virtual keyboard features, five methods to optimize data entry performance and five metrics to assess typing performance. Conclusion: Based on this review, we introduce a concept of an assistive, optimized, compact and adaptive virtual keyboard that gathers a set of suitable techniques such as: a new ambiguous keyboard layout, disambiguation algorithms, dynamic scan techniques, static text prediction of letters and words and, finally, the use of phonetic and similarity algorithms to reduce the user's typing error rate.

A concept-environment for computer-based augmentative and alternative communication founded on a systematic review

IntroductionLocked-In Syndrome is admittedly the worst case of motor and speech impairment, it seriously damages the ability of oral and gestural communication of patients. In recent years, alternative and augmentative communication technology has provided resources to restore these patients' ability to communicate.MethodsIn order to relate and classify the main methods with that purpose, this work conducted a systematic review on several journal databases.ResultsWe found 203 related papers and 55 of them were selected to compose the study. After that, we classified them into three major groups and we identified the main difficulties when using each approach.ConclusionIn order to overcome these difficulties, we propose a new system concept to develop an adaptive, robust and low cost communication environment. The proposed system is composed of five modules: data entry, communication, aid to the caregiver and external interaction.

A Systematic Review on Methods and Techniques for Optimizing Assistive Virtual Keyboards

Locked-In Syndrome is admittedly the worst case of motor and speech impairment, seriously damaging the ability of oral and gestural communication of patients. In recent years, alternative and augmentative communication technology has provided resources to restore these patients' ability to communicate. Among the various methods and existing communication software, we can highlight the virtual keyboard. However, the data entry for these keyboards is considerably slower than entering information through physical keyboards. In order to identify the main approaches employed to optimize the data entry on virtual keyboards, we performed a systematic review by searching for papers in databases. As a result, we found 250 articles and selected 31 papers among them to compose this research. Analyzing these articles, we identified five methods for optimizing data entry performance and 15 ways of implementing them. In addition, this review contains a critical analysis regarding the optimization methods and assistive virtual keyboards.

Disentangling the social threads within a communicative environment: a cacophonous tale of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC)

Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) technology is being increasingly recognised as an important means of fostering the literacy of students with significant disabilities. However, the coordinated use of AAC technology continues to challenge professionals, families and users leading to dissonant meanings and fragmented use. This paper is an attempt to inquire into, and disentangle some of, the social threads that made up the communicative environment of one first‐grade student with significant disabilities – Trevor – for whom augmentative communication technology was procured. The ethnographic study reported in this paper documents the conflicting meanings of access and participation that surfaced among the multiple participants under whose guidance Trevor was required to use AAC. The paper discloses the assumptions implicit in these practices and in the conceptions of literacy enacted by different professionals. The paper notes the significance of these issues for Trevor's narrative construction of himself and concludes with implications for practitioners.

Creating Visible Children?

Creating Visible Children?

Development and evaluation of the Families, Cultures and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) multimedia program

Purpose : The Families, Cultures and AAC Project was designed to provide professionals and families with accurate, culturally sensitive information about augmentative communication technologies and decision making strategies through an innovative, user-friendly format. Methods : The project resulted in the development of the first interactive bilingual CD-ROM designed to be used by professionals at the pre- or in-service level, and family members from diverse cultures to develop AAC decisionmaking competencies. Results : The Interactive Health Communication (IHC) model provided an effective structure for conceptualizing, developing and evaluating the program. The program also incorporated universal access design concepts. The program was evaluated in the following 10 categories: usability, visual appearance, consistency, error tolerance, navigation, feedback, user control, redundant formats, content accuracy, and engaging styles. Conclusion : Reviewers of the program indicated that it was well designed and would be useful for the intended purpose.

EEG-based communication: presence of an error potential

Background: EEG-based communication could be a valuable new augmentative communication technology for those with severe motor disabilities. Like all communication methods, it faces the problem of errors in transmission. In the Wadsworth EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) system, subjects learn to use mu or beta rhythm amplitude to move a cursor to targets on a computer screen. While cursor movement is highly accurate in trained subjects, it is not perfect. Methods: In an effort to develop a method for detecting errors, this study compared the EEG immediately after correct target selection to that after incorrect selection. Results: The data showed that a mistake is followed by a positive potential centered at the vertex that peaks about 180 ms after the incorrect selection. Conclusion: The results suggest that this error potential might provide a method for detecting and voiding errors that requires no additional time and could thereby improve the speed and accuracy of EEG-based communication.

Brain-computer interface research at the Wadsworth Center.

Studies at the Wadsworth Center over the past 14 years have shown that people with or without motor disabilities can learn to control the amplitude of mu or beta rhythms in electroencephalographic (EEG) activity recorded from the scalp over sensorimotor cortex and can use that control to move a cursor on a computer screen in one or two dimensions. This EEG-based brain-computer interface (BCI) could provide a new augmentative communication technology for those who are totally paralyzed or have other severe motor impairments. Present research focuses on improving the speed and accuracy of BCI communication.

Techniques for augmenting scanning communication

Scanning communication systems provide a unique set of opportunities for the application of augmentative communication technologies. Possibilities include optimization of the row-column matrix, dynamic rearrangement of the matrix, addition of character or word lists, and combinations of these techniques. A series of descriptive experiments were performed to establish the switch savings performance of 14 different scanning configurations. A common software platform and a strictly regimented testing procedure were employed to ensure the reliability and consistency of the data, facilitating comparisons between the different paradigms. Within each configuration, a systematic analysis of the relevant parameters was performed. The best character prediction method provided an average switch savings of 40.5% over a baseline row-column configuration, while the best word prediction technique provided an average savings of only 38.8%. Both of these configurations used seven-element prediction lists, which did not present any predictions until after selection of the first letter of each word. Additionally, the rowcolumn matrices of these designs were optimized for use with the prediction list such that the more frequently selected matrix entries tended to be in more rapidly accessible matrix locations.

Integrated Communication and Literacy Instruction for a Child with Multiple Disabilities

This longitudinal case study examined the communication and literacy learning progress of an 11-year-old boy with severe speech and physical impairments related to cerebral palsy. Theoretically driven literacy assessments revealed unforeseen literacy capabilities. Integrated use of voice-output augmentative communication technology led to improved communication skills as well as increased demonstrations of literacy capability. Systematic instruction addressing the child's weaknesses and strengths resulted in literacy gains across 2 school years.

Interviewing People with a Learning Disability About Their Residential Service

Thirty‐six people with a moderate to severe learning disability were interviewed concerning their accommodation service. The interview consisted of 49 items, grouped in five categories: material, physical, developmental, social and emotional well‐being. Three question techniques were used: open questions, closed questions and requests for opinions, augmented by line drawings depicting facial expressions (happy, sad, etc). The findings demonstrate that consumers can make an important contribution to the review of services they receive, but that the interview process is by no means easy. Implications for involving service users in the development of individual plans (IPs) are discussed. Based on the respondents' comments, suggestions are made for the development of accommodation services. It is concluded that the design of effective service planning and evaluation strategies, is dependent upon the refinement of augmentative communication technologies and consumer education.

Application of communication technologies to an adult with a high spinal cord injury

This case study examines the use of augmentative communication technology with an adult male with high spinal cord injury. The primary need for this individual was better access to a keyboard, to permit an independent method of writing. Careful analysis of the situation suggested that a computerized long-range optical pointer with screen-based keyboard was appropriate. After using this system for several years, however, the communication system was dismantled in order to permit the computer to be used as the office computer for the individual's business. This case highlights the frequent differences between expert recommendation and individual preference, and between expert and individual expectations of intervention. It also points out the value of paying closer heed to both the preferences and strategies of the individual.