Alternative and Augmentative Communication¶

This is our effort to provide non-verbal individuals the ability to independently express their ideas. The platform being used is the BeagleBoard, revC. The final hardware will have

1. Minimum 3-hr battery backup
2. Software that works with a single-click
3. Access is through two buttons, which can be programmed either as left-click or left and right clicks

We have developed

1. Hope - simple sentence constructor with text to speech for users with early literacy skills and limited mobilty
2. LaunchBox - open platform to start multiple AAC softwares
3. Kavi - hardware

Other solutions

1. Slate - from 99and1design
2. Avaz - from Invention Labs
3. Sanyog - from IIT-Kharagpur

Open Problems¶

1. Incorporate prediction into Hope (see e.g. Dasher)
2. Local language version of Hope
3. Improvements to I-Draw
4. Mouse-like interface by dividing up the screen into sections and zooming
5. Software to teach mathematics
6. Scroll type access to other programs like audio/video players, openoffice, etc