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Final project idea - improving communication aids device
For final project of Designing for Constraints class, I'm thinking about improving or redesigning communication aids device(communicator). Since I'm taking Developing Assistive Technology class this semester, I'm interested in Assistive Technology (AT).
In the AT class, I've been to Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center and Rusk Medical Center as field trips. I saw several communication helpers that are devices developed or adapted for use by people with severe communication impairments, for example, DynaVox.
 
(Communication aids device at Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center)
Unfortunately, I couldn't have a chance to observe how children use this device, but I found several problems.
1. Expensive (about 15 grand)
2. Slow response
3. Heavy and Big, even for me. That means a lack of portability.
4. Difficult to navigate in the program. It may slows conversation down.
5. Impossible to create new sentence. It has pre-programmed sentences so there is a limitation to express.
Before dig more into this existing device that needs improve, I gave thought to communication itself to loot at everything around this issue and to think another option. Here are two of many thoughts.
1. How can we communicate with an alien? I mean the alien from other universe, but natives in new world or people from other civilization might be an alien in terms of conversation.
Propagators used translator who could speak both languages, or just jumped into new world and then learn each other's language.
2. For me, since English is a second language, I would like to say I have some levels of communication disabilities in English. Sometimes I can't understand what people say, or can't catch the sentence at all. In addition, I have to look a thesaurus while I write because I know possible words but can't figure out appropriate words quickly.
3. What we need in communication? Verbal messages, facial expressions, body languages. What else?
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Commented by Daniel Soltis at 2007/02/27 13:12 
