Wednesday, May 28, 2003
PocketVoice Aids The Speech Impaired
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "SOFTWARE" @ 06:00 AM
http://www.pocketvoice.com/en/pocket%20voice/pocketvoice1.asp
PocketVoice allows those with speech impairments to communicate more easily. You set up categories on your PC (Greetings, Emotions, Requests, etc.) and then load various sounds for each of the categories. Emotions might have "I am feeling good" or "I am feeling happy." The user can access these sounds by tapping on images or phrases on the screen or you can buy switches that allow the Pocket PC to be mounted in front of the user and they can tap switches with their hands or feet to trigger speech.
The software in initially available only with phrases in Portuguese and English. A trial is not yet available and pricing has not been set. If you are interested in learning more about this software, you can visit their site, click the Download link and subscribe to their newsletter which will keep you up to date on these issues.
It is great to see technology is able to help the handicapped in this way. A few years ago, I went to church with a young man that had to communicate by sliding his fingers over a tray that had about 15 images. He was only able to communicate those 15 items to people other than his parents, who understood more by facial inflections and sounds he could make. Imagine if was able to have this with a library of information to convey limited only by the amount of memory in his Pocket PC.
PocketVoice allows those with speech impairments to communicate more easily. You set up categories on your PC (Greetings, Emotions, Requests, etc.) and then load various sounds for each of the categories. Emotions might have "I am feeling good" or "I am feeling happy." The user can access these sounds by tapping on images or phrases on the screen or you can buy switches that allow the Pocket PC to be mounted in front of the user and they can tap switches with their hands or feet to trigger speech.
The software in initially available only with phrases in Portuguese and English. A trial is not yet available and pricing has not been set. If you are interested in learning more about this software, you can visit their site, click the Download link and subscribe to their newsletter which will keep you up to date on these issues.
It is great to see technology is able to help the handicapped in this way. A few years ago, I went to church with a young man that had to communicate by sliding his fingers over a tray that had about 15 images. He was only able to communicate those 15 items to people other than his parents, who understood more by facial inflections and sounds he could make. Imagine if was able to have this with a library of information to convey limited only by the amount of memory in his Pocket PC.
