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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/R23411/01
Title: Utterance-Based Communication Aids For People Without Speech
Principal Investigator: todman, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Psychology
Organisation: University of Dundee
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 13 October 2000 Ends: 12 November 2000 Value (£): 576
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Human Communication in ICT
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Information Technologies
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Word generation approaches to aided communication for non-speaking people are too slow for effective social communication. Two approaches using a whole utterance-based approach have achieved much faster conversation rates than word generation systems (i.e. about 40-60 words per minute compared to 5-15 words per minute). One approach, Frametalker (Higginbotham & Wilkins, 1999), assists a user to progress through a sequence of utterances in a specific context of communication where a particular topic or situation is in focus, e.g. eating a meal or having a headache. Another approach, Talkboards (Todman, Rankin & File 1999), is designed to enable a user to conduct a free-ranging conversation where the topic is not defined by the situation e.g. general chat during a meal or meeting someone new. These two utterance-based approaches to communication aids share a concern with modelling the pragmatics of conversation and address complementary aspects of the communication needs of potential users. It would be desirable to integrate these approaches within a single system. The current project is designed to promote a joint approach to the problem. A commercial version of Talkboards exists and a patent for Frametalker has been awarded. Enkidu Research has entered into a non-exclusive agreement with the patent holders to jointly market Frametalker.
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Organisation Website: http://www.dundee.ac.uk