AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH PERSONALIZED USER INTERFACE AND CONTENT

摘要

The disclosed methods and systems allow individuals with speech challenges to convey personalized expressive content to others. Implementation is performed on widely available and popular wireless handheld multimedia devices, which may help foster acceptance of the individuals and minimize any perceived differences. Users may easily create and add personalized content to the devices and may quickly customize the content selection interfaces of the devices. These tasks may be accomplished using either the devices themselves via a device-based content authoring tool running locally on the device, or using a Web-based authoring tool on a network server. The Web-based authoring tool allows users to create, capture, and store personalized content and customized content selection interfaces on the network server from virtually any location in the world with network access. The personalized content and customized interfaces may then be downloaded and synchronized automatically on the devices from time to time or as needed.

主权项

1. A method of modifying augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) content for an AAC user, comprising:
transmitting a transmission signal by a network server over a first network connection to a personal computer, the transmission signal representing a graphical interface that is displayed on the personal computer, the graphical interface allowing an AAC author to indicate one or more changes to be made to one or more of a plurality of AAC content associated with an AAC content selection interface on the network server using a standard keyboard and a pointing device on the personal computer; receiving a reception signal from the personal computer over the first network connection by the network server, the reception signal representing the changes to the AAC content associated with the AAC content selection interface indicated by the AAC author; modifying the AAC content associated with the AAC content selection interface by the network server according to the changes indicated by the AAC author; and transmitting the AAC content associated with the AAC content selection interface that has been modified by the network server over a second network connection to a handheld multimedia device of the AAC user, the AAC content selection interface having a plurality of user-selectable options for allowing the AAC user to select which one of the plurality of ACC content associated with the AAC content selection interface to display or play back on the handheld multimedia device, the ACC content designed to help a non-ACC user understand a request from the ACC user; wherein the AAC author is a different person from the AAC user.