7 research outputs found
Computer aided conversation for severely physically impaired non-speaking people
Computer aided conversation for severely physically impaired non-speaking peopl
Linguistic and temporal resources of pre-stored utterances in everyday conversations
Aided communicators often have an opportunity to express themselves with speech-generating devices (SGDs) that produce symbol by symbol (SBS) and/or pre-stored (PS) utterances. Studies on the usage of PS utterances report that these utterances affect conversations positively, but it appears that aided communicators and professionals may have divergent views on their benefits. The aim of this study is to analyse how school-aged aided communicators, their mothers, peers, and speech and language therapists (SLTs) co-construct the social actions of PS utterances during their everyday interactions. The theoretical framework of this study is conversation analysis. This approach to analysing the data enhances our understanding of the linguistic and temporal resources of PS utterances and how they are used to reinforce various rich social actions that promote the progress of aided conversations to resemble natural spoken conversations. The results of this study will help SLTs and teachers in their planning content for SGDs as well as in teaching, and guiding aided communicators and their partners to utilize PS utterances in combination with SBS utterances during their conversations.Peer reviewe
Oficina social: aposta na qualidade de vida das pessoas em situação de dependência
O Programa Oficina Social nasce no município de Cascais onde a Rede Social,
enquanto estrutura de governança local, assume um papel centrado na
responsabilidade partilhada na prossecução do desenvolvimento social do território e
da coesão social. Nesse sentido, este Programa caracteriza‐se essencialmente por um
trabalho em rede e em parceria com diversas instituições locais e a Escola Superior de
Saúde do Alcoitão, enquanto parceiro consultor, assume o seu papel de
responsabilidade social no território concelhio, através do trabalho conjunto com o
município e com muitas outras organizações locais, planeando e desenvolvendo
serviços à comunidade. O Programa Oficina Social tem como principal objetivo a
realização de pequenas reparações e adaptações em casa de munícipes com 65 ou mais
anos e/ou em situação de dependência temporária ou permanente, com rendimento
igual ou inferior ao valor da Pensão Social.
É verdadeiramente um exemplo de como o investimento numa melhor
qualificação habitacional das pessoas idosas e das pessoas com deficiência permite,
prevenir acidentes domésticos, situações de dependência e institucionalização precoce,
melhorando significativamente a qualidade de vida desta população.N/
Time-domain concatenative text-to-speech synthesis.
A concatenation framework for time-domain concatenative speech synthesis (TDCSS) is presented and evaluated. In this framework, speech segments are extracted from CV, VC, CVC and CC waveforms, and abutted. Speech rhythm is controlled via a single duration parameter, which specifies the initial portion of each stored waveform to be output. An appropriate choice of segmental durations reduces spectral discontinuity problems at points of concatenation, thus reducing reliance upon smoothing procedures.
For text-to-speech considerations, a segmental timing system is described, which predicts segmental durations at the word level, using a timing database and a pattern matching look-up algorithm. The timing database contains segmented words with associated duration values, and is specific to an actual inventory of concatenative units. Segmental duration prediction accuracy improves as the timing database size increases. The problem of incomplete timing data has been addressed by using `default duration' entries in the database, which are created by re-categorising existing timing data according to articulation manner. If segmental duration data are incomplete, a default duration procedure automatically categorises the missing speech segments according to segment class. The look-up algorithm then searches the timing database for duration data corresponding to these re-categorised segments. The timing database is constructed using an iterative synthesis/adjustment technique, in which a `judge' listens to synthetic speech and adjusts segmental durations to improve naturalness. This manual technique for constructing the timing database has been evaluated. Since the timing data is linked to an expert judge's perception, an investigation examined whether the expert judge's perception of speech naturalness is representative of people in general. Listening experiments revealed marked
similarities between an expert judge's perception of naturalness and that of the experimental subjects. It was also found that the expert judge's perception remains
stable over time. A synthesis/adjustment experiment found a positive linear correlation between segmental durations chosen by an experienced expert judge and duration values chosen by subjects acting as expert judges. A listening test confirmed that between 70% and 100% intelligibility can be achieved with words synthesised using TDCSS. In a further test, a TDCSS synthesiser was compared with five well-known text-to-speech synthesisers, and was ranked fifth
most natural out of six. An alternative concatenation framework (TDCSS2) was also evaluated, in which duration parameters specify both the start point and the end point
of the speech to be extracted from a stored waveform and concatenated. In a similar listening experiment, TDCSS2 stimuli were compared with five well-known text-tospeech
synthesisers, and were ranked fifth most natural out of six
Some problems of designing for augmentative and alternative communication users: an enquiry through practical design activity
The submission is concerned with, and addresses, problems of designing for people
with disabilities, with specific reference to people who are illiterate and cannot
speak. People with such disabilities often depend on electronic AAC
(Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices for interpersonal
communication. A central theme of the thesis, however, is that such products, and
products intended for people with disabilities more generally, have characteristics
that inadequately attend to users' needs. Through a combination of practical
product development and literature reviews, the thesis demonstrates how
improvements to AAC devices 'can be made through user-participatory, usercentred
and more sensitive and perceptive design. Literature reviews in the
following subjects are reported: AAC; the operational knowledge base for design
and disability; user participatory design; and wearable computing.
At the core of the thesis is the presentation and discussion of an empirical case
study, carried out by the researcher, to design and develop the Portland
Communication Aid (PCA). The PCA was conceived as an AAC product that
would attempt to redress the inadequacies of predecessor devices. The design
activity for the PCA is traced in the thesis, from initial concepts and development
models through to a working prototype. Key ideas and essential principles of the
design are illustrated. Throughout the work on the PCA, many problems
associated with designing for people with severe communication disabilities were
encountered. These problems, as with their resolutions, comprised matters of both
designing (as an activity) and design (as product specification). The thesis contains
comprehensive exposure and analysis of these problems and resolutions. In
particular, the value of shaping meaning, metaphor, and other product semantics
into devices intended for use by people with disabilities is explored.
The study provides two substantive conclusions. First, that both the activity and
the outcomes of Industrial Design have a valuable role in the empowerment and
rehabilitation of AAC users. And second, that key principles have been identified
that will enable designers to better identify, articulate and respond to the needs of
people with communication disabilities (and the needs of people with disabilities
more generally