Augmentative communication device design, implementation and evaluation

The ultimate aim of this thesis was to design and implement an advanced software based Augmentative Communication Device (ACD) , or Voice Output Communication Aid NOCA), for non-vocal Learning Disabled individuals by applying current psychological models, theories, and experimental techniques. By taking account of potential user's cognitive and linguistic abilities a symbol based device (Easy Speaker) was produced which outputs naturalistic digitised human speech and sound and makes use of a photorealistic symbol set. In order to increase the size of the available symbol set a hypermedia style dynamic screen approach was employed. The relevance of the hypermedia metaphor in relation to models of knowledge representation and language processing was explored.Laboratory based studies suggested that potential user's could learn to productively operate the software, became faster and more efficient over time when performing set conversational tasks. Studies with unimpaired individuals supported the notion that digitised speech was less cognitively demanding to decode, or listen to.With highly portable, touch based, PC compatible systems beginning to appear it is hoped that the otherwise silent will be able to use the software as their primary means of communication with the speaking world. Extensive field trials over a six month period with a prototype device and in collaboration with user's caregivers strongly suggested this might be the case.Off-device improvements were also noted suggesting that Easy Speaker, or similar software has the potential to be used as a communication training tool. Such training would be likely 10 improve overall communicative effectiveness.To conclude, a model for successful ACD development was proposed

Hyper-Text-Linguistik

This doctoral thesis suggests a text-linguistic approach dealing with linked electronic texts, so called HYPERTEXTS. After explaining the concept and philosophy of the hypertext-idea and elaborating on a pragmatic definition of WWW-hypertexts (Part A of the thesis), a linguistic framework, the Textlinguistisches Analysemodell für Hypertexte (TAH), is proposed (Part B). TAH provides a pragmatic-functional, top-down model to analyze CONTEXT, FUNCTION and STRUCTURE of complete hypertexts and the hypertext-components NODE and LINK. Main aim of TAH is to strictly separate the different aspects of each hypertext- and linguistic level – without isolating them. The theoretical approach of TAH is used for a case study (Part C). Therefore a corpus of WWW-hypertexts, mainly informative and instructive ones, is examined with TAH-methods. Aim of this study is on the one hand to provide some sort of evidence for the plausibility of TAH and is on the other hand linked with a specific question of research: It deals with possibilities provided by linguistics to enhance hypertext-links with logically, semantically and/or rhetorically typed information. The conclusion of the study is to distinguish exactly between semantics of a deepstructure-knowledge-presentation, semantic and rhetoric relations of the surface, i.e. the hypertext the user can see, and the layout or traversal behavior respectively of the user interface, i.e. the browsersoftware. Part C mainly deals with problems of typed links on the surface of hypertexts