D3-B: Enhancing the Role of Listeners in AAC Interactions
The purposes of this activity are to 1) develop AAC technology design specifications that
integrate features to facilitate listener roles in co-creation of meaning (co-construction of
messages) with the AAC user, 2) develop prototype AAC technology to support co-creation of
meaning, and 3) evaluate the prototype, compared to low- and high- technology strategies without
these features.
There are two primary activities. In Activity 1 , staff will develop design specs for
prototype AAC systems. The design specs will be developed a) from a staff survey of the AAC
literature regarding listener roles, b) from an advisory board (some onsite and some virtual)
of primary AAC consumers, secondary consumers, AAC interventionists, and frequent communication
partners who will report and describe the AAC message construction techniques for co-creation of
meaning that they use, and c) from a technical advisory board of AAC-RERC partners and AT
engineers and programmers.
In Activity 2 , staff will develop and evaluate prototypes that implement the design
specifications created during Activity 1. These prototypes will be developed using remote
computer control technology [e.g., Virtual Network Computing (VNC)] such that one computer
can host an AAC program that can be accessed from this interface or from that of a remote
(guest) computer. Possible features in the prototypes include: a) instructions to listeners
for optimal ways to participate in co-creation of meaning, b) an interactive feedback screen
containing messages as they are formulated by the user and the listener, c) organization and
message options for listeners with availability under the AAC user's control (selection of
organizational screens, message choices, and sets; message completion; onscreen drawing; etc.),
d) a message formulation screen to support prediction and breakdown resolution (clarification),
and e) control of vocabulary prediction options by listeners who will identify parameters such
as topic, context, situation, environment, listener identity.
For more information about this project, contact David Beukelman.
Progress to Date
The design specification paper has been completed and is being finalized for publication.
The prototype has been developed that will support the primary listener roles that have been identified as important and commonly employed in low-tech AAC interactions.
The evaluation of the prototype is just beginning with children and adults who rely on AAC. |
