An advanced communication software for individuals with ALS speeds text-to-speech input times and makes generating speech easier, enables real-time conversation, and allows for more effective interpersonal interaction.
Many individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other disorders that impair speech rely on assistive technologies to communicate. These tools often use text-to-speech, with techniques like eye tracking used to input letters one at a time. To circumvent the problems caused by slow word and sentence construction, FOSTER uses a novel combination of a search algorithm and user-defined shorthand letter codes to auto-fill words based on just a few letters. By increasing the efficiency of assistive speech technology, FOSTER can reduce input time over 40%, alleviating user exhaustion and facilitating clear, real-time communication.
• Compatible - works with many different operating systems and devices • User-friendly - does not require as many movements as existing technologies • Rapid - increases communication speed
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis • Dysarthria caused by brain injury or tumor • Guillain-Barre syndrome • Cerebral palsy • Huntington’s disease
• Licensing • Development partner