Communications of the ACM
Communication Devices 'enable' Children With Disabilities
Researchers at Northeastern University have developed two communication devices that enable children with cognitive and physical disabilities to interact more effectively with their caretakers.
Credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Northeastern University researchers have developed two low-cost communication devices that enable children with cognitive and physical disabilities to more effectively interact with their caretakers.
The researchers created a communications button and iPad touchscreen guard and delivered them to disabled children living at two orphanages in Ecuador.
"By linking up the expertise of faculty and students in different colleges, we can inspire our students, help those in need, and build great and relevant projects," says Northeastern professor Waleed Meleis.
The iPad touchscreen guard consists of a three-dimensional printed case and a clear plastic screen guard including four holes to guide users' button pushing.
The communications button is a large, blue, bumpy construct mounted at eye-level that, when pushed, issues a prerecorded command. Although the device currently is designed to play back only the most recently recorded utterance, instructors can record a new word or phrase at any time. "We wanted to make the button as simplistic as possible, so that it wouldn't break," says Northeastern researcher Marina Eaves.
From Northeastern University News
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