Designing interaction, voice, and inclusion in AAC research

Abstract

The ISAAC 2016 Research Symposium included a Design Stream that examined timely issues across augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), framed in terms of designing interaction, designing voice, and designing inclusion. Each is a complex term with multiple meanings; together they represent challenging yet important frontiers of AAC research. The Design Stream was conceived by the four authors, researchers who have been exploring AAC and disability-related design throughout their careers, brought together by a shared conviction that designing for communication implies more than ensuring access to words and utterances. Each of these presenters came to AAC from a different background: interaction design, inclusive design, speech science, and social science. The resulting discussion among 24 symposium participants included controversies about the role of technology, tensions about independence and interdependence, and a provocation about taste. The paper concludes by proposing new directions for AAC research: (a) new interdisciplinary research could combine scientific and design research methods, as distant yet complementary as microanalysis and interaction design, (b) new research tools could seed accessible and engaging contextual research into voice within a social model of disability, and (c) new open research networks could support inclusive, international and interdisciplinary research.

Keywords:

• Talk-in-interaction
• interaction design
• speech-generating devices
• vocal identity
• inclusive design
• participatory design

Disclosure statement

Rupal Patel has a financial relationship relevant to the content of this submission. She is the Founder and CEO of VocaliD. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Notes

1 InqScribe™ is a transcription software application from Inquirium™, Chicago, IL. http://docs.inqscribe.com/2.2/

2 Lightwriter™ is an AAC device manufactured by Abilia Toby Churchill™ Ltd. www.toby-churchill.com

3 InterAACt™ is an AAC language framework used on DynaVox™ devices manufactured by TobiiDynaVox™ Inc. www.dynavoxtech.com/interaact/

4 Tango!™ was an AAC device developed by Richard Ellenson and BlinkTwice™ Inc. It is no longer being manufactured.

5 Nuance™ is a company in Burlington, MA that produces speech recognition and speech synthesis products. www.nuance.com

6 Acapela™ is a European company in Mons, Belgium, Labège, France; and Solna, Sweden that develops text-to-speech software and services. www.acapela-group.com

7 The iPad™ is a product of Apple™ Inc., Cupertino, CA. www.apple.com

8 VocaliD™ is a company in Belmont, MA concerned with the preservation, restoration, and creation of vocal identities. www.vocalid.co

9 BeSpoke™ is a personalized voice service from VocaliD™. https://www.vocalid.co/bespoke

10 The Human Voicebank™ is a resource of VocaliD™. www.vocalid.co/voicebank#

11 Cereproc™ is a Scottish company in Edinburgh, UK that conducts speech synthesis research and produces advanced text to speech technology. www.cereproc.com

12 IDRC is the Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University, Toronto, Canada. http://idrc.ocadu.ca