Possibilities of intelligent textiles in AAC – perspectives of speech and language therapists

Figures & data

Table 1. The participants’ experience in using AAC methods.

AAC method	How many have used it
Gestures and body language	12
Signing key words and other communication using signs	12
Real Objects	5
Writing	6
Drawing	10
Blissymbols	0
Pictures (e.g., communication books, communication boards, separate pictures)	11
High-technology supports e.g., speech-generating devices, computer-based communication systems, mobile technologies with application for communication	10
Other	1

Figure 1. The flow of reaching the desired purpose.

Five boxes illustrating the steps needed to use intelligent textiles, which are the person, textile, input, output, and the purpose. A large arrow from the beginning to the end emphasises the individual’s perspective.

Table 2. Themes, subthemes and examples of the topics discussed by the participants relating to the purposes for using e-textiles.

Theme	Subtheme	Examples of the topics discussed referring to e-textiles
Social interaction	Symbolic communication	Requesting   Sharing information   Refusing/accepting  Social phrases
	Initiating interaction	Enabling initiation when in a different room  Detecting the smallest possible initiation  The possibility to increase the amount of initiations  Integrating the natural gestures to the technology  Communication partner wearing intelligent textile to enhance interaction  Nurse call  Starting phone/video calls
	Playing with peers	Enabling play or playing games  Turn taking  Drawing on wall tapestry
Accessing meaningful activities independently	Turning devices on/off	Turning music, radio, TV on/off   Enabling the person to get excited about their environment
	Creating entertainment	Playing an instrument from your clothes  Drawing on textiles  Creating fun independently
Interpreting feedback		Interpreting feelings and emotions from those who cannot communicate actively  Eliciting data for others to get information on whether the person feels relaxed or like or dislike some activity
More complex ideas for learning and rehabilitation		Multiple visual representations on textile to enable language learning   Modelling language using symbols that appear on textiles  Interpreting and expanding the (telegrammic) utterance into a complete sentence  Important picture symbols will be highlighted and flashing, while unnecessary ones will disappear.  The textile will detect the speech volume and give feedback.

Table 3. The overall presentation of ideas discussed in reference to the purpose of using intelligent textiles.

Theme	Subtheme	Group 1	Group 2	Total
Social interaction	Symbolic communication	13	27	40
	Initiating interaction	11	7	18
	Playing with peers	4	0	4
Accessing meaningful activities independently	Environment control	6	0	6
	Creating entertainment	10	0	10
Interpreting feedback		4	0	4
More complex ideas for learning and rehabilitation		0	12	12
		48	46	94