Access to AAC: Present, past, and future

Abstract

Historically, access in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been conceptualized as the physical operation of AAC technologies; more recently, research and development in the cognitive and social sciences has helped to broaden the concept to include a range of human factors involved in the successful use of AAC technologies in social interactions. The goal of this article is to expand the current understanding of communication access by providing a conceptual framework for examining AAC access, evaluating recent scientific and technical advances in the areas of AAC, and discussing the challenges to accessing AAC technologies for a range of communication activities.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
• Physical Access
• Communication Access
• Cognitive Science
• Social Interaction

Notes

1 It is important to recognize that, whereas face-to-face interaction is the most critical context for successful communication, it is but one of a number of communication contexts found in spoken and augmented communication that include telephone, email, internet messaging, letter writing, blogging, and social networking. Each communication context is characterized by particular constraints (e.g., face-to-face communication requires participants to be in the same place and time to communicate, whereas email does not) that help to shape the way that language is used and interactions are transacted (Clark, 1996; Higginbotham & Caves, 2002).

2 LC Technologies, http://www.eyegaze.com/

3 Tobii,http://www.tobii.se//default.asp?sid=543

4 Eyetech Digital Systems, http://www.eyetechds.com/index.htm

5 Eye Response Technologies, http://eyeresponse.com/Disabilities/

6 HK Eyecan, Ltd., http://www.eyecan.ca/