Exploration of multimodal alternative access for individuals with severe motor impairments: Proof of concept

ABSTRACT

Many individuals with complex communication needs and severe motor impairments are unable to control technologies through conventional means and require alternative access techniques to achieve accurate and efficient access. With current alternative access techniques, individuals with severe motor impairments are limited in that they can only use one access technique at a time. The purpose of this project was to test proof of concept of a new multimodal access technique which integrated eye gaze and single switch scanning selection techniques. The aims were to investigate the learning patterns of two adults with severe cerebral palsy when first introduced to the multimodal access technique and then to compare the accuracy and efficiency of multimodal to single-modality access when selecting targets on an AAC visual scene display. The participants learned to use the multimodal access technique; they demonstrated improvements in their accuracy of selection across sessions and attained at least 80% accuracy within 3-15 training sessions. Both participants achieved similar accuracy with multimodal access compared to single-modality, but took longer to select targets with multimodal access compared to single-modality. The potential utility of multimodal access is explored as well as important avenues for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• augmentative and alternative communication
• computer access
• older adults

Acknowledgments

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (The RERC on AAC), funded by Grant #90RE5017 from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation (NIDILRR) within the Administration for Community Living (ACL) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this paper do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Notes

¹ The I-15+ is a speech-generating device by Tobii Dynavox (https://www.tobiidynavox.com).

² Compass is an AAC software by Tobii Dynavox (https://www.tobiidynavox.com).

³ A jelly bean switch is a mechanical, wired switch that is activated by pressure; developed by AbleNet Inc. (https://www.ablenetinc.com).

⁴ Snap Core First is an AAC software by Tobii Dynavox (https://www.tobiidynavox.com).

⁵ Sounding Board is a free communication app developed by AbleNet Inc. (https://www.ablenetinc.com).

⁶ PCeye Mini is an eye-tracker by Tobii Dynavox (https://www.tobiidynavox.com).

⁷ The USB switch interface used in this study was the SwiftyTM by Origin Instruments (https://orin.com).

⁸ EasyVSD is an app developed by InvoTek, Inc. (http://www.invotek.org), under the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant no. 90RE5017) to the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).