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C Goodenough-Trepagnier

Publications and source records attributed to C Goodenough-Trepagnier.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Customised text entry devices for motor-impaired users.

The standard QWERTY keyboard is the principal text entry device for word processing and computer-based communications. For many motor-impaired individuals, and in particular those without intelligible speech, the low text entry rates they can typically achieve is a major problem. For some, the QWERTY design is completely inappropriate. Alternative designs that can appreciably increase these rates would greatly enhance their ability to communicate. This paper considers and compares several approaches to the design of text entry devices for motor-impaired users. A general method for customising (i e, optimising) these designs is employed, and consideration is given to designs requiring significantly fewer input switches than the 26 or more keys required by QWERTY. Use is made of language statistics in the design procedure, and the increased availability of inexpensive, powerful computers is directly exploited.

Journal Article↗

Communication systems for the nonvocal based on frequent phoneme sequences.

A new type of nonvocal communication system has been developed for people unable to produce speech because of neuromotor impairment. It is designed to be as flexible as the alphabet, while requiring significantly fewer acts of selection on the part of the user. The items in this type of system are phoneme sequences which have a high frequency of occurrence in the phoneme sequences included, the fewer the selection gestures required. A system of this type--Par le si la b-- is available for French, and one for English--SPEEC (Sequences of Phonemes for Efficient English Communication)--is being field-tested. Both systems are implemented in lapboard form and on encoded eye-gaze selection (Etran) charts (Eichler, 1975) and are potentially compatible with a variety of electronic communication devices. To the nonvocal individual with good comprehension and the ability to begin learning regular sound-letter correspondences, this approach offers an unrestricted and potentially more rapid communication mode that may allow greater opportunity to develop and exercise language than is currently afforded by the alphabet or by preselected-vocabulary systems.

Adult↗