1. Speech-generating device
According to ALS Association, more than 6000 people in U.S. are diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) each year. People suffering from ALS would lost his ability as a human being such as walking, eating, writing, speaking and lastly breathing, which means people suffering from ASL would have shorter life span compared to normal human being. However, in recent year, a life-changing device has surfaced in the market. It is speech-generating device. This device is specifically design for people who are unable to speak due to ALS.
Figure. ALS patient. (McInnis, 2013)
By definition by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, speech-generating device is a durable medical equipment that provides an individual who has severe speech impairment with the ability to meet his or her functional speaking needs. There are three main types of speech-generating devices.
Types of speech-generating device
a. Static display speech-generating devices
This type of speech-generating device has a system that provides a fixed set of symbols, pictures, photos etc to represent the messages users would like to output. All of the generated speech need to be pre-set into the device. The message of the particular symbol or picture will never change unless the users change it in the setting.
For example, a user who would like to use this type of device need to choose one symbol such as a waving hand. The waving hand might output “Hello, I am John.” Or “Nice to meet you!” according to the preference of the user.
Figure. Static display speech generating device.
b. Dynamic display speech-generating devices
This is design for people who are technology wise and have no problem with literacy. As the name dynamic, this device provides more freedom to the users. Users can navigate using this device freely and this device has less limit compared to static display speech generating device. The display of this device is identical to a touch screen computer. Users have more choices to output different messages using this device. One of the function that is similar to static display speech generating device is the representation of the message. The message can be represented by photos, symbols, alphabet etc according to the liking of the users.
For example, users are given choices such as “Feeling”, “Action”, “Food” at the main menu. When users select the “Action” topic, it will navigate and link to another page which provides more choices regarding “Action” topic. According to the choices users made, the device might output message such as “I want to go to the washroom.”
Figure. Dynamic display speech generating device.
c. Spelling based speech-generating devices
This device require users to input the message using spelling via a on screen keyboard or a keyboard. The users who wish to communicate using this device might input the text or sentence they wish to communicate. This device will output the message according to the message that have been input by the users. Concept of “text-to-speech” has been utilised in this device.
For example, user who wants to communicate to his or her parents might input “I love you, mom and dad!” might input the message using a keyboard. The device will output “I love you, mom and dad!”
Figure. Spelling based speech-generating device.
Types of speech generating device / Suitable user
- Static display speech-generating device – Individuals who find it hard to navigate through the device, individuals who are not familiar with technology or individuals who has weak language proficiency
- Dynamic display speech-generating device – Individuals who prefers dynamic display and individuals who are technology wise.
- Spelling based speech-generating devices – Individuals with good proficiency and literacy skills.
How to access these devices?
These devices can be accessed either:
i) Directly by using a keyboard
ii) Indirectly by using head tracking, computer mouse, joystick, mechanical switch scanning or eye gaze system (“Speech generating”, n.d.)
There are several types of input methods for speech-generating devices; therefore, users may choose the features that match their own ability.
Stephen Hawking http://www.hawking.org.uk/the-computer.html
2. Translator
According to theintrepidguide (2016), there are 7103 spoken languages around the world. Languages are the most fundamental requirement for people to communicate. However, not everyone in the world spoke the same language; therefore, how do most of the people who speak different language communicate? This is where technology and computer helps. Computer functions as a translator that helps people who speak different languages to communicate. Translator exists in different forms and types. The following are few of the most popular translation apps and devices in 2017.
a. Google translate
Google translate is one of the most popular translation software in 2017. It supports and translates over 100 more languages and it is user friendly.
According to Kroulek (2016), google currently supporting 103 languages.
- Languages to translate: 103 languages
- Offline support: 53 languages
- Instant camera translation: 29 languages
- Speech-to-speech translation: 32 languages
- Handwriting support translation: 93 languages
Figure. Google translate (1). (2016)
Figure. Google translate (2).
At June 27, 2017, Google announced that google translate currently has added neural translation support for two more languages, which is Xhosa and Zulu (Vermeulan, 2017).
b. iTranslate Voice
iTranslate Voice is also a similar application to Google translate. It supports text-to-speech and voice-to-voice translation on both Android and iOs devices. It supports up to 42 languages and it is also user friendly.
Although the languages supported by iTranslate Voice is lesser compared to Google Translate. However, according to Stoller (2016), she had better experience with iTranslate Voice in term of voice input and voice output.
Figure. iTranslate Voice.
c. The ili
The ili is a newly emerged translation device at 2016. Until June 2017, over 1000 travellers have experienced and used ili. Ili is a wearable real-time translator that allows people to communicate using different languages in real-time. It was first launched in Tokyo on Jan 31, 2017 and it has currently received overwhelming responses from people all around the world.
Figure. Ili.
How ili works?
Ili is a translation device that works two ways. It receives input from the users and produce output according to the input. It is also a wearable device; users can wear it around their neck and bring it anywhere. No Bluetooth and no Wi-Fi was required for this device. To use it, users first have to look for the button on ili. Hold it down for 2 seconds and speak to the ili. Once the button is released, the ili will translate the input from the languages users are speaking into the desired translated languages. This device works on speech-to-speech concept. The device is currently available in several languages such as Mandarin, English, Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, Korean, Italian, Spanish, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, French and German.
3. Kiosks
Kiosk is a small physical structure that often used in providing useful information, direction or displaying advertisement, it often including a computer and display screen. Most of the kiosks can be found at the public area such as shopping mall, entrance of a restaurant etc.
There are mainly five types of kiosks (“5 types of kiosk”, 2016). All of these kiosks are used in communicate with the people to allow people to receive information, direction or even ordering in a restaurant.
Table. Types of kiosks.
Types of kiosks
a. Self-service kiosks
As the name suggested, self-service kiosks are the kiosks that provides users to self-service in doing various things such as doing payment, ordering from a restaurant, printing documents, checking stock in a shop etc. It is a computer that receives input from the user (ask user what to do) and output the results. It is replacing the need of human to do simple and daily tasks. It brings a lot of convenience for the human being.
This type of kiosk can act as the communication in various industries. The examples of kiosks are shown at the table below.
Industries / Function
- Universities – Enable students to request services such as leave application, replacement class and enrolment
- Banking – Allows citizens to withdraw and transfer money, one of the example will be ATM (Automated teller machine)
- Government – Some of the government ID cards can be printed using kiosks
- Restaurant – Allows customers to make order according to the menu and proceed to payment
- Healthcare – Patients and customers can arrange for appointment and make payment
- Events – Pre-registered tickets can be printed
Table. Various industries with their self-serving kiosks
b. Information kiosks
As the name suggested, information kiosks is a type of computer, which provides information to the users. The information given is precise and concise as the information is fixed. With proper input, users can even get further details regarding the things they are asking.
Most of the industries are using information kiosks to communicate with their staffs and customers. The examples are shown at the table below:
Industries / Function
- Government – Provides information on the services available
- Health care – Provides information about the visiting hours and policies of the hospital
- Schools – Provides information regarding the history of the school, displaying the school awards and output latest information of the school
- Events – Provides information about the exhibitor and their products
Table. Various industries with their information kiosks
c. Internet kiosks
Internet access or Wi-Fi is one of the most important features that everyone would look for. Internet kiosks are the kiosks that serve this function. Internet kiosks can be found at public area and it provides free internet access to the people around them. For most of the cases, users are required to key in their e-mail address in order to connect to the free Wi-Fi. After connecting to the Wi-Fi, users can enjoy the various internet service such as listening to music, watching videos, sending e-mail or even phone calling people using online application.
Figure. Internet kiosk in New York City. (Levine, 2016)
The photo shown is a internet kiosk placed in New York City. This kiosk serve everyone in the public area and it has free internet access, Wi-Fi, charging port and a touch screen display that allows people to use the device to place phone calls.
d. Wayfinding kiosks
This is a very useful kiosks that allows people to find their way around the cities or places. The wayfinding kiosks is geo-fenced which means it is aware of its locations and the location around it. Geo-fencing is a feature that utilises the radio frequency identification (RFID) or global positioning system (GPS) to determine the locations (Rouse, 2016). By interacting with the wayfinding kiosks, users will be able to navigate themselves around the cities and places easily.
This type of kiosks can normally be found at the following sectors.
Sectors / Function
- Shopping mall – Allow people to locate their desired shop, find desired product, locate the washroom and look for the location of the restaurants
- Airport – Provides people with the location of duty-free shop, washroom and flight gates. The kiosks often state distance and time to get to one destination.
Table. Example of wayfinding kiosks.
e. Kiosks advertising display (also known as advertisement standing displays)
As the name suggested, these kiosks advertise certain products or services. Theses kiosks are often equipped with Wi-Fi hotspot to attract the crowd and people to aware of the advertisement shown on the kiosks.
These kiosks can be found mainly at public area with a large amount of crowd such as shopping mall, airports, monorails and LRT stations etc.
General use of the kiosks
4. Visual communication
Visual communication is a type of visual aid and communication aid that can be performed using a computer. Visual communication is one of the three main types of communication along with verbal communication and non-verbal communication. Human use computers to perform visual communication. The types of visual communication that can be performed using computers include animation, chart, graph, table, diagram, map and poster.
All of these visual aids are useful in presenting information to the audiences. It is an way to communicate with audiences effectively.