A rapid multi-lingual communicator for non-speaking people and others

Computer-based systems that are developed to assist people with severe disabilities can often have interesting wider applications. A computer-based communication system has been developed to give non-speaking people a multi-lingual capability. It is based on developments in this field in conversational modelling and utterance prediction, making use of pre-stored material. The system could also be used by people whose only communication disadvantage is not being able to speak a foreign language. The system consists of a large store of re-usable conversational material duplicated in several languages and a model of conversation which allows the system to link the items together into appropriate sequences. A unique feature of the system is that both the non-speaking person and the communication partner use the communicator in their dialogue. In comparison with a multi-lingual phrase book, the system helped users to have more natural conversation, and to take more control of the interaction.