Aphasia Project: Links

This is a collection of resources that we have found useful; it by no means represents a complete and exhaustive reference. This is also a work in progress; we will attempt to add more useful links as they come to our attention.

Related Projects
Background Information
General Information on Assistive Technology
Commercial Technology to Aid Communication
Organizations and Discussion Groups

Related Projects

  • Memory Aids Project, University of Toronto, Computer Science.
  • The Cognitive Lever Project (CLever). University of Colorado, Computer Science. CLever is a research program with a focus on developing enhanced environments for people with cognitive disabilities and their communities.
  • University of Dundee, Department of Applied Computing.
    • UNICORN, or Universal Communicator, is a rapid multi-lingual communication system based on research into conversational modeling and utterance prediction, making use of prestored material.
    • A whole utterance-based communication aid for people without speech.
    • A Linguistic Framework for Technically Augmented Conversational Interaction & Multimedia Communication.
  • Innovative Health Technology. Inclusive. Internet technologies for people with communication impairments.
  • University of Washington, Computer Science and Engineering. Assisted Cognition.  Assisted Cognition is a research project for developing systems to aid people with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background Information

Assistive Technology (AT)

Resources related to assistive technology in general.

Commercial Technology to Aid Communication

These companies sell AAC devices; more can be found through the databases listed above under Assistive Technology.
  • Communication Aid Manufacturers Association (CAMA): A non-profit organization, based in the US, representing manufacturers of AAC software and hardware technology.
  • Dynavox Systems: Manufactures augmentative and alternative communication devices, including DynaVox and DynaWrite.
  • Gus Inc: Manufactures augmentative and alternative communication devices, including dynamic display AAC systems for Pocket PCs.  Their Gus!Pocket Communicator uses text, symbols, or digital images paired with (recorded or synthetic) speech.
  • Mayer-Jonhnson: Products for special needs and education - a variety of communication/hardware devices, including Picture Communication Symbols (PCS).  Mayer-Johnson produce Speaking Dynamically Pro boards designed to be used as an augmentative communication system for adults with aphasia. Click on Speaking Dynamically Pro, scroll down and click on the link Speaking Dynamically Pro Additions. Scroll down until you come to C-Speak Aphasia
  • Words+: communication aids using symbols and text (built Stephen Hawkings' communication device).
These companies primarily develop software that may be useful for people with aphasia, but sometimes also sell devices.
  • AVAAZ Innovations develops and markets software products for clinical, research, and industrial applications involving speech and spoken language (including AphasiaMate).
  • Bungalow Software provides extra therapy practice to recover speech, reading, and writing, and cognitive skills.
  • Don Johnston Incorporated: software to help learn to read and write, and Co:Writer®4000, a word prediction program.
  • ReadPlease Corporation. ReadPlease. Text-to-speech software.
  • Laureate Learning Systems: Adult Aphasia/Traumatic Brain Injury software package.
  • Lingraphica System: Used as both a therapeutic tool, and as a communcation aid. User selects from over 2300 concept images that are stored within a house. Images are found in the appropriate place, for example fruit is found in the refrigerator in the kitchen.
  • Parrot Software: Rehabilitation software for communication, memory, cognitive reasoning and attention.

Organizations and Discussion Groups
aphasia-web@cs.ubc.ca
Last Updated August 7, 2007