Writing script-based dialogues for AAC

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices are often used by disabled people who are non-speaking, in order to assist them to communicate. However, many such systems require the user to build up an utterance word-byword each time, and are thus often laborious for the user and slow (and thus less effective) in communication. For this reason, an AAC system was developed which relies on pre-stored scripts and an engaging user interface to predict and guide the user through many standard dialogue situations with a minimum of effort. In order to allow individuality in using the system, an authoring package has been developed. This allows users (or their carers) to modify existing scripts or to add new scripts into the system, and has also been designed to facilitate exchange of scripts between users. The systems developed utilise current speech synthesisers for spoken output, and are commercially available in English, Dutch and German versions.