Current Project: TAALS Communicator
The goal of this project is to build an easy to use, low-cost, portable, and standalone AAC communicator that will enable patients with ALS or other disabilities and impairments to communicate (by generating speech) using only eye movement.
Unlike many other AAC devices, the TAALS Communicator will be unobtrusive- simply worn like a pair of glasses. The objective is to enable patients to communicate their basic needs in any setting without the need of complex devices or software. For these reasons, complex calibrations and adjustments for head and body movements will not be necessary.
Using eye tracking technology combined with proprietary methodology, users of the TAALS Communicator will be able to “type” letters, words, and sentences with eye movements that are as simple as looking up and looking down. When the user is done writing, the TAALS Communicator will convert the text to speech and send to a speaker, giving the user a voice.