Aug-29-15
A new system able to turn breath signals into words could give severely paralyzed patients an alternative means of communication.
Created for paralyzed patients who have partial or complete loss of vocal control, the Augmentative and Alternate Communication (AAC) system includes a mask that fits over the patient’s nose and mouth. A hose connected to the mask channels the patient’s breath to a computer, which then interprets the specific patterns as words or phrases and speaks them aloud. The patient is able to specify what the patterns mean, and so far the device has demonstrated a 97.5 percent success rate at learning the user’s “breath signals.”
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