Development of Personal Communication Agent for Students with Speech Difficulties

个人沟通代理（PCA）利用教育、临床心理学和计算机技术团队的集体知识和经验，为有语言障碍的学生提供帮助。本研究的目的是开发PCA软件，并报告其对一名六年级男生自闭症的测试结果。PCA的开发是基于Newton Memo Pad这一便携式数字助理。这个拨号备忘录板是高度手持电脑，内置触摸屏，语音录音和播放，记忆和通信功能。PCA是以用户为中心的方法，并且PCA将使用户和临床人员能够控制开发过程，而不是让技术人员将自己的设计解决方案强加给他们。PCA有一个类似于HyperCard的设计，允许父母和临床医生输入用户遵循的方向和相关信息。虽然被试没有表现出适当使用个人沟通代理来增加沟通问题的技能，但他的父母报告说，在研究过程中，持续使用PCA导致他对购物任务和沟通技巧的理解稳步提高。笔者认为，个人数字计算机作为一种辅助的、可替代的交流工具，对有沟通障碍的学生来说是一种有用的工具。老师和家长都认为PCA是令人愉快的。它在社区中是有用的，在社区中，有沟通问题的学生的行为必须得到帮助。我们希望老师和家长能在使用这项数字技术中获益。

The Personal Communication Agent (PCA) uses collective knowledge and experience of a team of educational and clinical psychology and computer technology for students with speech difficulties. The purpose of this research was to develop the PCA software and report its testing results for a sixth grade male student with autism.The development of PCA is based on the Newton Memo Pad, a portable digital assistant. This dial memo pad is highly hand held computer incorporating inbuilt touch screen, speech recording and playback, memory and communications functionality.The PCA is the user-centered approach, and the PCA will empower users and clinical personnel to take control of the development process rather than have technologists impose their own design solutions on them. The PCA has a HyperCard like design which allows parents and clinicians to input directions and related information which users follow.Though the subject did not demonstrate his skill in using the personal communication agent to augment his communication problems appropriately, it was reported by his parents that consistent use of the PCA resulted in steady improvement in his understanding of shopping tasks and communication skills over the course of the study. This author believes that the personal digital computer can be a useful tool for students with communication disorders as an augmentative and alternative communication device. Both teachers and parents regard the PCA as pleasant. It is useful in the community where the behavior of students with communication problems must be assisted. We hope that teachers and parents will find benefit in using this digital technology.