"PlayTalk" Communication Software for Children with Complex Communication Needs

描述（由申请人提供）：我们迫切需要为有复杂沟通需求的幼儿设计的语音生成设备（SGDs）。可用的sgd对于儿童来说很难使用，而对于成人来说编程则很耗时。如果没有适当的语言发展计划，儿童就会在早期失去沟通和发展语言技能的宝贵机会，而这正是他们倾向于语言发展的阶段。建议的研究继续开发成功解决这些问题的软件。这款名为PlayTalk的软件鼓励互动和交流，吸引了年幼的孩子。它使用与发展相适应的表示、组织和导航技术，因此对幼儿来说很容易理解和使用。它还使成年人在与孩子互动的同时，可以轻松快速地添加交流展示和语言概念，而不会破坏乐趣和学习。第一阶段的研究清楚地证明了可行性。对于家长和专业人士来说，PlayTalk学习和使用起来既快速又简单，它比目前的SGDs更能支持有复杂沟通需求的幼儿的沟通和语言学习。PlayTalk还提供了对孩子的即时需求和兴趣更敏感的词汇，使父母和专业人士能够利用一天中发生的教学时刻。第二阶段的技术开发重点是让PlayTalk能够通过标准的网络浏览器在许多设备上运行。第二阶段还通过提供工具来鼓励儿童参与vsd的创建，进一步提高了技术水平。PlayTalk的影响是特殊的，因为它促进了目前在这些领域面临巨大失败风险的幼儿的沟通、语言和认知发展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): There is an urgent need for speech generating devices (SGDs) designed for young children with complex communication needs. Available SGDs are difficult for children to use and time consuming for adults to program. Without appropriate SGDs, children miss valuable opportunities to communicate and develop language skills during their early years, when they are predisposed to language development. The proposed research continues development of software that successfully addresses these problems. Named PlayTalk, this software encourages interaction and communication that appeals to young children. It uses developmentally appropriate representations, organizations, and navigational techniques so it is easy for young children to understand and use. It also enables adults to add communication displays and language concepts easily and quickly while interacting with the child, without disrupting the fun and learning. The Phase 1 study clearly demonstrated feasibility. PlayTalk was fast and easy for parents and professionals to learn and use, and it supported communication and language learning by young children with complex communication needs better than current SGDs. PlayTalk also provided access to vocabulary that was more responsive to the children's immediate needs and interests, enabling parents and professionals to capitalize on teachable moments as they occurred throughout the day. Phase 2 technical developments focus on making PlayTalk available on many devices via standard web-browsers. Phase 2 also furthers the state-of-the-art by providing tools to encourage participation by children in the creation of VSDs. The impact of PlayTalk is exceptional because it promotes communication, language, and cognitive development by young children who presently are at great risk for failure in these areas.