"Medicine can't cure me, so I rely on technology." *
* Stephen Hawking
"If you don't recognize my voice..." - so started he the message, and it sounds sad and funny at the same time.
Funny, because it is hard to not recognize this voice. For me, the synthetic voice with metal accent can be associated with one of the greatest mind of our time only.
Sad that he's gone... and that there is still place for such deceases in the world.
Maybe the technology is not fresh, but it was made by Intel in collaboration with Stephen Hawking. It not only gives people possibilities to use computer, it gives the possibility to communicate. Initially it was an upgrade for the Stephen Hawking's hardware for writing. For decades he used the stick on wheelchair armrest to choose words and commands by his thumb, but the nerve, that allowed him to use the thumb degraded and by 2008 the had was too weak to use the systems mounted in armrests. The system was updated with use of "cheek switch", attached to his glasses. Such method gave him ability to write mails and even books, but the ability to use such hardware degraded also. In year 2012 it took 20 minutes to write about 30 words. (1)
This is then the history of open-source technology named as ACAT (Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit) starts. Why ACAT is so special? It took the path from "neural signals scanning software" to simplified tools, like we use in phones and even can't imagine, how they help others. And what is most important, it was developed with person, which framework to the world was the only ability to write, and at the time of development, his body was practically fully immobilized. The ACAT scans movements of whole face and every ability to move (not eyes only), can be programmed for some operation in ACAT, it also has a variety of supported mechanical switches. Text/sound software linked with adaptive word predictor, developed by (SwiftKey) Presage (nowadays) with possibility to choose required word in the same text box, after insertion of one letter (that's increased the speed of communication significantly). As it is open-source, it can be modified for needs of every person, and that's makes it better than newer but proprietary software.
Hope, the ACAT won't be left by Intel after the death of the legend of science and the one of his last works will gave users with disabilities the chance for live improvement.
Interesting fact. Did you know that the voice of Stephen Hawking was created and it's not his own voice?
The voice was created by MIT engineer Dennis Klatt, the creator of one of the first devices to translate text into speech. In early 80's Klatt recorded 3 voices for his device, DECtalk. The Beautiful Betty (his wife's), the Kit the Kid (his child's) and the Perfect Paul (Klatt's own).
Hawking used the Perfect Paul voice all the time. Now the voice built-in in ACAT software.
Funny, because it is hard to not recognize this voice. For me, the synthetic voice with metal accent can be associated with one of the greatest mind of our time only.
Sad that he's gone... and that there is still place for such deceases in the world.
Maybe the technology is not fresh, but it was made by Intel in collaboration with Stephen Hawking. It not only gives people possibilities to use computer, it gives the possibility to communicate. Initially it was an upgrade for the Stephen Hawking's hardware for writing. For decades he used the stick on wheelchair armrest to choose words and commands by his thumb, but the nerve, that allowed him to use the thumb degraded and by 2008 the had was too weak to use the systems mounted in armrests. The system was updated with use of "cheek switch", attached to his glasses. Such method gave him ability to write mails and even books, but the ability to use such hardware degraded also. In year 2012 it took 20 minutes to write about 30 words. (1)
This is then the history of open-source technology named as ACAT (Assistive Context-Aware Toolkit) starts. Why ACAT is so special? It took the path from "neural signals scanning software" to simplified tools, like we use in phones and even can't imagine, how they help others. And what is most important, it was developed with person, which framework to the world was the only ability to write, and at the time of development, his body was practically fully immobilized. The ACAT scans movements of whole face and every ability to move (not eyes only), can be programmed for some operation in ACAT, it also has a variety of supported mechanical switches. Text/sound software linked with adaptive word predictor, developed by (
Hope, the ACAT won't be left by Intel after the death of the legend of science and the one of his last works will gave users with disabilities the chance for live improvement.
Interesting fact. Did you know that the voice of Stephen Hawking was created and it's not his own voice?
The voice was created by MIT engineer Dennis Klatt, the creator of one of the first devices to translate text into speech. In early 80's Klatt recorded 3 voices for his device, DECtalk. The Beautiful Betty (his wife's), the Kit the Kid (his child's) and the Perfect Paul (Klatt's own).
Hawking used the Perfect Paul voice all the time. Now the voice built-in in ACAT software.
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