Assistive communication device
First Claim
1. An assistive communication device for allowing a speech-impaired user to construct at least one of a statement, a query and a request, and to communicate said at least one of said statement, query and request to another person, said assistive communication device comprising:
- an input device that accepts inputs from said user;
a plurality of output devices that communicate with said user and with said another person, said plurality of output devices comprising at least a display and a transducer for creating aural output; and
a processor that operates on said inputs and interacts with said user via at least one of said plurality of output devices to construct said at least one of a statement, a query and a request;
wherein;
said processor operates in a first mode when said user is all of (a) familiar with use of said assistive communication device, (b) able to see, and (c) able to use full function of standard computer input devices, and in at least one other mode different from said first mode when said user is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to allow said user who is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to use said assistive communication device to communicate with said another person.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An assistive communication device of the type on which a user can compose a message to be spoken by the device, using an input device to select items on a display to construct the message, can operate in a mode suitable for visually impaired and/or inexperienced users by aurally stepping through the available choices, explaining to the user the consequences of selecting each choice. The order in which choices are presented in these modes may differ from a mode in which they would be presented to an experienced or fully-sighted user. Even for an experienced user, the order in which choices are highlighted on the display may differ according the user'"'"'s usage history. The device may be connected to external communications, including a telephone line, a data network for electronic mail, or a caregiver alert device. The caregiver alert device may be portable, or may be a caregivers'"'"' station console.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An assistive communication device for allowing a speech-impaired user to construct at least one of a statement, a query and a request, and to communicate said at least one of said statement, query and request to another person, said assistive communication device comprising:
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an input device that accepts inputs from said user; a plurality of output devices that communicate with said user and with said another person, said plurality of output devices comprising at least a display and a transducer for creating aural output; and a processor that operates on said inputs and interacts with said user via at least one of said plurality of output devices to construct said at least one of a statement, a query and a request;
wherein;said processor operates in a first mode when said user is all of (a) familiar with use of said assistive communication device, (b) able to see, and (c) able to use full function of standard computer input devices, and in at least one other mode different from said first mode when said user is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to allow said user who is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to use said assistive communication device to communicate with said another person. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An assistive communication device for allowing a speech-impaired user to construct at least one of a statement, a query and a request, and to communicate said at least one of said statement, query and request to another person, said assistive communication device comprising:
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an input device that accepts inputs from said user; at least one output device that communicates with said user and with said another person, said at least one output device comprising at least a transducer for creating aural output; and a processor that operates on said inputs and interacts with said user via said at least one output device to construct said at least one of a statement, a query and a request;
wherein;when said user is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, said processor operates to allow said user who is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to use said assistive communication device to communicate with said another person.
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Specification