The ethos behind the work described here was to begin a process of involving users in the design of communication aids and a number of possible future work streams have emerged from this research.  Users should be more actively involved in both designing communication aids and in the decision making process of choosing an aid. The design of communication aids is closely linked to the decision making process around choosing communication aids and there is a need to address both aspects in further research.

Further details of projects emerging from this work will be posted on this website, if you are interested in the results of this project and/or if you would like to collaborate on future work, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Current Projects

Innovative iPhone AAC application

The D4D team provided consultancy and facilitation to TherapyBox as part of the development of a new iPhone application - Predictable.  This application is designed to help people who have difficulty in talking, a field called Augmentative and Alternative Communication or AAC. Predictable fills a gap in the market in iPhone AAC applications - many of the existing applications are designed for people who use symbols to communicate and did not have powerful rate enhancement features or the ability to change to another method of access if the screen keyboard became difficult to use.

D4D were able to work with TherapyBox early in the design phase and provide acess to experts through the Assistive Technology Expert Network and facilitate consultation around the design of the product.  Through working with the D4D team TherapyBox were able to concentrate their innovations around the use of word prediction to speed up text production and the use of switch access to provide access when use of the iPhone keyboard was no longer possible (for example for people with Motor Neurone Disease such as Stephen Hawking).

• More information about TherapyBox, the Predictable application and AAC.