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• I, Robot? Exploring Ultra-Personalized AI-Powered AAC; an Autoethnographic Account

  Tobias M Weinberg, Ricardo E. Gonzalez Penuela, Stephanie Valencia, Thijs Roumen · 2026 · Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)

  This paper is a multi-month autoethnographic study by an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) user-researcher who fine-tuned a personalized large language model on his own communication data and then used it as the suggestion engine in his everyday speech-generating…

  AAC · autoethnography · large language models · personalization · agency

• Giving Meaning to Movements: Challenges and Opportunities in Expanding Communication by Pairing Unaided AAC with Speech Generated Messages

  Imran Kabir, Sharon Ann Redmon, Lynn R. Elko, Kevin Williams, Mitchell A. Case, Dawn J. Sowers, Krista Wilkinson, Syed Masum Billah · 2026 · Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)

  Kabir and colleagues tackle a long-standing split in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): aided AAC — speech-generating devices, symbol boards, tablet apps — produces standardised, intelligible output but is slow, visually demanding, and awkward when partners are…

  AAC · augmentative and alternative communication · motor impairment · speech impairment · wearable technology

• One Does Not Simply 'Mm-hmm': Exploring Backchanneling in the AAC Micro-Culture

  Tobias M Weinberg, Claire O'Connor, Ricardo E. Gonzalez Penuela, Stephanie Valencia, Thijs Roumen · 2025 · ASSETS 2025: 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper explores how users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technology engage in backchanneling—the subtle verbal and non-verbal signals (like "uh-huh," nods, and facial expressions) that listeners use to show engagement, signal understanding, and maintain…

  AAC · backchanneling · non-verbal communication · micro-culture · listener feedback

• Overcoming Speech Barriers: Non-Verbal Voice Cue Interaction Technique for Enhancing Smart Voice Assistant Accessibility for Individuals with Dysarthria

  Aisha Jaddoh, Fernando Loizides, Khadijah Alreafai, Omer Rana · 2025 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This study presents DARIA (DysARthrIA), a novel smart voice assistant interaction system that uses non-verbal voice cues instead of spoken words and sentences. The system addresses a critical accessibility gap: commercial voice assistants like Alexa and Google Home rely on…

  dysarthria · speech impairment · voice assistants · smart speakers · non-verbal interaction

• Voice Creator: Giving Customized Voice to the Voiceless for Online Communication

  Hyeon Jeong Byeon · 2021 · Proceedings of the 23rd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This extended abstract presents Voice Creator, a web-based prototype that allows people with speech or hearing impairments to create customized synthetic voices for online communication. The work is motivated by research showing that voice-based communication increases intimacy…

  speech synthesis · voice customization · speech impairment · hearing impairment · computer-mediated communication

• Computer Vision-based Methodology to Support AAC

  Rúbia Eliza de Oliveira Schultz Ascari, Roberto Pereira, Luciano Silva · 2020 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing

  This paper presents a methodology for supporting augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) through personalized gestural interaction using computer vision and machine learning. The authors developed the PGCA (Personal Gesture Communication Assistant) system, which enables…

  AAC · augmentative and alternative communication · computer vision · machine learning · gesture recognition

• Intelligent Assistive Communication and the Web as a Social Medium

  Karl Wiegand · 2014 · Proceedings of the 11th Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This short paper presents doctoral research on applying natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to improve augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems, with a particular focus on enabling web-based social interaction for people with severe speech…

  augmentative and alternative communication · AAC · natural language processing · machine learning · social media accessibility

• Phoneme-based Predictive Text Entry Interface

  Ha Trinh, Annalu Waller, Keith Vertanen, Per Ola Kristensson, Vicki L. Hanson · 2014 · Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper presents iSCAN-2, an iPad application that enables nonspeaking individuals to enter text by selecting phonemes (speech sounds) rather than spelling words with letters. People with severe speech impairments often face challenges in literacy acquisition, making…

  AAC · text entry · phoneme · speech impairment · word prediction

• SymbolPath: A Continuous Motion Overlay Module for Icon-Based Assistive Communication

  Karl Wiegand, Rupal Patel · 2012 · Proceedings of the 14th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2012)

  This demonstration paper introduces SymbolPath, an overlay module designed to improve the speed and ease of message formulation in icon-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Traditional icon-based AAC devices require users to make precise, discrete tap…

  augmentative and alternative communication · AAC · motor impairment · speech impairment · icon-based communication

• Designing AAC Interfaces for Commercial Brain-Computer Interaction Gaming Hardware

  Stephen Steward · 2009 · Proceedings of the 11th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (Assets '09)

  This paper explores repurposing a low-cost commercial brain-computer interface (BCI) gaming device — the OCZ Technologies Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA) — as an input device for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The NIA is a headband that reads electrical signals…

  augmentative and alternative communication · brain-computer interface · assistive technology · motor impairment · speech impairment

• Assistive Social Interaction for Non-Speaking People Living in the Community

  Nick Hine, John L. Arnott · 2002 · Proceedings of the Fifth International ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '02)

  This paper addresses the social isolation experienced by non-speaking people living independently in the community, a problem intensified by the shift from institutional to community-based care in the UK. The authors argue that while community care aims to improve quality of…

  AAC · social isolation · community care · videoconferencing · multimedia

• Iconic language design for people with significant speech and multiple impairments

  P. L. Albacete, S.-K. Chang, G. Polese, B. Baker · 1994 · Proceedings of the First Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '94)

  This paper presents a formal methodology for designing iconic languages used in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for people with significant speech and multiple impairments (SSMI). The authors build on the Minspeak system, conceived by co-author Bruce…

  AAC · iconic language · semantic compaction · Minspeak · speech impairment

• A communication tool for people with disabilities: lexical semantics for filling in the pieces

  Kathleen F. McCoy, Patrick W. Demasco, Mark A. Jones, Christopher A. Pennington, Peter B. Vanderheyden, Wendy M. Zickus · 1994 · Proceedings of the First Annual ACM Conference on Assistive Technologies (Assets '94)

  This paper presents a prototype communication tool designed to reduce the input burden for people with severe speech and motor impairments (SSMI) who use word-based augmentative communication systems. The core problem addressed is that even with word-prediction and word-based…

  augmentative and alternative communication · natural language processing · lexical semantics · text generation · motor impairment

13 results.