Icon Exchange Communication System for Spontaneous Utterance Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for nonverbal, speech, and language-impaired individuals lack integration of core vocabulary, limiting spontaneous novel utterance generation and language development, and often fail to provide a consistent and flexible communication platform that aligns with typical language development.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that integrates core vocabulary instructional concepts, allowing for seamless presentation of core vocabulary through an icon exchange method, enabling users to build sentences of increasing complexity and facilitating two-way exchanges, while also incorporating fringe vocabulary and utilizing a color-coded organizational system for ease of use and adaptability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing AAC systems use static icons in fixed positions on communication boards, then the system structure is simple and easy to operate, but the system lacks flexibility and cannot support spontaneous novel utterance generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic icon positioning where icons can be moved from their original fixed locations on the communication board to different positions or exchanged between users. This allows the system to transition from a static configuration to a dynamic one, enabling spontaneous novel utterance generation while maintaining ease of operation through the structured exchange protocol.
2Ease of manufacture
If AAC systems focus primarily on nouns and descriptors, then the system is simple to implement, but the system restricts users to requesting and labeling only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal communication system where icons representing nouns, verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech can all be exchanged according to the same protocol. This multi-functional approach allows the system to support various communication functions including requesting, labeling, describing, and spontaneous novel utterance generation, rather than being limited to single-function noun-based communication.
3Device complexity
If AAC systems do not integrate core vocabulary, then the system structure is simple, but the system fails to align with typical language development and limits language growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-organizes icons according to core vocabulary categories and parts of speech on the communication board before use. This preliminary structuring allows users to access core vocabulary words systematically, aligning with typical language development sequences while maintaining a simple overall system structure that does not require complex software or programming.
4Adaptability or versatility
If AAC systems use practitioner-created icons at user discretion, then the system can be customized, but the system lacks consistent organization and cannot provide growth beyond comments or requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the organizational parameters of the communication system by categorizing icons according to parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) and core vocabulary categories. This systematic parameter change provides consistent organization across the entire system while still allowing practitioners to select and customize specific icons appropriate for each user's needs and language level.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system and method are provided to assist a user in conveying and/or exchanging a communication. The present communication system and method provide a low tech platform that enables a user to utilize an icon exchange communication system and method while allowing the integration of core vocabulary instructional concepts and techniques. The present communication system and method allows for seamless presentation of core vocabulary while also providing access to fringe vocabulary words.