Speech Conversion System to Address Mental Retardation

We developed a voice activated computer system for individuals with mental retardation andsevere disabilities. Named the Sound-to-Speech Translation with Graphics System (STS/Graphics), thissystem presented photographic quality symbols for choice making on the computer monitor to the userand translated the unintelligible speech of the user into understandable computer generated speechoutput and/or environmental control activations. Research on the system was conducted withindividuals having mental retardation. Research findings uncovered shortcomings in the STS/Graphicssystem, a major shortcoming being its lack of portability which prevented the user from transporting thesystem with him/her. This feasibility study will investigate redesigning the STS/Graphics system toaddress these specific areas: making the system portable; enhancing or improving the capabilities ofboth speech recognition and speech output; providing the most cost effective graphic and customizabledisplays for any individual user; optimizing the efficiency of the high resolution graphics presentation,speech storage, and overall system operation; and estimation of the cost of a final product. Researcherswill conduct this feasibility study by considering the application of the most current technologycommercially available in a final product.