Concept and Pictogram-Based User-Interface Design of a Helper Tool for People with Aphasia

Area of Science:

• Assistive Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Speech and Language Pathology

Background:

• Aphasia is a language disorder affecting communication abilities.
• Individuals with aphasia may struggle with forming or understanding messages.
• The need for accessible communication aids is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a service concept for alternative communication for people with Aphasia.
• To enable timely help-seeking through intuitive technological solutions.
• To address the needs of users unfamiliar with modern technology.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing event detection for gestures and bed movement patterns.
• Implementing a user-friendly, pictogram-based smartphone application.
• Employing agile evaluation methodologies for rapid feedback.

Main Results:

• The smartphone application demonstrated promising outcomes during agile evaluation.
• The system integrates gesture and movement detection with a simple interface.
• User feedback indicated potential for effective communication support.

Conclusions:

• The APH-Alarm concept offers a versatile solution for individuals with Aphasia.
• The system facilitates easy contact with helpers via actions or automatic detection.
• Further investigation through a field trial is planned to validate the solution.