Voice-input aids for the physically disabled

Damper, Robert I. (1984) Voice-input aids for the physically disabled. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 21 (6), 541-553. (doi:10.1016/S0020-7373(84)80059-0).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Speech technology, an amalgam of speech sciences and microelectronics technology, offers new potential to aid the disabled. Low-cost very-large-scale integration (VLSI) speech synthesizers have been on the market for some time and, consequently, the use of synthetic speech output devices in aids has received a great deal of attention. Only recently, however, have VLSI chip-sets for speech recognition started to appear. This article reviews the possibilities for exploiting low-cost speech recognizers in aids for the severely physically disabled.

Five areas of application are highlighted: wheelchair control, control of the domestic environment, text composition and editing, and control of manipulators are four of these. The ubiquitous nature of microprocessors and microcomputers, however, makes it difficult nowadays to distinguish sensibly between a general-purpose computer and a computer-based aid. A further important application, therefore, is likely to be provision of a voice interface between a disabled user and a “personal” (or remote) computer, irrespective of the function or functions implemented on that machine. As a consequence, some or all of the above applications could be combined within the same device.

It seems sensible, however, at this stage to concentrate on a single application. It is argued that control of the domestic environment by voice is likely to be the most fruitful area for the initial application of automatic speech recognition technology to aid the disabled. The development of a speech interface to an environmental control (ECU) is described, and the principles on which the system design (hardware, software and man-machine dialogue) is based are explained and justified. Evaluation of the system has demonstrated the feasibility of employing speech recognition in environmental control. This is a continuing development, and many possibilities for future improvement are apparent.

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