Hand-Held Device Brings Speech and Learning Skills to Impaired and Disabled
  Individuals
From: University of Virginia News - 02/20/2006
Contact: Anne Bromley - 434/924-6861 - anneb@virginia.edu

University of Virginia neurolinguist Filip Loncke has the only research site
in the United States using a barcode reader called the B.A. Bar(TM) that was
developed in Switzerland by the Federation Suisse des Teletheses. The device
has helped people learn or relearn how to speak and become more independent.  

The barcode reader provides auditory feedback when passed over the same kind
of black-and-white strip used on grocery store products. In this application,
the device is first used to program the barcodes with words or phrases; the
barcodes can then be fixed to objects, pictures, or places. The user then
scans the barcode with the device, and it says the word or phrase.  

The researchers found that after several sessions of training and practice,
adults with aphasia - speech loss - were able to recover and pronounce
significantly more words from listening to a bar-coded list than from a
written list.  

Read the entire article at:
http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2006/20060220FilipLonge.html
http://presszoom.com/story_114738.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=38117&nfid=crs

Links:
Hand-held Device Brings Speech to Impaired
http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/gadget-blog.html
http://www.techpsych.net/archives/000109.html

B.A.Bar: the speaking barcode reader
http://www.closingthegap.com/home/detail.lasso

AAAS Abstract:
Cognitive processes and communication devices: what happens when B.A. Bar
speaks? 

  B.A. Bar is a communication device that reads barcodes as generated speech.
  The barcodes are on stickers that can be attached to objects or placed with
  pictures. When a person uses a speech-generating communication device,
  'inner speech', which we rely on to sound out words mentally, may be
  absent. This could affect the literacy skills of people who use AAC.
  B.A.Bar and experimental studies of the internal speech of its users are
  presented.

