Software 'Gives Children a Voice'
From: BBC News - 06/04/2009

Children with impaired speech will be able to communicate better using "How
was school today?" according to computing scientists from the Universities of
Aberdeen and Dundee, and Capability Scotland. The team has developed a system
that uses natural language generation to help users hold a conversation about
their day at school. "How was school today?" uses sensors, swipe cards, and a
recording device to gather information on what the child using the system has
experienced at school that day, says Dr. Ehud Reiter from the University of
Aberdeen's school of natural and computing sciences. The team tested the
software at Capability Scotland's Corseford School, and students, teachers,
therapists, and parents were all pleased with the system. Jan Vallery, whose
11-year-old daughter Nicole has cerebral palsy, said, "The program enabled
her to talk easily and answer questions quickly, prompting more interaction
and giving us a very detailed insight into her day." The scientists plan to
study how to use the software to support children with different levels and
types of disabilities. 

Read the entire article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/8081410.stm

Links:
Ehud Reiter
http://www.csd.abdn.ac.uk/~ereiter/

New software enables better conversation among kids with cerebral palsy
http://www.littleabout.com/news/16727,new-software-enables-conversation-kids-cerebral-palsy.html

Capability Scotland
http://www.capability-scotland.org.uk/

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/default.htm