New tech lets the paralyzed speak via "breath signals"
From: Gizmag - 08/28/2015
By: Ben Coxworth

Researchers at Britain's Loughborough University have created a system that
speaks words based on the user's breathing.

Known as the Augmentative and Alternate Communication (AAC) device, it
consists of a nose/mouth mask linked by a hose to a computer.

As the patient breathes in a specific pattern, custom software (via an
analog-to-digital converter) recognizes that pattern as representing a
certain word or phrase – the user initially decides for themselves what
patterns will equate to what words, with the software learning from them as
they go along.

Once the pattern has been identified, the AAC uses a speech synthesizer to
speak the words aloud. So far, the researchers have had a 97.5 percent
success rate at teaching the system to recognize words and phrases presented
as "breath signals."

Read the entire article and view a video (1:57) at:
http://www.gizmag.com/breath-signals-aac/39156

Links:
Turning breath into words – new device unveiled to give paralysis sufferers a
  voice
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/news-events/news/2015/august/turning-breath-into-words.html

Device Translates Breath Into Words, Allows Paralyzed People to Speak
http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1386&doc_id=278640

Related:
Teenage Honduran builds open source eye-tracking computer interface for the
  disabled
http://www.gizmag.com/luis-cruz-eyeboard-eye-tracking-computer-interface/20500