Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits

This article presents a novel AAC communication aid based on semantic rather than syntactic schema, leading to more natural message construction. Users interact with a two-dimensional spatially organized image schema, which depicts the semantic structure and contents of the message. An overview of the interface design is presented followed by discussion of its implications and limitations. Potential benefits of the new design include more fluid, expressive and efficient face-toface communication for individuals with severe speech and motor impairments across a broad range of ages and linguistic abilities.