RERC on AAC
The RERC on AAC is a collaborative center committed to advancing knowledge and producing innovative engineering solutions in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The RERC on AAC will support a research and development program that addresses three areas of rehabilitation science and engineering:
- Improving access to technologies through exploration of innovative approaches and through integration of multi-modalities;
- Developing innovative language support technologies, including natural language processing and computer-mediation, to support effective communication for children and adults with limited access to language;
- Improving the human computer interface to reduce cognitive visual processing demands and enhance communication performance.
We also will support a range of training and dissemination activities. Our goal is that the AAC technologies and knowledge generated by the RERC on AAC will enable individuals with complex communication needs to achieve the basic human right of communication, and to maximize their participation in education, employment, health and community activities.
Fried-Oken interviewed on BCI for KQED Science
Melanie Fried-Oken contributed information to an article on brain-computer interfaces that appeared in KQED Science.
NARIC highlights work on soliciting user feedback from persons with severe speech and physical impairments
NARIC highlighted the recent RERC on AAC publication on “soliciting user feedback from persons with severe speech and physical impairments” in their Research in Focus newsletter.
Janice Light and David McNaughton receive ISAAC President’s Award
Congratulations to Janice Light and David McNaughton who received the ISAAC President’s Award at the ISAAC 2016 conference in Toronto, Canada
The sky is only the beginning: Living life without limits (Webcast)
In this presentation to a graduate class in speech language pathology at Penn State University, Godfrey describe his experiences as a person with a diagnosis of ALS, and his use of AAC to support a full rich life.
David Beukelman named as ISAAC Fellow
Congratulations to David Beukelman, who was named as an ISAAC Fellow at the ISAAC 2016 conference in Toronto, Canada.
Janice Light named as ISAAC Fellow
Congratulations to Dr. Janice Light, who was named as an ISAAC Fellow at the ISAAC 2016 conference in Toronto, Canada.
Doctoral Student AAC Research Think Tank
The RERC on AAC will host a 3-day Doctoral Student AAC Research Think Tank at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania in mid-late May, 2017
ISAAC 2016
RERC on AAC partners David Beukelman, Melanie Fried-Oken, and Janice Light presented in Toronto, Canada, for ISAAC 2016, August 8 – 11, 2016.
Creating an international collaboration for synergy between AAC and BCI (Fried-Oken et al, 2016).
The purposes of this workshop are to engage the rehabilitation engineering community to further describe the challenges and opportunities that currently exist for BCI-AAC synergy.
2017 Student Research & Design Competition: AAC Use in Hospital Settings
A Research and Development Award (up to a total of $3,000) is available to the first place student project.