I don’t pretend to understand the anatomy that they are saying does this, but from what I saw in the video it looks like a way to get a single switch closure, and not really translating thought into speech – they don’t show how it is selecting the words, so it is hard to really understand what is “happening behind the curtain.”  Also, I wonder if the mechanism that they are reading would degrade in people with ALS – wouldn’t nerve signals to muscles get worse as the disease progresses?  Would this access method become unusable at some point?

 

I found this interesting summarization of the technology…

 

http://www.thinkartificial.org/machine-interfaces/audeo-neckband-neural-interface/#more-735

 

Just my observations.

 

 

Good morning all from rainy Atlanta-

 

I have also contacted the company via email after hearing glowing remarks about the Audeo’s demonstration at the Les Turner ALS Nursing Symposium in September.  Unfortunately, I haven’t received a reply either. 

 

When asked about this device, I tell my pALS that it appears to be a work in progress and that I cannot recommend it until I try it myself!  The company appears to be looking for interested patients to learn more about the device/try it out, so perhaps we should encourage them to contact the company directly.

http://www.theaudeo.com/try.php

 

Physiologically, I can’t quite wrap my mind around the idea that this equipment is functional for novel message generation as the videos on their website indicate.  Definitely will have to use it to believe it and hopefully that will be in the near future. 

 

Just my two cents-

Thanks

 

 

Kathleen Herrelko Kaminski, M.A., CCC-SLP

Speech Pathologist

The ALS Center at Emory University

1441 Clifton Rd, Suite R514

Atlanta, GA 30322

404.728.4555

404.712.5974 (fax)

 

 

 

 

The reason that I am asking the question about the Audeo is that information is flying through the internet and chat rooms that this technology is about to become available to the ALS market.   The intrepretation that PALS and families have is that they will think a thought and the Audeo will project that thought through the larynex and the sound will clearly come out.    Here is a quote from the company's web site:   The Audeo is being developed to create a human-computer interface for communication without the need of physical motor control or speech production. Using signal processing, unpronounced speech representing the thought of the mind can be translated from intercepted neurological signals.   By interfacing near the source of vocal production, the Audeo has the potential to restore communication to people who are unable to speak. The proposed solution is a featherweight wireless device resting over the vocal cords capable of transmitting neurological information from the brain. Using data analysis, this information can be processed into synthesized speech or a menu selection capable of conveying the basic necessities of human life. Current Applications of the Audeo: Speech – After a recent breakthrough, we have developed a method to exceed individual words and have shown the ability to produce continuous speech with high accuracy from the neurological signals.   I appreciate any help from the SLP's that are on this list!   Thanks, Alisa   Alisa Brownlee, ATP Clinical Manager, Assistive Technology Services ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter   Assistive Technology Consultant, ALS Association, National Office Direct Phone Number: 215-631-1877

 

 

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