not to mention issues with placing something around the neck/laryngeal area with vent-dependent individuals! Amy ---- Original message ---- >Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:56:01 -0400 >From: "Antoinette Verdone" <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] Communication regarding new piece of equipment >To: <xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > 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. > > > > Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP > > Assistive Technology Specialist > > The ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter > > 116 John Street, Suite 1304 > > New York, NY 10038 > > Phone: 212-720-3054 > > Fax: 212-619-7409 > > Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx > > www.als-ny.org > > > > "One cannot consent to creep when one has the > impulse to soar" -- Helen Keller > > ---------------------------------------------------- > > From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf > Of Kaminski, Kathleen > Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 11:27 AM > To: 'xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx' > Subject: RE: [Assistive Technology] Communication > regarding new piece of equipment > > > > 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) > > > > > > > > From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf > Of Alisa Brownlee > Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 10:55 AM > To: ALSA Listserv > Subject: [Assistive Technology] more info on > previous email > > > > 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 > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------- > > This e-mail message (including any attachments) is > for the sole use of > the intended recipient(s) and may contain > confidential and privileged > information. If the reader of this message is not > the intended > recipient, you are hereby notified that any > dissemination, distribution > or copying of this message (including any > attachments) is strictly > prohibited. > > If you have received this message in error, please > contact > the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all > copies of the > original message (including attachments).
