12 March 2002

The simple art of conversation is denied to thousands of people across the UK who have lost or never had the ability to speak. But a new research project based in Dundee aims to raise public awareness of the issue and demonstrate new technology which gives sufferers back this basic pleasure.

A team of computer scientists and psychologists from Abertay University and Dundee University has devised a computer-based communication system especially for non-speakers, and plans to tour a unique multimedia experience around the UK's science centres to show how it works.

The interactive exhibit will be based around two computer-simulated people sitting at a table, who will invite individual visitors to join them in a third chair for a chat. But to show how difficult life can be for non-speaking people, the visitor must use only the simplified computer-based communication device to take part in the conversation.

A multimedia display around the table will show video-clips of non-speakers, highlighting the problems they face in everyday life, as well as clips of them using the device and expert commentary to explain how the principles of conversation are used to make the system work effectively.

The project has won government research funding as part of a national drive to raise public awareness of the benefits that science brings to everyday life.

Project leader Dr Portia File, of Abertay's School of Computing, explained: "Many people cannot converse normally, due either to congenital conditions such as cerebral palsy, or to neural conditions such as motor neurone disease or strokes. Sufferers are often quite capable of thinking of what to say, but their disability means they rarely start conversations and often use one-word answers or comments. These difficulties can lead to social isolation and poor self-esteem, and prevent them from reaching their full potential in life and work.

"Technology does exist to help, such as the type of artificial-voice system made famous by Dr Steven Hawking, but typically these devices require responses to be typed in word-by-word. This makes them too slow for normal conversation.

"Our research into conversation has identified the basic components of ordinary conversation, and enabled us to design an effective communication device for non-speakers using pre-stored phrases rather than typing in each word during a conversation. The principles of conversation are used to organise these phrases and help users find them quickly. The result is still slower than natural conversation, but is fast enough to make a proper exchange of ideas more comfortable for both speakers and non-speakers.

"The multimedia display will provide an opportunity for members of the general public to experience what it would be like to use this device to take part in a conversation."

The project has secured a prestigious Partnerships for Public Awareness Award of more than £40,000 from the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council. The interactive display will open in Dundee Science Centre in April 2003 and the team hopes that it will eventually tour other science centres around the country.

Dr File is working with Professor Peter Astheimer of Abertay's IC CAVE digital industries research centre, supported by Professor John Todman of Dundee University's Department of Psychology.