Augmentative and alternative communication solution for people with cognitive disabilities and / or older people based on the use of mobile technology and NFC pictographic cards
Life Supporting Technologies Group at UPM has developed a solution based on NFC technology aimed at users with different disabilities (autism, cerebral palsy, etc..), literacy difficulties, older people in general or no technical skills profiles. The aim of this solution is to provide an assistive product that facilitates an effective form of communication adapted to the needs of each user. The solution uses NFC technology on the pictographic cards Smart Cards, which contain a message or predefined functionality. The user only has to bring its mobile terminal close to the Smart Card so that the device interprets a message that will be played by text-to-speech synthesizer, or perform a specific function. The main advantages of Smart Cards are its versatility, simplicity and customization options to meet the different needs of users with a low-cost solution.
Smart Cards solution and its smartphone app open a new paradigm in the use of NFC technology in the important field of augmentative and alternative communication. This solution provides users with a new interface that revolutionizes the way they interact with people. The product is natural, safe and easy. It does not require learning and therefore is suitable for elderly, and users with intellectual or cognitive disabilities among others. NFC technology allows to perform automatically different functions of the mobile terminal in a transparent and reliable way for the user. Currently, there are no other technological frameworks that have applied this technology to the field of augmentative and alternative communication. In addition, Smart Cards can manage home automation in a simple and intuitive fashion.
"Smart Cards applies NFC technology to assistive products market in a new and useful way, and mainly to augmentative and alternative communication sector. Smart Cards uses a low cost universal product that saves more than 70% over existing solutions"
ICT applied to independent living and digital e-inclusion.
People with cognitive disabilities sometimes find difficulties in learning. Thanks to its various applications, such as educational games, Smart Cards allows educational use to promote "learning by playing"
Software registration in process.
Smart Cards Contact
Silvia de los Ríos, María Teresa Arredondo, María Fernanda Cabrera
e: {srios, mta,chiqui}@lst.tfo.upm.es
UPM contact
Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Area
Centre of Support for Technological Innovation – UPM
e: innovacion.tecnologica@upm.es