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Voice Activated Expert Systems on the iPhone 4This guidance sheet is to show the potential for voice activated expert system apps for users with a variety of special needs from dyslexia to sensory needs. At the beginning of this research it was hoped that Siri would be installed on the iPad 2 but unfortunately that has not proved the case and not having access to an iPhone 4S that piece of research will have to wait.So what is available for the iPhone 4 that does the same thing?EviVlingoEvi is good at practical activities such as :-ShoppingEating placesLocation finding eg where’s the nearest ATMTime eg what time is it New YorkConversion – Fahrenheit to centigradePlaces – geographical locationsSearchesInput can be via voice or text – the text option gives command prompts and is useful to have. Sometimes the voice input makes a mistake and therefore doesn’t give the information you are looking for. The quality of the information once obtained is quite good though and is spoken out to the user. Types of user Evi might be good to supportVisually impairedSpecific Learning DifficulitesDyspraxiaMuscle wasting diseasesRSI – Repetitive Strain InjuryLearning Needs – but users with a clear voiceNext stage of researchTo try out with different users to gain their impressions of it’s usefulness and accuracyAlso which method – speech or text input?Vlingo is partnered with Nuance , the makers of Dragon Dictate the most accurate speech recognition tool. Vlingo is good for communication and organisation needs. It has the following catagories of uses:-Email – creating from your contacts a list an email to send directly to your nominated contactSMS – texting to a contact in your contacts listMaps – finding a location you requireSearch – web searches Social – twitter,facebook,Voice Dial – to find a contact without typing and call themThis app has accuracy and it is quick to respond. As a communication tool it does offer some possibilities to the special need user. In particular those with poor spelling or difficulties with typing dues to hand function or medical needs. Not having voice output does limit it’s useful for some users eg visual impairment. Types of users Vlingo might be good to supportDyslexiaDyspraxiaBright pupils who cannot get their ideas down and communicate well verballyASD – Autism Spectrum DisorderLearning needsMuscular DystrophiesRheumatoid ArthritusRSI – Repetitive Strain InjuryInjury to hand function – broken fingersCerebral Palsy where some use of hand function may be possibleAbility to read is implicit to all the apps it uses therefore might be less useful to someone with reading difficulty. Having said that for poor spellers it may have potential as it would for bright or able pupils who struggle to record their thoughts. Pupils with organisational needs and those who enjoy clear, precise instructional means would find this a great medium to explore.Next stage of researchTest Vlingo with different catagories of needFind and test with a dyslexic userFind and test with a user on the autistic spectrumFind and test with someone with learning needs who can speak clearly.Myles Pilling, Specialist ICT SEN Consultant, 29.6.2012 ................
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