… and great ambassador for AAC. This morning, Stephen Hawking, the world renowned physicist died at the age of 76.
Listen to his interview on the BBC Desert Island Discs from 1992:
(might be only accessible when accessed from the UK)
The School of Life Sciences at Dundee University has won the Gold Watermark for their Public Engagement (PE) work from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE).
Continue reading School of Life Sciences wins Gold Watermark for Public Engagement
Telling Tales : Unlocking the Potential of AAC Technologies.
Tomorrow’s Winter Lecture at the University of Manchester by the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders is to be delivered by our Prof Annalu Waller:
“Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has been transformed by the social media revolution made possible by the emergence of mobile technology. The cumbersome dedicated devices of the seventies have evolved into a burgeoning AAC app industry. But the limited use and abandonment of AAC technologies remains high. Unlocking the untapped potential of technology requires a paradigm shift in the design of AAC technologies by building systems which minimise the cognitive load placed on users, adapting to their individual physical and language needs. Telling Tales will share insights and stories of how the combination of user-centred design, interdisciplinary research and the application of intelligent computing is providing a vision of future generations of AAC.”
Followed by drinks reception.
Please register at Eventbrite for your free ticket, only few remaining!
A man who spent 14 years in institutions for people with profound learning and physical disabilities after contracting a brain infection will share the story of how he battled back to health at this year’s Margaret Harris Lecture at the University of Dundee.
‘Strength in Silence’ takes place at the Dalhousie Building on Wednesday 1 November from 6-7pm. Free tickets for this event are available via Eventbrite, calling 01382 385108 or from the University’s Tower Building Reception.
Continue reading Strength in Silence – The Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion
Professor Annalu Waller will run a two hour TCELT workshop at 2pm today (Dalhousie 2F03), Adapting Research Methods for People with Physical and Speech Impairments. Click here for more information. You can also view a copy of the presentation slides by clicking on the link below:
Our very own Prof Annalu Waller was tonight (27 Sept) awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists for “designing communications systems for non-speaking individuals”. Congratulations!
Great news: Our ‘I have Aphasia’ app has been recommended by the new MyTherappy Health App NHS website by the multi-award winning Neurorehabilitation Team at Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
After a very successful launch of our ‘I have Aphasia’ app at the end of the Aphasia Awareness Month in June, the group is now working hard on the first update to make the app also available on Android devices! Other new features aim include adding a choice for language and accent.
The Dundee Augmentative and Alternative Communication Research Group ventured out to Edinburgh for the first of three Museum After Hours events at the National Museum Scotland. Parallel with preview acts for the current Fringe Festival, the Group demonstrated an eye gaze system that allows people to work on a computer by just looking at it. This time though not work but creativity was asked for when visitors were able to use the system to paint their own Jackson Pollock style picture by just using their eyes!
A panoramic view of the event (courtesy of Rolf)
Continue reading Museum After Hours event at the National Museum Scotland
‘I have Aphasia’ is a new iOS app for people with aphasia, giving a brief but succinct explanation of their condition, which affects the ability to create and understand language. The app provides a short animated film made by people with aphasia outlining the key communication difficulties they face so that they can show it to others without the stress of trying to explain this themselves. The animation illustrates how people can assist them through understanding and patience. The iOS app is now free to download from the app store (uod.ac.uk/2u5Pvj1), a preview of the app animation can be found at aac.dundee.ac.uk/tap-and-talk.
Picture shows Shona Robison MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport) speaking at the launch event, watched by Sir Pete Downes (Principal, University of Dundee), John Connell (Chairman, NHS Tayside), Lesley McLay (Chief Executive, NHS Tayside), members of the design team and members of the user group.
The Dundee AAC Research Group will be involved in two talks at the PITL conference:
Thursday, 15 June 2017, 11:45am, Room 1F01
“CamOnWheels”: Increasing narrative skills and participation for young people with complex communication needs
Mascha Legel, Annalu Waller (Abstract booklet)
Thursday, 15 June 2017, 2:30pm, Room 1F06
Empowering Disabled Educators
Annalu Waller, Kathleen Cummins, Alan McGregor (Abstract booklet)
From the PITL website:
“Organised by PAMIS and the Research Centre for Transformative Change: Educational & Life Transitions, which is part of the University of Dundee, the first PITL (Promoting Inclusion, Transforming Lives) International Conference in June 2017 will attract more than 200 national and international delegates to Dundee and Angus for a 2 day conference.
Continue reading PITL (Promoting Inclusion, Transforming Lives) International Conference in Dundee
