Generting AI symbols based on Topics

It can take time and be very frustrating trying to develop meaningful AAC symbols that are generated from text descriptions when using artificial intelligence. However, meeting up with the creators of PiCom at ATIA started a new conversation around the design of culturally suitable symbols as well as those that relate to specific topics.

PiCom Screen with AAC symbols

Take the topic of Youth Justice ... some symbols such as those we had made for the Link Project in the style of other open licence symbol sets did not always suit all situations found in a court of law as required by the project. Perhaps AI models could provide images that might act as the seeds for a wider range of symbols. The type of words used in legal situations are often complex and can mean something totally different to that used in daily life.

We started to experiment and it became clear that a considerable number of images could be created in many different styles automatically, all with the size, type and clarity often required for AAC symbols.

Board Builder example of symbols for different topics from Kenya and Pakistan.

Topic collections began to grow and are now being checked for accuracy and clarity and will be uploaded to Global Symbols for review. Some may not be suitable, but there is a Legal Collection of AI Realistic Symbols (not in the style of any symbol set) available for comment.