Global Symbols, a UK not-for-profit organization supporting those with speech and communication impairments, has been awarded an AI for Accessibility grant from Microsoft to help further efforts in filling the gaps in many AAC symbol sets in reflecting diverse cultural values and language, such as celebrations, dress, currency, social settings, and local environment.
Perhaps a leap year day is a good moment to capture some news about innovations and thinking out of the box. We have been collecting items from two recent conferences, ATIA and the Zero Project 2024 plus emails from those who have been in touch with us in the last few weeks.
Starting the year in a practical way working on communication charts with Engliah labels and a Lithuanian translation above the symbols for the Society of St James and their supportive staff.
Festivals around the world come with many symbols and Christmas is no different. At this time of year here in the UK it is Christmas time and there are lots of fir trees with decorations. AI image to image systems seem to cope well with them but this is not always the case with other types of pictographic symbols!
ASHA Convention 2023 is all about "Igniting Innovation" with some very interesting presentations and we are trying to keep up in our own way with David Banes including our AI projects in his Master Class where he will also be mentioning a newly designed symbol set for AAC users in Cambodia.