In today's digital world, Generative AI (GenAI) has the potential to help us make AAC symbols using descriptive sentences known as text prompts. The resulting images may never be 100% perfect, but with help it is possible to avoid some confusing and inconsistent results which may only need a little expert editing.
Holidays can be a wonderful break in daily life and a chance to learn about different cultures and settings. A trip to Northern Norway provided a very brief glimpse into the way symbols are used by the Sámi people.
Strategic Education Solutions support those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to self-advocate. With this aim the team have encouraged involvement with the development of a useful vocabulary combined with representative symbols about participatory action research.
A netidee project has meant that the technical foundations for interaction between two successful platforms 'AsTeRICS Grid' and 'Global Symbols' has been laid. Soon it will be possible for everyone to easily share multiple open licenced AAC symbol sets by making communication boards in BoardBuilder and using them in AsTeRICS Grid or sharing the idea in a similar way with other apps thanks to their open source licencing.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) as a field that enhances communication for individuals with severe speech, language, and literacy difficulties has always been an arena for innovation. This year at the International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP 2024), a Special Thematic Session (STS) showcased groundbreaking technologies and ideas in AAC products and services, reflecting the dynamic landscape of the field.