What is the role of Artificial Intelligence in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

What is the role of AI in AAC (Augmentative and alternative communication)?
In this episode Professor Annalu Waller, Professor of Human Communication Technologies at the University of Dundee and Alan McGregor, ex UK team paralympic swimmer and honorary researcher at the University of Dundee take us through what it can do now and developments they'd like to see.

We cover:

• What is AI's role in AAC?
• How can we use generative AAC to expand on communication?
• What are some of the ethical considerations?
• What Annalu and Alan would like to see in the future.

Interviewees:

Professor Annalu Waller, Professor of Human Communication Technologies at the University of Dundee and lead for the Augmentative and Alternate Communication Research Group at the university.
 
Alan McGregor, ex UK team paralympic swimmer, part of the Straight Talking Group – and honorary researcher at the University of Dundee.

During the conversation Alan is supported by his assistant, Cindy Macfarlane.

Resources:

Here are some links which relate to AI and AAC:

• https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/use-of-artificial-intelligence-ai-in-augmentative-and-alternative
• https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/telling-tales-unlocking-the-potential-of-aac-technologies
• https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/blending-human-and-artificial-intelligence-to-support-autistic-ch
• https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/personal-storytelling-using-natural-language-generation-for-child
• https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/evaluating-the-standup-pun-generating-software-with-children-with

Groups:

• Dundee Accessibility and Assistive Technology Research Group: https://aac.dundee.ac.uk/
• Straight Talking Group: https://aac.dundee.ac.uk/stg/ 

Please be aware that the views expressed are those of the guests and not the RCSLT.

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