Finger Mouse and Text-To-Speech Application as Additions to the Smart Wheelchair

Authors

Karla Conn, University of Kentucky

Abstract

The smart wheelchair project is a unique investigation into the possibilities of helping the impaired navigate in a mobile chair. Many disabled people who need the help of a wheelchair to move about also need help communicating orally. This project allows the “walking” wheelchair to do some “talking.” A communication program for the wheelchair was developed, as well as a finger mouse that was implemented into all the programs. The finger mouse is a switch button small enough to wear on one’s finger. When the button is pressed, a signal is sent out from the transmitter and picked up by the receiver, which sends a signal through the parallel port of the computer to execute the desired application. The communication program is a speech program that speaks text messages. The finger mouse and speech application are connected through a communication display interface — a page of icons. When the mouse is clicked over an icon linked to a particular phrase, the mouse, the display, and the speech software work together to speak the phrase. Thus, the communication program gives the freedom of speech to anyone using the wheelchair for free range of motion.

Recommended Citation

Conn, Karla (2002) "Finger Mouse and Text-To-Speech Application as Additions to the Smart Wheelchair," Kaleidoscope: Vol. 1, Article 10.
Available at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/kaleidoscope/vol1/iss1/10