Bolte Chai: An augmentative and alternative communication device for enhancing communication for nonverbal children

Abstract

There are different kinds of technologies being used to improve the communication opportunity of children with verbal challenges. Portable communication devices provide the facility to the users for customizing applications according their needs. Besides, the usability and costing range of these portable communication devices make them less condemning for the users. On the other hand, communication devices efficiently help the users with less motor skills. After considering these points, a communication device named “Bolte Chai”, has been developed and experimented in a special school's students and teachers based on five criteria to evaluate usability and effectiveness. Those criteria are, the ability to customize the program to fit the needs of the users, motor skills for operating the applications, reasonable time and resources involved in the teaching and utilization procedure, update the system based on current research and proper costing, considering the user's affordability. Based on the evaluation, it has been seen that, this communication device is usable and effective to improve communication skills of nonverbal children.