Visual Communicator Team Members Ongo - 04 Abstract Technical Approach EPICS for Kids presents Visual Communicator Abstract Many people exist in this world who are disabled and need help in order to overcome their mental and physical limitations. Although assistive technology exists to help such people, the devices in existence are too general and do not always address specific needs well enough to be helpful for certain people. Many times, the device must be customized to meet these special needs. The visual communicator will have an audio and visual output to enable our client, Jeff, who has cerebral palsy and a speech disorder, to communicate with the outside world Introduction General background Finalize and deliver the Visual Communicator Technical problem Power supply modification Audio signal improvement Design packaging Operating environment Designed to be operated indoors Static or wheelchair mounted Intended user Jeff, a child with cerebral palsy Assumptions Adult supervision when device is in use Child can interpret (monochrome) images Child can understand pictorial meaning Limitations & Design Constraints Only six pictures and their corresponding audio outputs can be active at any given time Maximum usage time is limited to two hours Design Objective To create a portable communication device using audio signals and video images to assist the client Functional Requirements Low power consumption Changeable Image/Voice database Controls must be on left hand side of the wheelchair Acknowledgements EPICS Team 2 (May 1999) AAEON Electronics, Inc Sharp Microelectronics of America Robert (Bob) M. Anderson, Jr. P.E. Technical Approach Testing Approach Test functionality in lab setting Regressive testing Measurable Milestones Record and Play back of Audio through software Display images on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) End Product Design Budget & Personal Effort Budget All hardware was previously purchased by EPICS team 2 $0 Poster $50 Personal Effort Audio Board: Kashfia Nahreen Packaging: Megan Stolz Power: Brad Kellner and Andrew Burkhardt Software/Microcontroller: David Shaw Video Module: Nora Vreeland Microphone Speaker Team Members Ongo - 04 • David Shaw (CprE) • Andrew Burkhardt (CprE) • Brad Kellner (EE) • Kashfia Nahreen (EE) • Nora Vreeland (CprE) • Megan Stolz (CprE) Project Advisor Dr. Robert Anderson, Jr. Client Jeff