iCommunicator™ Product Overview Real-time Translation The iCommunicator™ program efficiently converts in real-time: Speech to text Speech to video sign language Speech to computer-generated voice Text to computer-generated voice or video sign language iCommunicator™ Version 3.1, is a leading edge communication access technology. This very powerful tool provides a multisensory, interactive communication solution for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and other persons who experience unique communication challenges. The iCommunicator™ promotes independent communication for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, and is offered as an alternative, rather than a replacement, for sign language interpreters. This advanced speech-to-text technology is the first of its kind to enter the marketplace. It allows effective two-way communication to occur in most natural environments. Dragon NaturallySpeaking® Professional, Version 6.0, the underlying speech recognition engine, offers many features to personalize a speaker’s speech and voice recognition file and enhance translation accuracy. End User Benefits The iCommunicator™’s unique technological features provide end users with unparalleled opportunities to achieve efficient, effective communication in most natural environments. A simple point and click using the iText tool allows end users to simply point and click to have email, web pages, and documents created in other applications signed and/or spoken through the iCommunicator program. End users have the opportunity to: increase spoken language comprehension achieve two-way communication improve reading and language skills increase independence and self-confidence and improve quality of life increase opportunities for advancement and success in education, employment, personal relationships, and public access venues iCommunicator™, Version 3.1 Software and Peripheral Kit The iCommunicator™ software program, Version 3.1, runs on a high-end notebook or desktop computer. Version 3.1 offers an enhanced sign language presentation, the new iText tool, and code changes to ensure a reliable and efficient program. Owners can easily install the software on their own computer using the autoload installation guide. The 3.1 software and peripheral kit includes: iCommunicator™ Software Kit V 3.1 Dragon NaturallySpeaking 6.0 Professional iCommunicator™ User Guide, Training Manual, and Tutorial CD Audio Cables (connector cable, Y-cable) Microphone options - wireless or wired Professional - LightSPEED LES 360 wireless RF system with TK-150 noise canceling microphone (LightSPEED system includes 360R receiver, 360T transmitter and TK-150 microphone, BC-4 battery charger & cables, 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries.) Standard - Parrott Bermuda direct-connect microphone Interactive Solutions has qualified the LightSPEED and Parrott units as the only high quality microphones that are compatible with the iCommunicator™ software in order to achieve maximum translation accuracy. Prior to shipping, the LightSPEED system is professionally calibrated to optimal settings to support maximum performance and translation accuracy. The iCommunicator™ also may be coupled with peripheral assistive hearing devices such as personal FM systems, hearing aids, and cochlear implant speech processors. The LightSPEED LES 360 FM system transmits on 216 MHz and is compatible with other hearing assistive technology, such as the Microlink wireless FM by Phonak. When used on a notebook computer, iCommunicator™ becomes a portable, interactive solution to communication accessibility challenges in multiple communication environments – educational, workplace, and public venues. Focus on Literacy Development Concern about the literacy levels of many persons who are deaf and hard of hearing was the inspiration for development of this breakthrough technology. The iCommunicator™ program delivers American Sign Language (ASL) signs in English word order (subject+verb+object) to improve the association between spoken, written, and signed words, and promote literacy development. The video sign language library contains more than 9,000 individual video clips. Careful evaluation of potential end user needs and the iCommunicator™ system features is encouraged to ensure that this software technology application is a viable solution. Training to Ensure Positive Outcomes The iCommunicator™ uses continuous recognition of natural speech to translate speech to text and/or sign language in real time. Systematic professional training is strongly encouraged to maximize use of the unique features and capabilities of the program. The end user must be completely trained in the operation of the iCommunicator™ system to achieve positive outcomes, and adequate supports will need to be available for the end user for technical assistance and support. Managers of the iCommunicator™ system should possess computer literacy skills necessary to use and maintain the system and provide training for both end users and speakers in the unique features of this communication access technology. Speech and voice recognition enhancements available in iCommunicator™, V 3.1, allow most speakers to easily achieve 90% or better translation accuracy with approximately one hour of speech and voice recognition (SVR) training. Additional time may be required to customize the speaker’s SVR file by adding unique vocabulary specific to the speaker’s profession or worksite application. Contact Interactive Solutions, Inc. for information about professional training opportunities. Section 508 Compatibility Interactive Solutions, Inc. is committed to helping the government, as well as private and public sector businesses, provide improved accessibility of information and technology through its products, information, services, and programs. As such, the iCommunicator™ website and software application meet Section 508 requirements for electronic and information technology accessibility. Is this product appropriate for both children and adults? Both adults and children in educational, workplace, and public access environments are using the iCommunicator™ software program successfully. The youngest independent user is in the third grade. The age of the end user is only one of many factors to be considered in determining if this is an appropriate communication access technology. The iCommunicator™ program is being used with some children as young as the preschool level as a classroom learning station for directed activities. ISI is involved in the development of special applications for the preschool population in order to focus on early literacy development in conjunction with the early diagnosis and intervention for young children with hearing loss. The iCommunicator™ program is versatile in its applications in most natural communication environments, such as education, workplace, and public access venues. For instance, in the workplace, it provides access to staff meetings, trainings, and daily communication with co-workers. In public environments, such as libraries, the iCommunicator™ program has many uses, including access to electronic information technology. Is it necessary to assess the potential user to determine if the iCommunicator™ is the appropriate technology? Yes, the intended end-user's special communication needs should be evaluated to ensure there is a good match between the end user's communication needs and the features of this patented communication access technology. ISI maintains that the iCommunicator™ program must be the right technology for the right person for the right application and implemented in the right way for positive outcomes to be realized. Refer to the Candidacy Criteria Considerations for information on behaviors and characteristics to be evaluated in determining the appropriateness of this communication access technology for a specific end user or application. Is the iCommunicator™ intended to replace sign language interpreters? The iCommunicator™ program is not intended to replace sign language interpreters, but offered as an alternative for appropriate applications. Anecdotal evidence supports that some motivated end users are able to successfully use the iCommunicator™ program in specific communication situations. The program uses American Sign Language (ASL) signs presented in English word order, and this may not be compatible with the independent communication needs of all potential end users. In these situations, an interpreter or other supports would be needed to facilitate the comprehensive communication process. Evaluation and planning teams (e.g., Assistive Technology Evaluation Teams, Vocational Evaluation Teams, Individual Education Planning Teams, Transition Planning Teams, Rehabilitation Teams), of which the end user and/or parent or caregiver are participants, should make the final determination regarding the recommendation of this software program as an appropriate assistive technology. What are the enhancements and features of the iCommunicator™, Version 3.1, software program that make it an exceptional communication access technology? Interactive Solutions, Inc. is pleased to announce program enhancements with the release of the iCommunicator™, Version 3.1, software program. In addition to the new iCommunicator™ software, the program now uses Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional, Version 6.0 as the underlying speech recognition engine. As a result, the time required to achieve 90% or greater accuracy during speech-to-text translation has been significantly decreased. For end users, there are some new features such as Autosave, initiation of functions from onscreen buttons (as well as menus), and greater ease in customizing the window configuration. Major code changes in V 3.1, as well as the re-engineered signing engine, ensure a reliable and efficient software program. These advancements have improved the program's efficiency while providing speakers and end users with the highest quality speech and voice recognition technology available in the marketplace today. How large is the iCommunicator™’s sign language vocabulary? The signing engine for V 3.1 has been rewritten to be faster, more efficient, and more accurate. The sign language vocabulary library consists of more than 9,200 individual video clips. The written word appears beneath each sign video. Each sign in the video sign library has been edited so that the sign is initiated in the mid-chest area rather than from a platform position, as with earlier versions of the software. This editing process has enhanced the simultaneous signing and speaking translation speed. In addition, the continuum of signing speeds has been read-justed, where “1” represents actual film speed. During the speech to text translation process, the program searches the signing lexicon and displays the sign; if there is no video sign available, the word is fingerspelled. What is included with the iCommunicator™, Version 3.1, software and peripheral kit? Version 3.1 offers an enhanced sign language presentation, easy autoload self-installation, and major code changes to ensure a reliable and efficient program. Owners can easily install the software on their own computer using the autoload installation guide. The 3.1 software and peripheral kit includes: iCommunicator™ Software Kit V 3.1 Dragon NaturallySpeaking 6.0 Professional iCommunicator™ User Guide, Training Manual, and Tutorial CD Audio Cables (connector cable, Y-cable) Microphone options - wireless or wired Professional - LightSPEED LES 360 wireless RF system with TK-150 noise canceling microphone (LightSPEED system includes 360R receiver, 360T transmitter and TK-150 microphone, BC-4 battery charger & cables, 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries.) Standard - Parrott Bermuda direct-connect microphone Interactive Solutions has qualified the LightSPEED and Parrott units as the only high quality microphones that are compatible with the iCommunicator™ software in order to achieve maximum translation accuracy. Prior to shipping, the LightSPEED system is professionally calibrated to optimal settings to support maximum performance and translation accuracy. What type of computer is needed to use the iCommunicator™, Version 3.1, software program? ISI recommends that the iCommunicator™, Version 3.1 software, be used on a high-end notebook or desktop computer (e.g., Compaq, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Dell) that meets the minimum computer hardware specifications listed below. Processor: Pentium III 800MHz Memory: 256 MB RAM Hard Drive: must have 2GB of available space on Drive C Video: 8MB Display Resolution: 800x600 screen area capability; high quality Sound/Speakers: SoundBlaster Pro Compatible CD-ROM: 24X (or DVD-ROM) Software: Word Processing Program Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Widows 98SE (Interactive Solutions recommends Windows XP or 2000 for maximum performance.) What type of support do I receive with the system? Customer Support for each iCommunicator™ software and peripheral kit includes 2 hours of online telephone support within the first 90 days upon completion of iCommunicator™ training. If training is not purchased, the 90 day period begins when the unit is shipped by ISI. Support will be available between the hours of 8:00AM-5:00PM EST, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Additionally ISI will extend support and product update announcements via the website, bulletin board and email. Extended Annual Support Agreements are also available. Repairs are handled at our repair facility in Florida. How much time does it take to install the software and set-up the iCommunicator™ system? Using the Install Guide, it will take less than 30 minutes to install the software and establish a beginning speech/voice recognition file. For the experienced user, it takes five minutes or less to set up the iCommunicator™ program and peripherals (e.g., FM system, power connections). Is it necessary for persons to be trained to use the iCommunicator™ system? Yes, to derive optimal benefit from this technology, end users, implementation managers, and speakers should receive systematic professional training. ISI recommends that purchasers of the iCommunicator™ designate one or more implementation managers to receive formal training in the use of the software program and peripherals. The implementation managers then become responsible for managing the technology and providing training to both end users and speakers. A User Guide, Training Manual, and a Tutorial CD, all of which are useful supports for end users, speakers, and managers, accompany the iCommunicator™ software program. Refer to Training for more information. How long does it take to train the iCommunicator™ to accurately translate your voice? Version 3.1 contains many enhancements that significantly decrease speech and voice recognition training. Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional, Version 6.0, the underlying speech recognition engine, offers many features to personalize a speaker's speech and voice recognition file and enhance translation accuracy. In addition, Dragon NaturallySpeaking Professional, Version 6.0 has the highest translation accuracy in the industry according to independent studies. Qualitative data suggests that most speakers can easily achieve 90% (or better) accuracy in one hour or less. A systematic speech and voice recognition training process has been developed to guide speakers successfully through the tasks of reading a few passages and completing an accuracy check. Additional time is required to fine-tune a speaker’s speech/voice recognition (S/VR) file by adding vocabulary specific to the speaker’s profession or worksite. Documents and lists available on disk or CD may be quickly analyzed under a speaker’s S/VR file and any unfamiliar words can then be trained. The goal of this process is for a speaker to create a S/V profile that will allow the program to efficiently convert the speaker’s continuous natural speech into text. Does the iCommunicator™ system contain a dictionary? Yes, an electronic dictionary has been licensed by ISI and integrated into the iCommunicator™ program. It provides users the opportunity to quickly obtain the definition for a word displayed in the text window, and listen to the pronunciation of the word. The electronic dictionary is also accessible from the word processing program loaded on the computer. How many speakers can have speech/voice recognition files on the iCommunicator™? The only limitation is the available hard drive space on the computer. For instance, if the iCommunicator™ software program resides on a personal computer that meets the minimum hardware specifications, then the program could recognize a large number of S/VR files. A typical S/V file will occupy 40 to 50 MB of hard drive space. Can other programs be operating simultaneously with the iCommunicator™ software? ISI does not recommend that any other computer programs be open and operating simultaneously when the iCommunicator™ program is in use. This includes moving screen savers. This program requires a considerable amount of the computer’s resources in order to effectively perform the speech-to-text translations as well as other functions of the program. It is very important that end users not load other programs into the start-up menu, as this will very likely slow down the operation of the iCommunicator™ program when all of these programs are vie concurrently for the computer’s available resources. Can a lapel microphone be used instead of the headworn microphone? ISI has tested many lapel microphones, but none have met the specifications necessary for consistent speech/voice recognition accuracy. The headworn microphone is maintained at a consistent distance from the speaker’s mouth, whereas when a speaker uses a lapel microphone and turns his/her head away from the microphone, critical speech recognition information is diminished. This results in a noticeable reduction in the level of translation accuracy. Interactive Solutions has qualified the LightSPEED and Parrott units as the only high quality microphones that are compatible with the iCommunicator™ software in order to achieve maximum translation accuracy. Prior to shipping, the LightSPEED system is professionally calibrated to optimal settings to support maximum performance and translation accuracy. Can the iCommunicator™ program be used with a telephone to send and receive messages? At this time that option is not available. However, ISI is actively involved in the development/acquisition of appropriate software that will enable the iCommunicator™ program to be compatible with software programs that will offer telephone accessibility to persons with special communication needs. Which Manually Coded English (MCE) system was used in the development of the iCommunicator™ system? ISI’s profound concern regarding the average literacy levels of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing was the inspiration for the development of the iCommunicator™ technology. As a result, the decision was made to deliver American Sign Language (ASL) signs in English word order (subject+verb+object). Focus was given to Signed Exact English (SEE) sign morphological markers in the development of the sign language library. What is offered is most consistent with the common definition of Pidgin Signed English (PSE), which is the system offered for communication accessibility in many educational, workplace, and public access venues. How does the iCommunicator™ system accommodate multiple speakers and group discussions? The iCommunicator™ program is not speaker independent at this time, although speech/voice recognition (S/VR) files for virtually an unlimited number of speakers can be recognized by the program. Each speaker must establish a S/V file and complete the systematic training process. The program easily switches from one speaker to the next in less than one minute. In a small group setting, it would be advisable for one person in the group to establish a S/V file and serve as the facilitator for the group sessions. As always, it is important for speakers to practice the common accommodations for persons with hearing loss or other communication challenges by repeating or rephrasing questions and answers that are transmitted during meetings, lectures, and classroom discussions. As the processing speed and other enhancements in computer hardware technology, as well as speech and voice recognition technology, advance, ISI will advance to a speaker independent version of the software program. Can the iCommunicator™ program translate into other languages or other modes of visual communication? At this time those offerings are not available in the current version of the iCommunicator™ program. However, the capability exists to offer presentations in other languages and visual communication modes in future versions of the iCommunicator™ software program. Can persons with distinctive dialects successfully use the iCommunicator™? The iCommunicator™ program uses a speech recognition engine that is based on an enhanced acoustical model. As such, during speech/voice recognition (S/VR) training, the program compares the individual speaker’s speech and voice characteristics (e.g., acoustical, linguistic, lexical) to the built-in model. The speech recognition engine uses continuous recognition of natural speech as it translates speech to text. Anecdotal data indicates that persons with distinctive dialects can achieve 90% or better translation accuracy when using the program, although it may require slightly more time to train the program to recognize the speaker’s unique speech and voice characteristics. Does the iCommunicator™ software operate on a Macintosh computer? At this time the software is compatible only with a PC platform. Are there funding alternatives available to obtain the iCommunicator™ for end users in need of financial assistance? If funding is not available through personal resources or local, state, or federal funding sources (e.g., school districts, vocational rehabilitation, government-supported medical agencies, CAP funding), there are other sources that may be available to support the purchase of an iCommunicator™ kit to provide communication access. Local service clubs are one source, as well as state and federal resources. Refer to the funding section for further information and links to resources. Can the iCommunicator™ program be projected onto a TV or projector? Can't locate object method "end" via package "HTML" (perhaps you forgot to load "HTML"?) at N:\www\voicerecognition.com\www\cgi-bin\rip\pageripper.cgi line 188. If the computer being used to run the iCommunicator™ application has the proper TV video connector and cable, the computer can be connected to the TV and the iCommunicator™ program can be projected onto the TV. It is important to determine if the computer is equipped with the required computer video to TV connection. The computer-to-TV cable is not included with the iCommunicator™ software and peripheral kit. The iCommunicator™ program can be shown through an LCD projector by connecting the video cable that comes with the projector to the computers video (VGA) output connector; however, not all projectors are compatible with all computers. iCommunicator™ Software Kit V3.1 Dragon NaturallySpeaking 6.0 Professional - iCommunicator™ User Guide, Training Manual & Tutorial CD - Audio Cables (connector cable, Y-cable) - professional version microphone system (LightSPEED LES-360 RF wireless system includes: 360R receiver, 360T transmitter, BC-4 battery charger and cables, and 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries, TK 150 noise canceling microphone) - Warranty software support (90 days – 2 hrs. telephone support) Price includes shipping and handling-ground shipping. Currently this item only works with Dragon version 6.0 |
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