Symbol-based dictionaries of text, images and sound can help individuals with aphasia find the words they need, but are often seen as a last resort because they tend to replace rather than augment the user's natural speech. Through two design investigations, we explore head-worn displays as a means of providing unobtrusive, always-available, and glanceable vocabulary support. The first study used narrative storyboards as a design probe to explore the potential benefits and challenges of a head-worn approach over traditional augmented alternative communication (AAC) tools. The second study then evaluated a proof-of-concept prototype in both a lab setting with the researcher and in situ with unfamiliar conversation partners at a local market. Findings suggest that a head-worn approach could better allow wearers to maintain focus on the conversation, reduce reliance on the availability of external tools (e.g., paper and pen) or people, and minimize visibility of the support by others. These studies should motivate further investigation of head-worn conversational support.

Many people with aphasia experience difficulty recalling words extemporaneously, but can recognize those words when given an image, text, or audio prompt. Augmented and alternative communication (AAC) systems can help address this problem by enabling people with aphasia to browse and select from a list of vocabulary words. However, these systems can be difficult to navigate, especially when they contain large amounts of content. In this paper, we describe the design of TalkAbout, a context-aware, adaptive AAC system that provides users with a word list that is adapted to their current location and conversation partner. We describe the design and development of TalkAbout, which we conducted in collaboration with 5 adults with aphasia. We then present guidelines for developing and evaluating context-aware technology for people with aphasia.