Stephen Hawking’s speech system has been released by Intel as open-source code. Intel has described it as “an open source platform developed at Intel Labs to enable people with motor neuron diseases and other disabilities to have full access to the capabilities and applications of their computers through very constrained interfaces suitable for their condition”.
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It also allows the cosmologist to use various computer programs and navigate the Internet.
Hawking, who has lost control of nearly all of his muscles due to the debilitating disease can speak through the system, which he controls with minuscule facial movements. The development of the software was detailed in an exclusive WIRED report in December 2014. “After Intel deployed the system to Professor Hawking, we turned our attention to the larger community”, explained Intel project lead Saj Prasad. Hawking was instrumental in the development of software and here’s how you can get your hands on it.
The technology is made up of three parts: the input from an infrared sensor or webcam that detects facial movements, the interface that selects letters to form words, and the autocomplete-like software that predicts what the user is typing.
“ACAT is only available for PCs and the software and the user guide can be found on Github.” name=”twitter:description”>. “The development of this system has the the potential to greatly improve the lives of disabled people all over the world”. The software knows Hawking’s communication patterns, meaning he has to type less than 20 percent of all characters to convey what he wants to say.
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So far, the software is only available on PC, and can be downloaded here.
