Communication Aid

A severely handicapped person, who has no control over his or her limbs or head, has great difficulty in expressing everyday needs. Frequently, a severely handicapped person of this type has control of the eyes and, therefore communication aids have been proposed in which movement of the patient's eyes can be used to determine needs or to transmit a message.

One communication aid of this type comprises a transparent rigid panel having a central opening, and a series of illustrations or other indicia, are spaced around. the central opening and depict various objects or needs of the patient. An operator, holding the panel before a patient, looks through the central opening and follows the eye movement of the patient as the patient's eyes move toward one of the illustrations. Through this method, the observer is able to determine the illustration and thus the need of the patient.

While communication aids of this type have been very successful, they are somewhat limited in the number of illustratations that can be positioned around the central opening. If too many illustrations are utilized, it is difficult for the observer to zero in on the illustration or other indicia at which the patient is looking. Further, it is frustrating to the patient when the operator is unable to readily comprehend the need or desire. Moreover, a handicapped person having only eye movement may be mentally alert and may desire an expanded vocabulary over that which is available in conventional communication aids.

The invention is directed to an improved communication aid in which eye movement of the patient is utilized to express a need or transmit a message.

More particularly, the communication aid comprises a rigid transparent panel or board having a central opening therein. A plurality of transparent overlay sheets, each having a central aperture can be individually mounted flatwise against one surface of the panel, with the aperture in the overlay aligned with the opening in the panel.

Each overlay includes a plurality of indicia or symbols, such as illustrations of objects, words, numbers, or the like. The indicia on each overlay are different from those on other overlays. In addition, each overlay is provided with identification indicia, which in the preferred form of the invention, comprises a colored area, such as a colored margin. The colored margin on each overlay is different from the colored margins on other overlays. The panel or board also contains isolated or spaced patches of colors corresponding to the colors on the overlays. For example, a dot of color corresponding to the color of each overlay can be located at each corner of the panel.

In use, the operator initially places the panel without an overlay in front of the patient's face, either holding the panel or mounting the panel in a fixed support. The patient, by eye movement, will look to the colored dot or patch on the panel which corresponds to the overlay that he/she wishes to be mounted on the panel. The operator then places the panel bearing the desired overlay in front of the patient's face and the patient will then move his/her eyes toward the symbol that depicts the desired object or need and the operator, following the eye movement of the patient, can then determine the need of the patient.

The symbols on the overlays can take various forms. For example, one overlay may contain illustrations of food products, a second overlay may include illustrations of articles of clothing, a third overlay may include illustrations of personal items, etc. In addition, the overlays can include words, letters of the alphabet, or numerals.

Through use of the communication aid of the invention, a severely handicapped person, through movement of the eyes is able to communicate and express needs, or transmit a message, to an operator.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a an exploded perspective view showing a panel and a pair of overlays; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical section showing the mounting of an overlay on the panel.

The drawings illustrate a communication aid for a severely handicapped person and has particular application for use with a person having eye movement, but no movement of the limbs or head.

The communication aid includes a rigid transparent panel or board 1 having a central opening 2 therein. A generally U-shaped mounting track 3 is disposed on one surface of panel 1 and a plurality of transparent overlay sheets 4 are adapted to be individually mounted in the mounting track. With an overlay sheet 4 mounted in track 3, the sheet will be generally flat against a surface of the panel and a central aperture 5 in sheet 4 will be aligned with opening 2 in pahel 1.

Each sheet 4 carries a plurality of symbols or indicia indicated by 6 which are spaced around the aperture 5 in the sheet. The indicia 6 on one sheet are different from the indicia on other sheets. While the drawings show only a pair of overlay sheets 4, it is contemplated that any number of sheets can be utilized.

As an example symbols or indicia 6 on one sheet 4 can be drawings or illustrations of a series of food products, such as milk, sandwich, apple, etc., while a second sheet may include illustrations of a series of items of clothing such as bathrobe, slippers, sweater, etc. Other sheets 4 may bear illustrations of personal needs, such as glasses, comb, pill box, etc.

In other instances the sheets 4 may contain letters of the alphabet, so that the patient using the communication aid can spell out a message, while in other instances the symbols 6 can be numerals.

In order for the patient to identify the various overlay sheets for use, identification indicia is applied to each sheet. In the preferred form of the invention, the identification indicia takes the form of a colored area, such as a colored margin 7, which extends around the periphery of each overlay sheet. The color of each margin 7 on each sheet is different from the color on other sheets, so that the sheets can be readily identified by the patient. As an example, one sheet 4 may bear a green colored margin, a second sheet may have a red colored margin, and a third sheet may have a blue colored margin. In order for the patient to readily identify the sheet or overlay 4 that he/she wishes to have mounted on panel 1, an identification code is utilized in which indicia corresponding to the indicia on sheets 4 is placed in isolated relation on panel 1. For example, if sheets 4 bear colored areas or margins, similar colors would be applied to panel 1 at spaced locations, such as the corners of the panel, as indicated by 9, in FIG. 1. If, as indicated above, individual sheets bear red, green and blue margins, red green and blue dots or patches 9 are placed on panel 1.

In use, the operator will initially position the panel, without an overlay sheet 4, in front of the patient's face, so that the operator can view the patient's face through the opening 2. The operator can either manually hold the panel in front of the patient, or alternately, the panel can be mounted in an upright position by inserting the lower edge of the panel in a fixed support 8, as shown in FIG. 2. It is also contemplated that the panel can be supported at the desired height via a floor stand.

The patient, by eye movement, will look to the colored area 9 that corresponds to the sheet 4 that he/she desires to have mounted on panel 1.

The operator then mounts the desired sheet 4 on panel 1 and views the patient's face through the aligned aperture 5 and opening 2. The patient will then move his/her eyes toward the symbol 6 that depicts the desired object or need, and the operator, by following the patient's eye movement can thus determine the object or need.

The use of the openings 2 and 5 is a preferred feature of the invention, for it facilitates viewing of the eye movement of the patient. While it is contemplated that the aligned viewing areas of panel 1 and overlay 4 could be transparent areas, as opposed to openings, the transparent areas could tend to produce reflections or distortions which could interfere with vision.

It is preferred that panel 1 and sheets 4 be formed of transparent material so that the symbols 6 on sheet 4 can be seen through the transparent sheet and transparent panel by the observer. Alternately, the sheets 4 can be formed of opaque material and identical symbols 6 can be applied to both faces of the sheet.

With the communication aid of the invention and the use of the various overlays, it is possible for a patient to readily communicate needs or messages without confusion or frustration.

Through use of several or more sheets 4 the vocabulary of the patient can be greatly 4expanded as compared to eye-responsive communication devices used in the past.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.