Customer Discovery

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The focus of this questionaire is on people who can hear or mostly hear, yet cannot form words or enough words with their mouth to elicit sufficient communication – or rather people who are Hearing-Nonverbal, which is abbreviated HNV throughout this form.

VSACs are a patent-pending, wearable, gesture controlled AAC device which says what is signed or gestured and are created for people who can hear yet not talk. The wireless device works by associating positional arm and hand inputs with speech outputs from any spoken language and is completely customizable for each user.

COMPONENTS: Users may begin with one wristband worn on either wrist. Then, they may choose to add finger bands to one or more fingers. They may also choose to add components to both hands. These components produce positional inputs. More Inputs = More Speech.

TEXTILES: The textiles are lightweight bands of fabric custom made to each user’s unique measurements. Unlike bulky gloves, VSAC textiles are comfortable, breathable, have minimal seams, allow fine motor to remain unencumbered, and can be worn all day.

SOFTWARE: Although technical in nature, the software is easy to understand and use because of its real-time visual feedback. It, too, is fully customizable for each user’s abilities, needs, and individual gestures. The number of positional inputs, their ranges, and associated outputs are defined by for each user. In this manner, even users with limited arm and finger movements can still produce communication.

FEEDBACK: Visual feedback is provided throughout the software program, yet specifically in the Feedback Window where users are able to view where their hand is in relationship to inputs in real-time.

BENEFITS: Enables users to learn where and how they need to move their hand(s) to produce desired outputs, while also enablling therapists to view what the user is acheiving and make adjustments to input ranges.

CLUSTERS: Clusters are certain sets of inputs and outputs which are triggered without interferance from other declared inputs and outputs. For example, one cluster might have a few inputs with large ranges and another cluster may have more inputs with smaller ranges.

BENEFITS: You can set up multiple clusters, each with different ranges, and easily switch back and forth between them to see which ranges users have more success with. You can also have different clusters for different clients. Additionally, users might use different cluster for different situations. For example, they might have a “Restaurant” cluster which has words or phrases geared specifically for interactions their favorite restaurant while a “Home” cluster might contain words or phrases used around the house with their family.

MUSIC: The software has the ability for inputs to produce music note/chord outputs. What this means is users can move their hand(s) and trigger piano, guitar, or drum notes, to name a few of the available instruments. One of the preset clusters, which comes with the program, is called “All Space a Note” where the entire space around one’s body contains piano notes and chords. Where ever one moves their hand, music is produced. An additional music feature is the ability to trigger both music and speech simultaneously.

BENEFITS: Users might get excited when they realize the movement of their hand(s) can produce music “from thin air” and have motivation to move their hands to make more music. Meanwhile, you can observe which inputs the user is most inclined to produce and tailor their speech inputs accordidngly.

TRAINING GAMES: Training games are included with the software which visually and audibly guide users through practice sessions using their own specific inputs and outputs. . STATISTICS: Statistics are automatically collected during these games and stored for historical analysis which helps document user ability and progress.