Helping children to communicate with joke-making software
Researchers at three Scottish universities have developed a computerised aid that allows children with speech difficulties to tell their own jokes. Children tend to use humour to experiment with words and improve social skills. While voice output communication aids enable children with speech impediments to communicate, young users tend to stick to essentials and display little spontaneity. According to Graeme Ritchie from the Department of Computing Science at the University of Aberdeen, 'The STANDUP [system to augment non-speakers' dialogue using puns] software makes simple puns by looking for suitable patterns in the words and phrases which are available to it. In this project, the computer acts as a helper to the child, by letting them browse through joke forms, and try out words and phrases.' The system allows children to use dictionaries and information about words, plus rules about the structure of puns, to create jokes. It was developed with the help of teachers, therapists and adults who use voice output communication aids. STANDUP was evaluated by six young people at a school near Glasgow in Scotland, who not only had a lot of fun using it, but became more enthusiastic about communicating generally. The evaluators regaled peers, teachers and family with jokes such as: 'What do you call a spicy missile? A hot shot'. Annalu Waller at the School of Computing at the University of Dundee said: 'Many people who use communication aids tend to be passive communicators, responding to questions with one or two word answers. This research shows the importance of providing individuals with novel language. It has been wonderful to see young people with complex communication needs taking ownership of puns and using them to take control of communication.'
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