Assistive Technology: May 2014

Wednesday, May 28, 2014:

Today's class had us working in pairs and working on a assignment that involved us finding information on Communication. We had to find answers to 7 questions on communication.

1. What is communication?

Communication (from Latin commūnicāre, meaning "to share" [1]) is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of ideas, feelings, intentions, attitudes, expectations, perceptions or commands, as by speech, gestures, writings, behavior and possibly by other means such as electromagnetic, chemical or physical phenomena. It is the meaningful exchange of information between two or more participants that might or might not be living creatures

Communication requires a sender, a message, a medium and a recipient, although the receiver does not have to be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast distances in time and space. Communication requires that the communicating parties share an area of communicative commonality. The communication process is complete once the receiver understands the sender's message.

Communicating with others involves three primary steps:

• Thought: First, information exists in the mind of the sender. This can be a concept, idea, information, or feeling.

• Encoding: Next, a message is sent to a receiver in words or other symbols.

• Decoding: Lastly, the receiver translates the words or symbols into a concept or information that a person can understand.

2. List 20 ways to communicate.

1. talk

2. body language

3. pictures

4. gestures

5. music

6. eye contact

7. symbols

8. sounds

9. stories

10.lip reading

11.singing

12.smoke signals

13.art

14.video

15.internet

16.tv

17.texting

18.e-mail

19.letters

20.photographs

3. What is augmentative and alternative communication?

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC when we make facial expressions or gestures, use symbols or pictures, or write.

4. Who is the Typical User of Augmentative and Alternative Communication?

Many people use augmentative and alternative forms of communication. These may include people with autism, cerebral palsy, selective mutism, stroke victims, or anyone who has difficulty producing speech but there is really no typical user.