Title: Multilingual and multicultural message presentations to enhance communication capabilities of people with special needs

Authors: Tetsuya Hirotomi, Yun Zhang

Addresses: Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Shimane University, Matsue Japan. ' Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Shimane University, Matsue Japan

Abstract: People with severe |expressive| and |receptive| disorders use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) symbols to represent messages in spoken and written communications. The Internet provides them an opportunity to communicate with not only neighbours but also even those who have different language and cultural backgrounds in the far distance. However, the interpretation of the messages are rather challenging for many people because of their abstractness and ambiguity. That is why, we are developing a multimedia communication system based on the use of |Multimedia Hieroglyph (MH)|. The MH enables users to express a message by answering a set of questions. It also enables communication partners to understand the meaning through multiple views selected and adapted based on their backgrounds. This paper presents a new approach for multilingual and multicultural message presentations via the MH and its multiple views. Special attention is paid to implementations and evaluations of MH-into-Japanese/Chinese translators.

Keywords: multimedia hieroglyph; multimedia communication systems; AAC; augmentative and alternative communication; multilingual communication; multicultural communication; adaptive user interfaces; expressive disorders; receptive disorders; message presentations; Japanese; Chinese; Japan; China; communication capabilities; special needs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2008.021941

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2008 Vol.33 No.2/3, pp.190 - 198

Published online: 10 Dec 2008 *

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