SGD

Short for speech-generating device, an SGD is an electronic output device that assists speech-impaired individuals to communicate. For example, SGDs can be utilized by those who have Lou Gehrig's disease (such as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, shown right) to supplement or replace speech or writing for them. Speech-generating devices also find use with children who are suspected of having speech deficiencies.

How do they work?

Although SGDs vary in their design, most consist of several pages of words or symbols on a touch screen that the user may choose. As the individual makes their choices, suggestions are made for the next symbol or word based on what they might want to say. Additionally, the communicator can navigate the various pages manually if the predictive system fails. Most speech-generating can produce electronic voice output by utilizing either speech synthesis or via digital recordings of someone speaking.

Speech Synthesis

A computerized replication of a human's voice. Speech synthesis is commonly accomplished by either piecing together words that have been pre-recorded, or combining an assortment of sounds to generate a voice. Speech synthesis is commonly accomplished by entering text into the computer and having the computer read that text out loud.

Stephen Hawking

Name: Stephen Hawking

Born: January 8, 1942, Oxford, England, United Kingdom

Death: March 14, 2018 (Age: 76)

Computer-related contributions

·         British theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author.

·         Known for Black holes, theoretical cosmology, Quantum gravity, and Hawking radiation.

Significant publications

·         The Universe in a Nutshell (2001).

·         A Brief History of Time (2008), which stayed on the British Sunday Times bestsellers list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.

·         The Grand Design (2012).

Honors and awards

·         Albert Einstein Award (1978).

·         Wolf Prize (1988).

·         Prince of Asturias Award (1989).

·         Copley Medal (2006).

·         Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009).

Quotes

"I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image."

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."