pVoice Communication Software – Giving Speech to Mute Users

pVoice is freeware communication software for people with a physical disability that are unable to speak and are limited in their abilities to control a computer. The software gives these users a method of speaking through their computer by selecting photos or symbols.

The man behind this software is Dutch developer Jouke Visser, who created it for his daughter Krista, who was six years old at the time of its development. She uses pVoice and other programs Jouke made, like pType and pStory, to communicate more easily. Krista, who cannot speak and has little control over her hands and feet, controls the programs with the use of her head by moving it back and forth. With switches in the frame of the wheelchair she clicks and uses a scanning method to control the programs. With her dad standing by her with his new developments, she is learning new things every day.
 
pVoice uses a scanning method that enables the appliance to select items from rows and columns. The scanning program starts scrolling through the rows and then row is selected with a click. The program then starts selecting individual cells from left to right and with another click the correct cell is marked for addition in the sentence, which is then spoken aloud by the computer. With pVoice, a right click scrolls through the images and then the left click selects them.
 
With a lot of pictures this would become a tedious task and a real scanning method would seem to be more efficient. For example there are 13 right clicks necessary to see Grandma Visser, one of the selections in the grid. With a combination of horizontal and vertical scanners, this same selection could be made with only two clicks. On the other hand, using both right and left clicks gives Krista more practice with the selection method.
 
pVoice’s site offers versions under artistic license which means that everybody can use it, change it, or sell it, without owning the author money, as long as the author’s copyright is respected.
 
pVoice can identify main screens and sub screens, which work with categories. When the system starts, there are two main categories – people and school. Clicking on one of these two takes the user to a list of Krista’s friends. She can scroll though, for example, Mamma and Daddy, but also grandma Visser and grandpa Adriaanse.
 
The program is very easy to learn and additional cells and pictures can be added with ease. The program is made very well, and even novices will be able to use it after a bit of practice. 
 
pVoice is a program which can be used by almost anyone. People with a mobility and communications disorders may find it to be very useful. It is great to have such high quality freeware programs available.