Quips is in its early stages, but Rolls-Royce is aiming for it to be implemented into some of the leading augmented and alternative communication packages that already exist, such as those used by the late Professor Stephen Hawking. Currently, users type what they want to say, and the words or phrases are read out, often in a computerised voice.
Quips listens to the conversation, suggesting words and phrases that the user is likely to want to say, based on its understanding of their previous conversations. The user can quickly select sentences and they are read out in their own voice instantly, with their own accent and local colloquialisms, without gaps for typing. It even includes slang and can adapt to different situations and people, such as work, home, or even the pub.
Nick said: “Having your voice stripped away is one of the most brutal aspects of MND. Technology that allows people to retain those things that make them unique – their voice, speech patterns, intonations and word choices – is a huge leap forward in enabling someone to retain their dignity and their sense of self. This is really exciting technology – and of course its potential use expands much further than just people with MND.”
Stuart Moss, an IT Innovation strategist at Rolls-Royce, lost his father to MND on Christmas Day 2014. He started the Next Generation Think Tank earlier this year, alongside the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Stuart said: “Those with MND are often robbed of their ability to communicate with their loved ones, which can make the festive season particularly lonely and difficult. This technology will give people their voice back and is the first step in what I hope will be many innovations to come from the Next Generation Think Tank.”