Patent ID: 7307509

Claim:
An assistive communication device for allowing a speech-impaired user to construct at least one of a statement, a query and a request, and to communicate said at least one of said statement, query and request to another person, said assistive communication device comprising: an input device that accepts inputs from said user; a plurality of output devices that communicate with said user and with said another person, said plurality of output devices comprising at least a display and a transducer for creating aural output; and a processor that operates on said inputs and interacts with said user via at least one of said plurality of output devices to construct said at least one of a statement, a query and a request; wherein: said processor operates in a first mode when said user is all of (a) familiar with use of said assistive communication device, (b) able to see, and (c) able to use full function of standard computer input devices, and in at least one other mode different from said first mode when said user is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to allow said user who is both (a) unfamiliar with use of the assistive communication device, and (b) at least one of (i) visually impaired, and (ii) unable to use full function of standard computer input devices, to use said assistive communication device to communicate with said another person.