Systems and methods for verbal communication from a speech impaired individual

Abstract

An individual that is speech impaired, such as a patient in a dentist's office, is provided with means to communicate with a service provider, such as a dentist, without the individual using their own voice. In one embodiment, a computing system initiates display of user interfaces on a display device that is visible to the speech impaired individual. The speech impaired individual may then select text phrases displayed on the display device using an input device, such as a wireless remote control. The communication systems selects one or more audio files that correspond with the selected text phrases and plays the audio file(s) so that the dentist hears the audible representation of the selected text phrase, such as via a headset that is worn by the dentist. In some embodiments, the patient is further able to select one or more educational and/or entertainment media items via the user interface.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A communication system comprising:
 a communication interface configured to communicate with:
 a plurality of display devices positioned in respective rooms, wherein the display devices are configured to provide customized content to individuals positioned within the respective rooms; and 
 a plurality of input devices each associated with one of the rooms, wherein the input devices are configured to allow individuals to select textual phrases displayed on display devices in respective rooms; 
   a data structure storing a plurality of sound files, wherein each of the textual phrases is associated with one or more of the sound files, the sound files comprising oral representations of the respective textual phrases that are prerecorded;   a processor configured to execute software code in order to cause the communication system to:
 determine a room in which a person of interest is currently positioned; 
 selecting, from the data structure, one or more of the sound files associated with a textual phrase selected by an individual in the determined room; and 
 initiating playback of the selected one or more sound files associated with the selected textual phrase to the person of interest within the determined room so that the person of interest hears the oral representation of the textual phrase selected by the individual in the determined room. 
   
     
     
         3 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein textual phrases selected by individuals in rooms in which the person of interest is not currently positioned do not cause playback of the oral representations of the textual phrases selected by individuals in rooms in which the person of interest is not currently positioned. 
     
     
         4 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the input devices comprise at least a first button programmed to provide a first signal to the processor to play an audio signal on the audio headset verbally speaking “yes” without requiring a selection on the user interface, and a second button programmed to provide a second signal to the processor to play an audio signal on the audio headset verbally speaking “no” without requiring a selection on the user interface. 
     
     
         5 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the input devices comprise one or more of: a remote control, a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a drawing a tablet, and a touchpad. 
     
     
         6 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface further displays a representation of at least one educational media item. 
     
     
         7 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface further displays a representation of at least one entertainment media item. 
     
     
         8 . The communication system of  claim 2 , wherein the person of interest comprises a doctor or dentist. 
     
     
         9 . A computing system comprising:
 a data structure storing a plurality of sound files associated with respective textual phrases, the sound files comprising prerecorded oral representations of the respective textual phrases;   one or more hardware processors configured to execute software code in order to cause the computing system to:
 determine a room in which a person of interest is currently positioned; 
 selecting, from the data structure, one or more of the sound files associated with a textual phrase selected by an individual in the determined room; and 
 initiating playback of the selected one or more sound files associated with the selected textual phrase to the person of interest within the determined room so that the person of interest hears an oral representation of the textual phrase selected by the individual in the determined room. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 9 , wherein the software code is further configured to cause the computing system to:
 determine a second room in which the person of interest has moved to and is currently positioned within;   selecting, from the data structure, a second one or more of the sound files associated with a second textual phrase selected by a second individual in the second room; and   initiating playback of the second one or more sound files associated with the second textual phrase to the person of interest within the second room so that the person of interest hears an oral representation of the second textual phrase selected by the second individual in the second room.