Real-Time multilingual communication by means of prestored conversational units

A computer mediated communication system has been developed which can offer real time multilingual communication, as long as users stay within the boundaries of prestored conversational units. The system was designed originally to give non-speaking people a multi-lingual capability. It is based on research into conversational modelling and utterance prediction, making use of prestored material. However, the system could also be used by people whose only communication disadvantage is not being able to speak a foreign language. The prototype consists of a large store of conversational texts, each one produced in several languages, along with a model of conversation which allows the system to link the items together into appropriate sequences. Both the non-speaking person and the communication partner use the communicator in their dialogue. In comparison with a multi-lingual phrase book, the system helped users to have more natural conversation, and to take more control of the interaction. This project is an interesting example of the way in which systems developed for people with severe disabilities can often have useful general applications.