Speech difficulties can take many forms of varying severity, from the inability to generate words to the lack of intonation. There are various applications on the market to alleviate these conditions, although most are based on generating sounds by converting text to speech. There are even applications that allow you to generate and express sentences very quickly and intuitively using images that are selected and combined on the screen of a phone or tablet.
The tools used in this analysis are primarily of North American origin and, although they indicate that they are valid for multiple languages, they are focused on the English language.
Impulse is an app developed by Samsung as part of its “Technology with Purpose” program to solve specific speech disorders for people who suffer from them.
Examples of these disorders may include stuttering, speech rate, rhythm or intonation disorders. The causes may be diverse, such as congenital, degenerative diseases or caused by incidents such as a stroke. In any case, speech difficulties arise from a lack of coordination between what the brain tells it wants to say and the way it says it.
Impulse is therefore not aimed at people with a speech or sentence creation disability but at people with a difficulty in exposition.
The method used to improve this situation is through impulses/vibrations that the patient receives through a SmartWatch or phone. Impulse analyzes natural language and transforms the syllables into rhythmic vibrations.
It is based on a rhythm therapy that aims to create a subconscious rhythm and, in this case, facilitates it through the impulses generated by the SmartWatch.
In this way, the user can perform speech exercises whenever and wherever they want, without having to attend a consultation with their speech therapist.
In addition to its use as a therapeutic exercise, since it is based on vibrations from the watch or the phone, the user can use it in real conversations or even speeches. This possibility helps to improve the user's real communication with his or her environment.