Name: A word game to communicate in any language
Uploaded: 2014-03-10T15:23:24Z
Duration: 15 min 29 s
Description: While working with kids who have trouble speaking, Ajit Narayanan sketched out a way to think about language in pictures, to relate words and concepts in "maps." The idea now powers the FreeSpeech app, which can help nonverbal people communicate.

While working with kids who have trouble speaking, Ajit Narayanan sketched out a way to think about language in pictures, to relate words and concepts in "maps." The idea now powers the FreeSpeech app, which can help nonverbal people communicate.

A word game to communicate in any language

A new visual system called FreeSpeech helps people who struggle with language, such as children with autism, communicate complex ideas through maps of questions and answers rather than traditional sentences. One girl, unable to move or speak, helped develop communication tools using only her eyes. This approach separates meaning from grammar, allowing users to construct language directly from raw thought. The concept promises not only to empower those with disabilities but also to reshape how anyone can learn and use language.