Sensor-Teh: Albert Service to help people with autism and speech disorders

Main article: Mobile applications

2021: Announcement of the Albert application

On March 24, 2021, it became known that the Sensor-Tech laboratory created a free service to help people with autism and speech disorders.

Albert

As explained, the Albert app allows adults and children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), impaired communication skills or mental disabilities to communicate their needs and requests, talk about their state and mood. The communicator works simply: the user selects cards with visual pictures from the gallery (for example, on food topics, emotions, hygiene, etc.), composes them, and the service voices the meaning with a single phrase ("I want to eat," "It's time for me to go," etc.).

The application was also worked by scientists physicians programmers psychologists of the resident of the Foundation "" - Skolkovo the company "Sensor-Teh," which specializes in creating smart technologies for people with disabilities.

"Albert" will help adults and children who have difficulties with speech and communication (for example, intellectual and emotional problems), hearing impairment, motor impairment, the consequences of injuries and strokes.

With the help of Albert, children will be able to explain their emotions more easily or ask for something from their parents. And adults - use the collections of cards that are already in the application, and download your own to expand the list of topics for communication. Users will also be able to create and share communication boards with others. Thus, Albert will help establish communication within the family and effectively communicate with specialists - psychologists, defectologists, speech therapists, teachers and doctors. You can use the application in specialized institutions - for the socialization of people with autism. Albert is a universal designer of educational materials, of which there are no complete analogues on the Russian market.

We developed Alberta to help people who have experienced such diagnoses and difficulties live an easier and more fulfilling life. The service will allow them to communicate and will be useful in teaching children with ASD. The application can be used for free, while the service capabilities are similar to expensive solutions. We are sure that such products should be provided to people for free along with the mobile devices necessary for their use. Therefore, we are negotiating with the Ministry of Labor on the inclusion of our development in the Federal list of technical means of rehabilitation, an application has already been submitted. said Denis Kuleshov, director of the Sensor-Tech Laboratory

The task of the Skolkovo Foundation is to support projects of various directions and formats. Disruption of speech and communication skills is a difficult life trial, when a person can close in his world, feel lonely without communication. Sensor-Tech has created this socially significant project with the support of specialists from the Skolkovo biomedical cluster. Such developments are very important for the Fund. We are pleased to help solve the problems of people who need our help. said Arkady Dvorkovich, Chairman of the Skolkovo Foundation

Albert has already been tested at the Moscow Communication Space center, as well as dozens of Russian teachers and psychologists. In their opinion, the application is a necessary tool for specialists working with children with autism, severe multiple developmental and speech disorders. They also stressed the need for parents to use the service for such children.

Living without going beyond your inner world, without communicating with others is difficult and sometimes scary. Many people with ASD cannot explain to others what they care about, what they need. They're literally locked in. They suffer from this not only themselves, but also their loved ones. reported Daria Goranskaya, Albert Project Manager, Sensor-Teh Laboratory, psychologist

The project team plans to expand the Albert family of products for different platforms and mobile devices. Including, create a grammar module, add the function of supporting external input devices, access to the content library (thematic card packages, dictionaries of various levels, ready-made interactive boards), and also provide the possibility of individualization. In addition, the Sensor-Tech Laboratory, together with psychological and educational centers, will develop interactive educational materials on alternative communication.

It is planned that the full paid version will appear in 2022. The maximum subscription cost will be 7000 rubles. per year. It will include a grammar module, access to the content library and support for external input devices. There will also be the ability to connect individual options by subscription from 3000 rubles. per year.

As of March 2021, in Russia, almost 200 thousand adults and children are deprived of the opportunity to effectively communicate with others due to speech and development violations. About 22 thousand small Russians with ASD live in Moscow. As for world statistics, according to WHO, for every 100 children there is one child with autism.

Experts note that up to 80% of families raising children with autism in Russia have a low level of wealth, since one of the parents often has to give up a career in order to engage in a child. Most such families cannot afford foreign technology and expensive rehabilitation.

The free Albert app is already available for download on the iOS platform.