Motion-Based AAC

An emerging form of augmentative and alternative communication that uses physical movement of objects or robotic devices to convey nonverbal communicative intent during conversations. Unlike traditional AAC which focuses on generating speech, motion-based AAC addresses the nonverbal aspects of communication such as signaling a desire to take a turn, indicating that a message is being composed, calling for attention, or expressing agreement. Examples include small motorized devices mounted on a wheelchair that can wave to attract attention or sway to indicate the user is typing. Motion-based AAC is designed to complement rather than replace speech-generating devices, leveraging the natural human tendency to attend to physical movement as a social cue.