Abstract: A customizable recognition system with at least one processor to process the audio/video input to determine a control command for accessibility functions of a computer or gaming application. The customized recognition engine has a classifier for each different input type for the different types of speech or gestures. The classifier stored with a link or indication of a user identifier. The interface is configured to provide the control commands to a computer application, gaming application, or a laptop, or an access technology device.

Abstract: A system for a brain-computer interface (BCI) is provided. The system comprises an output unit configured to trigger a series of mental tasks for the patient, a device having a plurality of electrodes to continuously capture real-time raw electroencephalography (EEG) data from a patient, a server, and a display device to display and update an interface with visual elements based on issued control commands from the server. The server has an acquisition unit configured to receive the electrode data, a processor configured to detect real-time changes in brain-state of the patient in response to the series of mental tasks for the patient, a presentation unit configured to generate visual elements for an interface in real-time, and a display controller configured to issue control commands to update the interface using the generated visual elements. The processor detects the real-time changes in brain-state using the electrode data.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for real-time classification of covert speech. The device comprises a plurality of sensors for capturing real-time bio-signal data for brain monitoring in response to mental tasks delivered to a user, and a brain computer interface with memory storing instructions to configure a processor to perform a method of real-time classification of covert speech. The method comprises capturing real-time bio-signal data for brain monitoring in response to mental tasks delivered to a user, pre-processing the raw bio-signal data, extracting a vector of features from the raw bio-signal data, selecting features from the vector of features, building classification model to generate classified covert speech data using the selected features, and controlling a display device with visual elements based on the classified covert speech data.

Abstract: A method for quantifying swallowing function can include subjecting swallowing segments and non-swallowing segments of vibrational data to processing selected from the group consisting of adaptive trimming, false positive reduction, and a combination thereof. Preferably the vibrational data represents swallowing activity, is from a sensor positioned on the throat of a patient, and is associated with at least one axis selected from the group consisting of an anterior-posterior axis and a superior-inferior axis. Preferably a processing module operatively connected to the sensor performs the processing of the swallowing segments and the non-swallowing segments of the vibrational data. A device comprising a processing module and a sensor such as a single-axis accelerometer or a dual axis accelerometer can perform one or more steps of the method.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detection of anxiety using physiological signals. The detection of anxiety may take place in real-time and in a naturalistic setting. A modified Kalman filter may be used.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for swallowing impairment detection acquire dual axis accelerometry data representative of one or more swallowing events executed by a candidate. Upon feature extraction and classification, vibrational data acquired in respect of each swallowing event is classified as indicative of one of normal or possibly impaired swallowing. Computer-readable media comprising statements and instructions for implementation by a processing device are also described in facilitating swallowing impairment detection respective to candidate swallowing events.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting swallowing activity is provided. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving an electronic signal from an acceleronic signal from an accelerometer that represents swallowing activity, extracting at least two features from the signal, classifying the signal as a type of swallowing activity based on the extracted features, and generating an output of the classification. Exemplary activities include swallows, aspirations, movement and vocal artifacts. By indicating whether an activity is a swallow or an aspiration, the manner in which a patient afflicted with an increased likelihood for aspirations is fed can be adjusted to increase the likelihood of achieving a swallow instead of an aspiration during feeding. In turn this could reduce hospitalizations for aspiration pneumonia in patients with acute or chronic injury.

Abstract: Dual-axis swallowing accelerometry is an emerging tool for the assessment of dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). These signals however can be very noisy as a result of physiological and motion artifacts. A novel scheme for denoising those signals is proposed, i.e., a computationally efficient search for the optimal denoising threshold within a reduced wavelet subspace. To determine a viable subspace, the algorithm relies on the minimum value of the estimated upper bound for the reconstruction error. A numerical analysis of the proposed scheme using synthetic test signals demonstrated that the proposed scheme is computationally more efficient than minimum noiseless description length (MNDL) based de-noising. It also yields smaller reconstruction errors (i.e., higher signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio) than MNDL, SURE and Donoho denoising methods. When applied to dual-axis swallowing accelerometry signals, the proposed scheme improves the SNR values for dry, wet and wet chin tuck swallows.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for swallowing impairment detection, whereby a candidate executes one or more swallowing events and dual axis accelerometry data is acquired representative thereof. Upon feature extraction and classification, vibrational data acquired in respect of each swallowing event is classified as indicative of one of normal or possibly impaired swallowing. Computer-readable media comprising statements and instructions for implementation by a processing device are also described in facilitating swallowing impairment detection respective to candidate swallowing events.

Abstract: The proposed invention is a method and system for the segmentation of dual-axis accelerometry signals for the purpose of identifying problematic swallowing events. The method and system employ a sensor, a data collection means including an algorithm for analysis of the data. The proposed invention considers the stochastic properties of swallowing signals in both directions, A•P and S-I to extract events associated with swallowing. A segmentation algorithm may be applied to the signals to establish the time duration of swallows and swallows may be classified with respect to gender, body mass index, age or types of swallow.

Abstract: A new method, system and apparatus is provided that enables muscle signals that correspond to muscle contractions to be mapped to one or more functions of an electronic device such as a prosthetic device or gaming apparatus. Muscle signals are classified in real-time from self-selected intentional movements. A self-training protocol allows users to select and label their own muscle contractions, and is operable to automatically determine the discernible and repeatable muscle signals generated by the user. A visual display means is used to provide visual feedback to users illustrating the responsiveness of the system to muscle signals generated by the user.

Abstract: A posterior walker is disclosed comprising: a foldable, tubular frame; adjustable handles; wheels including anti-rollback wheels in the back and pivoting wheels in the front; a flexible, adjustable lower back support strap; features to adjust the handling and stability of the walker, to meet the mobility and standing needs of persons with unsteady gait and standing posture, namely an adjustable weighting means; and optionally backpack storage. In one embodiment, the adjustable weighting means is provided by use of weighted stability cuffs.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, extracting topic words from a collection of documents across multiple and potentially very large number of domains. Documents are selected and ranked based on similarity with at least one seed word, which defines a topic. Seed words may be entered directly by a user or provided by another application. Keywords are extracted from documents determined to be a sufficiently good match to the topic and may be displayed to the user or used as input into word prediction or word analysis and display software. Documents are determined to be a sufficiently good match to the topic using an iterative algorithm starting with the best match and selecting documents containing keywords sufficiently similar to the previously selected documents.