Assistive Technology

PRC-Saltillo, Team Gleason Partner on ALS Communication Access

Wooster, Ohio – November 06, 2026 -- PRC-Saltillo, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology maker founded in 1966, has partnered with the Team Gleason Foundation to expand awareness, education and access to assistive communication technology for people with ALS and their families.

Partnership targets shifting communication needs across the ALS journey

The companies say communication needs change as ALS progresses. Navigating technologies, resources and support can overwhelm patients, care partners and clinicians alike. The partnership will deliver educational opportunities, share expertise and raise awareness of available communication solutions.

Cognixion Enrolls 30 ALS Patients in NIH-Funded BCI Trial

Santa Barbara – November 04, 2026 -- Cognixion Corporation is enrolling 30 US adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the CHOICE study, which tests its wearable brain-computer interface (BCI) against the eye-tracking speech devices patients use today. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT07871071 and is funded entirely by federal money from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Participants test three communication options at home over 12 weeks

Each participant uses their own eye-tracking speech generating tablet, a head-worn Cognixion BCI with augmented reality display glasses, and a touchscreen-based version of the Cognixion system. Participants choose which option to use in each session. The time they voluntarily spend with each is the study's primary outcome measure.

Notre Dame Develops AI System to Decode Nonverbal Communication

Notre Dame, Ind. – October 06, 2026 -- Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are building an AI system called Voice4PIMD to translate the facial expressions, gestures, eye gaze, and vocalizations of nonverbal individuals into text or audio alerts caregivers can act on.

Cameras and sensors capture nonverbal cues for caregiver training

Led by computer engineering scientist Jarek Nabrzyski, the team's system uses cameras and sensors to record facial expressions, eye gaze, body movements, heart rate, and vocalizations. Caregivers train the model to interpret these signals for a specific individual, since the same gesture can carry different meanings from person to person.

PRC-Saltillo Launches Genesis AAC Devices, Shipping in October

Wooster, Ohio – September 17, 2026 -- PRC-Saltillo has launched its Genesis product line globally, introducing two Windows-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for individuals with acquired or long-term complex communication needs, including ALS and cerebral palsy.

Genesis debuts in two screen sizes with expanded access options

The line launches with the 13-inch Genesis 13 and 16-inch Genesis 16, both built on 60 years of engineering, clinical, linguistic, and communicator expertise, according to the company. The devices feature vibrant displays, a three-inch angled partner display, customizable quick-access controls, front- and rear-facing surround audio, a multi-angle kickstand, larger power and volume buttons, extended battery life, and increased storage capacity.