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Augmented reality (AR) is a rapidly advancing technology that combines real and virtual objects to create interactive experiences in real time. It is currently being used in therapeutic settings to help people with Parkinson's disease improve walking and balance, as well as aid in stroke recovery. AR offers advantages over traditional therapy, such as the ability to interact with real objects in a safe environment, improved outcomes, and the collection of treatment data. Additionally, AR has the potential to simulate disabilities, fostering understanding and compassion among caregivers, educators, and family members. Designers are encouraged to involve the target demographic throughout the entire product development process. While commercial AR products are simpler to develop, medical devices may be eligible for insurance reimbursement. Overall, AR holds great potential for improving quality of life and expanding therapeutic possibilities. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses physicians' rights to speech-recognition data. Topics include comments from attorney David Schwartz on companies' disclosure of how users data are being used, the benefit of the bargain that consumers can receive under the Ninth Circuit in case of a breach of contract, and the legal aspects of using speech recognition from iScribe, M*Modal Inc. or Nuance Communications Inc.

The article discusses the downside of technological advancement. Education gap is also affecting the speech recognition world, as speech recognition teams try to scout for positions that are hard to fill like speech-focused positions that demands highly educated individuals who is fluent with a certain foreign language. Postal workers are another victim of technology due to the widespread us of e-mail and electronic bill system.

The article offers information on the safety of speech processing systems during cloud computing, and presents the views of Jacob Hoffman-Andrews, senior staff technologist at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), on the comprising of data. Topics discussed include the U.S. Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986 being the means of protecting electronic data; and the report on companies for best industry practices by the EFF.

The article discusses what the Allvoice Developments US, LLC v. Microsoft Corp. case means for software makers. Topics mentioned include the court's closure of the case on May 22, 2015, an analysis of why Allvoice lost the case, and tips that can be concluded from Allvoice including screening the invention properly in advance of drafting, managing expectations from a business standpoint, and allowing recent case law to inform how patent-related software claims are drafted.

Discusses the factors to consider in complementing speech recognition software. Factors that cause Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Proper placement of document; Reason for the effectivity of uplighting; Reduction in the number of repetitive trauma injuries in the U.S. in 2001.

The article discusses the need of including speech recognition technology in the federal law for use of people with disabilities. It mentions of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), importance of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act that governs the electronic and information technology (E&IT), and how it could aid the federal government to purchase software. Topics include need for private sector to comply, integration of federal systems with speech technology.

The article discusses the importance of transformation in software patent cases. Topics discussed include four software patents invalidated by U.S. Supreme Court in electronic financial marketplace Alice Corp. versus Continuous Linked Settlement (CLS) Bank, due to abstract idea claim in violation of Section 101 of the Patent Act, rule for determining invention invalidity due to abstractness under Section 101, and need for software to be transformative or advance the technology to be patentable.

The article discusses the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court case Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank (Alice) on the preponderance of superficial software patents. Section 101 is compared to Section 103 of the Patent Act on the matter of new and useful innovations being a superior consideration than the obvious stature of an invention. Electronic Frontier Foundation attorney Daniel Nazer notes the manner that bad patents stifle competition in the software industry.

The article discusses a court case wherein the U.S. Supreme Court decided on April 29, 2014 companion cases regarding fee shifting in patent suits. Topics discussed include the issues of under what circumstances a prevailing party in a patent suit could obtain an award for attorney fees. Also mentioned are issues of under what circumstances a prevailing party in the Octane patent suit could obtain an award for attorneys fees, and what type of review is required of the U.S. Federal Cicruit.

The article focuses on the author's views about privacy issues with regards to the use of smartphones. The Fair Information Practice Principles from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission are highlighted which provides privacy protection. Issues addressed by voice biometrics analyst Judith Markowitz about the protection of personal information are outlined.

The article examines the patent protection required for software. According to Electronic Frontier Foundation staff attorney Daniel Nazer, unlike drugs which have specific language, software patents are generally vague and cover activities other people can replicate or improve independently. Many argue that software patents do not require 20-year protection or none at all and to provide incentives for innovation, patent issues should be better addressed in commerce and not in courtrooms.

The article talks about a concept called Universal Design whereby products and places are designed to be usable by the greatest number of individuals. It notes the use of speech recognition technology to replace more functions, one of which is to replace the hands when typing. It cites that manufacturers are apparently creating products to be as stylish as possible without taking into account the social impact. It says this concept provides option for some people, but offers access for others.

The article discusses the benefits to individuals with disabilities of improving access to virtual worlds. An East Carolina University study showed that using video games by individuals with depression resulted in reduction of symptoms while another study showed that people with brain injuries improved in cognitive response time by 81% compared to control groups. It is stated that U.S. military has multiple treatment centers using virtual reality to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The author discusses consumer privacy protection in view of the exponential advances in technology as evidenced by the present proliferation of the Internet, social networking, smartphones and location tracking devices. She maintains consumers may not realize the high price they pay for free software which can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets. She argues consumers enjoying the convenience of new technology should advocate for changes they want to see in privacy policies.

The article offers information on distracted driving accidents and initiatives to prevent these accidents. It notes that distracted driving consists of activities that divert the attention of a driver such as using a cellphone, navigation system, or adjusting radio controls. Companies are offering speech technology devices that relieve drivers from manual operations of mobile gadgets and controls including Ford SYNC's voice-activated music search and satellite radio.

The article focuses on the failure of electronic book (eBook) readers, such as the Amazon Kindle and the Apple iBooks, to become fully accessible to visually impaired individuals, and the effort of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to prohibit the use of inaccessible technology in schools. The reason why the National Federation of the Blind have focused on accessibility in education is mentioned. According to the DOJ, acquiring accessible eBook readers must not be expensive or difficult.

The article discusses a lawsuit filed against the city of Los Angeles, California by persons with disabilities who claimed that the city has failed to provide for the disabled in its emergency preparedness plans, and for violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It explains the court ruling on how the Disabilities Act was violated. It suggests the need to have speech-generating devices (SGD) for multiple emergency response scenarios. It offers tips on how SGD manufacturers can help in emergency preparedness.

The article focuses on the opportunities offered by the enactment of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009 to the speech technology industry in the U.S. The legislation sets new standards so that people with disabilities can access new technology. The Act also allows manufacturers and providers to integrate third-party solutions to achieve accessibility.

The article presents augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices that can give voices to individuals that are nonverbal or with disabilities. Reference is made to U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Brown v. Board of Education and Olmstead v. L.C. which paved for allowing people with disabilities to have equal opportunities and to live outside institutionalized settings. Several devices with text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities are described, including I.d. mate, ScripTalk, and Wellness check programs (WCP).

The article examines the issue raised by the Authors Guild that text-to-speech (TTS) application is a copyright violation. According to the author, to qualify for a violation, infringement must both be fixed for more than a transitory amount of time. A court held that buffer data is not a copy of the original work whose data was buffered and that TTS is simply another way of presenting the same content that is available to all other users. The struggle over copyright issues will likely escalate as TTS continues to become sophisticated, the author notes.

The article focuses on the development of programs that integrate assistive technologies with Second Life (SL) to allow disabled people to participate. TextSL harnesses the JAWS engine from Freedom Scientific to allow visually impaired users to access SL using the screen radar. The Virtual Guide Dog named Max was created to show that SL can be made accessible to people with all types of disabilities. It notes the failure to require builders to comply with Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act for making Web sites accessible to the blind.

The author discusses the use of speech-generating devices (SGDs) by people with disabilities. She notes that SGDs are not effective when a first responder is assisting a victim who speaks a different language or is under stress. She points out that SGDs can address communication breakdowns and be used to help people who cannot speak because of trauma or deaf patients who need sign language. She states that speech recognition can shorten the amount of time a victim must wait to receive assistance in an emergency.

The article discusses the television (TV) conversion to digital transmission in the U.S. According to a "Consumer Reports" survey, as of October 2008, 60 percent of consumers in households in which all TVs will be affected had not taken action to convert their TVs to digital. Jenifer Simpson of the American Association of People with Disabilities, says TV is a prime source of information and because the disabled are more likely to rely on analog broadcast, people with disabilities may be affected more significantly by the digital transition.

The author stresses the importance of making digital television (DTV) accessible to people with vision disabilities through text to speech (TTS) system. She notes the regulation of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in delivering emergency situation to visually impaired people through TV. She describes a prototype that turns on-screen information, such as tornado warnings school closings and winning lotto numbers, into speech generated by TTS engine.