The AAC webpage opened on Sept. 29 focuses on raising the awareness of the AAC, based on a community forum, through which users are able to learn how to use its My First ACC smartphone application using the related video instruction and shared information to that end. (Youtube capture)
SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Korea Bizwire) – NCSoft Cultural Foundation, a non-profit arm of the gaming giant NCSoft that develops and distributes augmentative and alternative communication(AAC) system to reduce communication disorder and improve communication ability for the disabled people, launched AAC website(www.myfirstaac.com) and began its service.
The AAC webpage opened on Sept. 29 focuses on raising the awareness of the AAC, based on a community forum, through which users are able to learn how to use its My First ACC smartphone application using the related video instruction and shared information to that end.
The organization developed the AAC application last May and is distributing it for free for the communication disabled children aged between two and five. The app enables the children with disability to communicate each other with the simplified features of the smartphone app using pictograms.
According to a report from the Korean Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (KSAAC), approximately 86 percent of the students enrolled in special-purpose schools for the disabled need the AAC system but only 59 percent are currently using it. Besides, more than 89 percent of the disabled people depend on the ‘low-end’ technological tools such as communication boards and books for that matter.
The AAC system in Korea is still in its infancy and the potential AAC demand in Korea is estimated to surpass 310,000. Given the number of people with acquired communication disorder including stroke and Parkinson’s disease, the demand for the system will see an upward momentum down the road.
Yoon Song-yee, chairperson of the NC Soft Cultural Foundation said, “For the communication disabled people to interact with other “ordinary” people with ease, we will try our best to develop much advanced AAC systems fitting to Koreans and continue to distribute the system for their benefit.”
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
