The Role of Gamification and Evolutionary Computation in the Provision of Self-Guided Speech Therapy

Abstract

This chapter explores the potential for a combined gamification and evolutionary computation approach in facilitating continuous speech and language therapy. We present Ogma; a system intended to be primarily used by individuals with aphasia (the deterioration of an individual's expressive and or comprehensive abilities), though it could have wider applicability, given certain alterations. Ogma features an intuitive front-end word-finding game, the content for which is generated by a powerful offline genetic algorithm. A preliminary study of the front-end application's use by aphasic individuals is documented and discussed, while an early examination of the genetic algorithm's ability to discern the perceived complexity of individual words is presented.