Mobile Technology in Aphasia Rehabilitation: Current Trends and Lessons Learnt

This chapter summarizes some of the considerations when designing technology for the population and potential/current uses of the technology in aphasia rehabilitation. The new applications for mobile technology are tempered by the impairments characteristic of aphasia and the barriers they cause. The new upwards trend in mobile technology is wearable devices, with 20% of United Kingdom households owning a fitness tracker or smartwatch device, compared with 3% in 2015. The mobility and functionality of mobile devices offer unprecedented opportunity to provide health services and support when and where needed. More work has been done in non-mobile technology, for example, the development of an email system accessible to people with aphasia, a custom-designed social media platform and use of virtual environments. Alternative and Augmentative Communication apps augment or replace human speech as a means of communication, and are the most common types of speech therapy app available commercially.