Derby’s Rolls-Royce has devised new technology which it says will allow people with motor neurone disease to have a conversation in their own voice, even after they have lost the ability to speak.
The engineering giant, along with its data innovation catalyst R2 Data Labs, has partnered with the Motor Neurone Disease Association and some of the world’s leading technology companies, to come up with the technology called Quips.
Quips uses voice-banking and Artificial Intelligence to learn a person’s unique language style and use it in conversation.
According to the firm, it means that for the first time, those living with motor neurone disease will be able to have a conversation through a computer using their own voice, words, colloquialisms and accent, without pausing to type answers or being restricted to a prescribed set of words.
Quips listens to the conversation, suggesting words and phrases that the user is likely to want to say, based on its understanding of their previous conversations.
The user can quickly select sentences and they are read out in their own voice instantly. It even includes slang and can adapt to different situations and people, such as work, home, or even the pub.
Rolls-Royce launched R2 Data Labs two years ago with the aim of improving efficiency across its businesses, using analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
According to Rolls-Royce, Quips, which has been developed in partnership with companies including Accenture Computacenter, Dell Technologies, Intel and Microsoft, is in its early stages.
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But it is aiming for it to be implemented into some of the leading augmented and alternative communication packages that already exist, such as those used by the late Professor Stephen Hawking.
Currently, users type what they want to say, and the words or phrases are read out, often in a computerised voice.
Communication is one of the most difficult aspects of living with motor neurone disease, which affects around 400,000 of the world’s population and kills more than 100,000 people every year.
Nick Goldup, director of care improvement for at the Motor Neurone Disease Association, said: “Motor neurone disease affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord which tell muscles what to do.
“As the disease progresses people lose the ability to move, eat, speak and eventually to breathe.
“The technology available to help people communicate has changed little in the recent past – most people will be familiar with Professor Stephen Hawking’s computerised voice which he programmed using his eyes.
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“This technology will allow people living with motor neurone disease to communicate closer to ‘real time’ than they can with existing technology.”
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Stuart Moss, an IT innovation strategist at Rolls-Royce in Derby, lost his father to motor neurone disease on Christmas Day 2014.
He was convinced he could use technology to improve the lives of those living with the disease and helped start the Quips project, working alongside the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
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He also brought together some of the world’s leading technology companies to start work on Quips, which also involved Rolls-Royce AI experts in Derby.
Stuart said: “Those with motor neurone disease are often robbed of their ability to communicate with their loved ones, which can make the festive season particularly lonely and difficult.
“This technology will give people their voice back and is the first step in what I hope will be many innovations to come from our Next Generation Think Tank.”
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Mr Goldup said: “Having your voice stripped away is one of the most brutal aspects of motor neurone disease.
“Technology that allows people to retain those things that make them unique – their voice, speech patterns, intonations and word choices – is a huge leap forward in enabling someone to retain their dignity and their sense of self.
“This is really exciting technology – and, of course, its potential use expands much further than just people with motor neurone disease.”