EU Project

Project Title: FIRST

Full Project Title: "A Flexible Interactive Reading Support Tool",

financed under the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7)

Project Number: 287607

Project Site: http://www.first-asd.eu/

Starting Date: 01.10.2011 г.

Ending Date: 01.10.2014 г.

Summary:

The FIRST project uses innovative language technology to simplify documents for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Using this technology, users with ASD can convert a standard document into a personalised version which is easier for them to understand. The conversion software will automatically detect problematic language and replace it to make the text clearer. It will also simplify complex structure in the text and clarify ambiguity. Not relying purely on textual changes, the conversion software will add illustrative pictures to documents and will also offer navigation tools such as hyperlinked tables of contents and concise document summaries.

Users with ASD will thus be empowered to read any documents with confidence and at their own convenience, without relying on support workers.

Clinicians in three different EU countries will work closely with a test group of people with ASD, who will review the software and provide feedback to ensure that it is developed to meet their requirements.

Project Partners:

  1. UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON - United Kingdom;
  2. CENTRAL AND NORTH WEST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST - United Kingdom;
  3. UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE – Spain;
  4. AUTISM-EUROPE AISBL – Belgium;
  5. UNIVERSIDAD DE JAEN – Spain;
  6. PARALLEL WORLD SDRUZHENIE – Bulgaria;
  7. DELETREA SL – Spain;
  8. IWEB TECHNOLOGIES LTD - United Kingdom;
  9. KODAR OOD – Bulgaria;

Purposes:

Implementation, deployment, and technology evaluation to support the authoring of accessible content in Bulgarian, English, and Spanish for users with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), who are at risk of social exclusion.

The developed technology will convert input documents that users wish to access into a personalized form facilitating reading comprehension.

Modified versions of the software could be of benefit to additional user groups within the healthcare system, as well as in other sectors (e.g. language learners, migrants, readers of legal documentation). The initial software prototype will be produced in English, Spanish and Bulgarian, and transfer of the software to other European languages post-project is foreseen.

Our Contribution to the Project:

  • Adaptation of components developed for linguistic transformation to work with Bulgarian language.
  • Localization of the final developed software product in Bulgarian language.
  • Creating a plan for commercial exploitation of the final developed software product.

This project is partially funded by the European Commission under the Seventh (FP7 - 2007-2013) Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

 
 
 
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