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Miller is working to improve upon and create new avenues for such technology. He is employed by Saltillo Corporation, an Ohio-based company that develops and distributes augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices for individuals who are, for a variety of reasons, unable to use their natural voices. Its partner company, Prentke Romich, has received recent attention as the provider of the device used by the 8-year-old girl featured in the book Schuler’s Monster.

About Device Users
"One of our fastest growing users is autistic children. Some of the devices have larger buttons with more pictures and fewer words, which is very good for them. They can express their needs, reducing frustration for the child and parents,” Miller explained. “Another large audience is injured military veterans. They prefer the PDA device that can also be used as an electronic organizer.”

Partnering with His Alma Mater
To improve the existing software, Miller decided to use interns. He had two internships and understands the value they provide to both the student and the vendor. He recently returned to MVNU to hire two 2008 graduates and one current student to assist him full time. Together, they are bringing customer-requested enhancements to the software program, including increased speed, new voices, additional languages (six are offered currently) and greater usability.

About the Device/Software
"A companion program comes with the device that can be run on a personal computer that includes the same functionality,” said Miller. “Teachers often use this in schools. They can customize the vocabulary files for whatever the student might need, such as a grammar or reading lesson, and then transfer that to the hand-held device.”

Another great feature is their compatibility with switches, such as a jaw clench or foot pedal. “A large portion of users don’t have the motor skills to actually select the small buttons, so we can set the PDA to ‘scanning’ mode, allowing them to scan by row and column and select with a switch or by tapping anywhere on the screen.”

Working on the Project
How are they progressing? “So far, we’ve been fixing some bugs in the program, attempting to help it run more efficiently,” said intern and MVNU junior Joe Kalb. “The software for this project is just massive,” explained 2008 computer science grad Rob Read. “We didn’t work on software this big in class, so this is a new challenge for us, but it’s been an excellent learning experience.” Ashleigh Stelter, a 2008 math graduate, is the third intern. (Pictured L-R: Miller, Read, Stelter and Kalb.)

A big benefit for Miller is that, as an MVNU alumnus, he is familiar with the exact knowledge and skill level of the interns. “The program provides a really good foundation so that you can branch out into other things. Technical college grads tend to have a specialty in one area, but MVNU makes you adaptable. They teach you ‘how to learn,’” he said. “I knew the [interns] would be able to jump in and really contribute.”

Challenges and Rewards
But that doesn’t mean they haven’t encountered difficulties. Users often become so comfortable with the devices that they memorize the location of the images and words, much like the characters on a computer keyboard. “People become dependent on things remaining the same, so whenever we make an enhancement, there’s difficulty adjusting for some users,” said Miller. “It presents a unique set of challenges.”

Miller said it has been rewarding, however, to see MVNU, Saltillo and his interns come together. It’s also personally gratifying to him to know his work is benefiting others in such a way. “From the outside, computer science appears to be one of the harder disciplines to apply to a ministry or service,” he said. “This project is a very practical application of computer programming skills that helps people directly.”

What's Ahead
As for future projects, Miller said that because newer PDAs have wifi capabilities, he would love to find a way for users to connect with each other online. “I’d also like to help them more easily access things that are readily available for everyone else—like e-mail and instant messaging,” he said. “We could even make phone calls through these devices someday with Bluetooth technology. The tools are there—we just have to build it.”

About Saltillo
Since 1996, Saltillo has worked to improve the lives of those with disabilities. Their product line covers a wide spectrum of voice output communication technology. Saltillo also offers products in fields such as voice amplification and memory assistance. Where possible, assistance is offered through Medicare, Medicaid and third-party insurance providers. To learn more, visit www.saltillo.com.

For More Info
Miller and his wife Lindsey reside in Mount Vernon, Ohio. For more information about MVNU or its computer science program, call (740) 397-9000, ext. 4341.