The effect of word prediction settings (frequency of use) on text input speed in persons with cervical spinal cord injury: a prospective study

Samuel Pouplin (1) , Nicolas Roche (2) , Jean-Yves Antoine (3) , Isabelle Vaugier (1) , Sandra Pottier (1) , Marjorie Figere (4) , Djamel Bensmail (1, 2)

1 Plateforme nouvelles technologies
2 Service de médecine physique et de réadaptation
3 BDTLN - Bases de données et traitement des langues naturelles
4 Epilepsie, sommeil et explorations fonctionnelles neuropédiatriques

Purpose: To determine whether activation of the frequency of use and automatic learning parameters of word prediction software has an impact on text input speed. Methods: Forty-five participants with cervical spinal cord injury between C4 and C8 Asia A or B accepted to participate to this study. Participants were separated in two groups: a high lesion group for participants with lesion level is at or above C5 Asia AIS A or B and a low lesion group for participants with lesion is between C6 and C8 Asia AIS A or B. A single evaluation session was carried out for each participant. Text input speed was evaluated during three copying tasks: - without word prediction software (WITHOUT condition) - with automatic learning of words and frequency of use deactivated (NOT_ACTIV condition) - with automatic learning of words and frequency of use activated (ACTIV condition) Results: Text input speed was significantly higher in the WITHOUT than the NOT_ACTIV (p<0.001) or ACTIV conditions (p¼0.02) for participants with low lesions. Text input speed was significantly higher in the ACTIV than in the NOT_ACTIV (p¼0.002) or WITHOUT (p<0.001) conditions for participants with high lesions. Conclusions: Use of word prediction software with the activation of frequency of use and automatic learning increased text input speed in participants with high-level tetraplegia. For participants with low-level tetraplegia, the use of word prediction software with frequency of use and automatic learning activated only decreased the number of errors.

Mots clés: augmentative and alternative communication; word prediction; text input; cervical spinal cord injury

Domaines: Informatique et langage [cs.CL]; Médecine humaine et pathologie

Samuel Pouplin, Nicolas Roche, Jean-Yves Antoine, Isabelle Vaugier, Sandra Pottier, et al.. The effect of word prediction settings (frequency of use) on text input speed in persons with cervical spinal cord injury: a prospective study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 2016, 38, ⟨10.1080/09638288.2016.1193229⟩. ⟨hal-01344978⟩