Darwin Ecosystem typically is a name heard in analytic circles. The company specializes in machine-learning and pattern recognition. Now, the company is using their artificial intelligence know-how to help give a voice to patients lacking their own. While the project is only just beginning, it has great potential to change the lives of patients like Brittany Horton who lives with Rett syndrome. Keep reading to learn more, or follow the original story here for more information.
Rett syndrome is a severe neurological disorder previously thought to be associated with autism. It is caused by a genetic mutation on the X chromosome and almost always affects women. Male children born with Rett syndrome rarely survive past birth. Rett syndrome typically presents between 12 and 18 months of age. Symptoms vary to some degree, but often include difficulties with coordination, lack of language skills, and uncoordinated breathing or seizures.
Darwin Ecosystems has developed a system, however, which may allow nonverbal patients to more effectively communicate.
The system consists primarily of wireless headgear using electroencephalography (EEG). While the device is reading brainwaves, an interpreter is asked to evaluate the wearer’s expressions, and social behaviors. The interpreter, being someone familiar with these social signals, records them in an app. When the EEG data and the observed behaviors meet each other a special software begins to learn the patterns connecting them.
Over time, it is possible for the software to learn these patterns enough to predict what the wearer is expressing. It would be possible to create a form of speech or language from this data. Currently a visual matrix is used to display the brain activity.
The project began when Terri Mitchell’s friend tweeted an employee at IBM. She wanted to know if there were any technologies that would be able to assist Terri Mitchell’s daughter Brittany Horton, who lives with Rett syndrome. The IBM employee led them to Darwin Ecosystems.
Developers and leaders at Darwin wanted to see Brittany become less isolated. They wanted her to be more comfortable and to have her own voice.
Other people experienced the progress of Darwin’s technologies at a technology showcase known as South by Southwest. Amber and Dan Weigl heard about the developments the company worked on and brought their daughter Catherine to explore the possibilities. Catherine is seven and also lives with Rett syndrome.
In many ways, Catherine is like other children. She likes jokes, and gets nervous about the same the usual things. She communicates, however, through an eye-tracking computer using a series of symbols. This can become incredibly mentally and visually tiring for her over time.