SOUTY: A Voice Identity-Preserving Mobile Application for Arabic-Speaking Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Using Eye-Tracking and Speech Synthesis

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Publicat a:Electronics vol. 14, no. 16 (2025), p. 3235-3255
Autor principal: Alsalamah, Hessah A
Altres autors: Alhabrdi Leena, May, Alsebayel, Aljawhara, Almisned, Alhadlaq Deema, Albadrani, Loody S, Alsalamah, Seetah M, AlSalamah Shada
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MDPI AG
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022 |a 2079-9292 
024 7 |a 10.3390/electronics14163235  |2 doi 
035 |a 3244012722 
045 2 |b d20250101  |b d20251231 
084 |a 231458  |2 nlm 
100 1 |a Alsalamah, Hessah A  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
245 1 |a SOUTY: A Voice Identity-Preserving Mobile Application for Arabic-Speaking Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Using Eye-Tracking and Speech Synthesis 
260 |b MDPI AG  |c 2025 
513 |a Journal Article 
520 3 |a Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively impairs motor and communication abilities. Globally, the prevalence of ALS was estimated at approximately 222,800 cases in 2015 and is projected to increase by nearly 70% to 376,700 cases by 2040, primarily driven by demographic shifts in aging populations, and the lifetime risk of developing ALS is 1 in 350–420. Despite international advancements in assistive technologies, a recent national survey in Saudi Arabia revealed that 100% of ALS care providers lack access to eye-tracking communication tools, and 92% reported communication aids as inconsistently available. While assistive technologies such as speech-generating devices and gaze-based control systems have made strides in recent decades, they primarily support English speakers, leaving Arabic-speaking ALS patients underserved. This paper presents SOUTY, a cost-effective, mobile-based application that empowers ALS patients to communicate using gaze-controlled interfaces combined with a text-to-speech (TTS) feature in Arabic language, which is one of the five most widely spoken languages in the world. SOUTY (i.e., “my voice”) utilizes a personalized, pre-recorded voice bank of the ALS patient and integrated eye-tracking technology to support the formation and vocalization of custom phrases in Arabic. This study describes the full development life cycle of SOUTY from conceptualization and requirements gathering to system architecture, implementation, evaluation, and refinement. Validation included expert interviews with Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) expertise and speech pathology specialty, as well as a public survey assessing awareness and technological readiness. The results support SOUTY as a culturally and linguistically relevant innovation that enhances autonomy and quality of life for Arabic-speaking ALS patients. This approach may serve as a replicable model for developing inclusive Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools in other underrepresented languages. The system achieved 100% task completion during internal walkthroughs, with mean phrase selection times under 5 s and audio playback latency below 0.3 s. 
653 |a Arabic language 
653 |a Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 
653 |a Vocalization 
653 |a Speech synthesis 
653 |a Text-to-speech 
653 |a Applications programs 
653 |a Communication aids 
653 |a Communication 
653 |a Languages 
653 |a Mobile computing 
653 |a Software 
653 |a Speech therapists 
653 |a Eye movements 
653 |a Tracking 
653 |a Speaking 
653 |a Quality of life 
653 |a Dialects 
653 |a Robotics 
653 |a Aging 
653 |a Machine learning 
653 |a Human-computer interaction 
653 |a Polls & surveys 
653 |a Artificial intelligence 
653 |a Human-computer interface 
653 |a Communicative competence 
653 |a Voice recognition 
653 |a Adaptive technology 
653 |a Tools 
653 |a Design 
653 |a Patients 
653 |a Augmentative and alternative communication 
653 |a Speech 
653 |a English language 
653 |a Speech recognition 
653 |a Speech-language pathology 
653 |a Eye fixation 
653 |a Latency 
653 |a Autonomy 
653 |a Cost analysis 
653 |a Innovations 
653 |a Communication skills 
653 |a Alternative approaches 
653 |a Underserved populations 
653 |a Telecommunications 
653 |a Task completion 
653 |a Interfaces 
653 |a Concept formation 
653 |a Control systems 
653 |a Pathology 
653 |a Population aging 
653 |a Spoken language 
653 |a Medical personnel 
653 |a Eye tracking 
700 1 |a Alhabrdi Leena  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
700 1 |a May, Alsebayel  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
700 1 |a Aljawhara, Almisned  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
700 1 |a Alhadlaq Deema  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
700 1 |a Albadrani, Loody S  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
700 1 |a Alsalamah, Seetah M  |u Department of Computer Science, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
700 1 |a AlSalamah Shada  |u Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11543, Saudi Arabia 
773 0 |t Electronics  |g vol. 14, no. 16 (2025), p. 3235-3255 
786 0 |d ProQuest  |t Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database 
856 4 1 |3 Citation/Abstract  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3244012722/abstract/embedded/L8HZQI7Z43R0LA5T?source=fedsrch 
856 4 0 |3 Full Text + Graphics  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3244012722/fulltextwithgraphics/embedded/L8HZQI7Z43R0LA5T?source=fedsrch 
856 4 0 |3 Full Text - PDF  |u https://www.proquest.com/docview/3244012722/fulltextPDF/embedded/L8HZQI7Z43R0LA5T?source=fedsrch