Stephen Hawking is getting some help from Intel in finding a more efficient way to communicate.
The tech giant introduced a new communication system on Tuesday at an event in London for the British scientist called the Assistive Context Aware Toolkit (ACAT), which will serve as a replacement for Hawking's old computer system, according to CNET.
ACAT can be enabled by different communication inputs, such as touch, eye blinks and eyebrow movements. Different users will also be able to customize the toolkit any way they want.
Hawking is almost entirely paralyzed due to a condition called MND, which is related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and is known for using technology to "speak," PC Magazine reported. ACAT is able to double Hawking's communication rate, which is currently only one word per minute, and will improve his ability to browse the web, open new documents, email people and switch between tasks.
Hawking uses a cheek sensor detected by an infrared switch mounted on his glasses to communicate, which is similar to how Samsung's EyeCan "eye mouse" works.
Intel's Vice President Wen-Hann Wang said ACAT has the potential to increase the independence of other disabled people.
The technology "is leading the way in terms of human interaction and the ability to overcome communication boundaries that once stood in the way," Hawking said.
Hawking said he has been able to do what he loves every day thanks to Intel, which has been helping him for 20 years, PC Magazine reported. Intel will make ACAT available to researchers and scientists for free in January.
"Technology for the disabled is often a proving ground for the technology of the future," Labs worker Lama Nachman said at Tuesday's event. "From communications to genetic research, technology is beginning to open doors to possibilities that can only be imagined."
