Author: owenmcgirr

Hi everyone, I’m Owen McGirr, the founder of EnabO. In this blog post, I want to share with you the story behind oNote, a revolutionary note-taking app that uses AI to help you get more out of your notes.

I have been developing AAC apps for people with speech impairments for over five years. My first app, SayIt!, was born out of my personal need for a fast and easy way to communicate with others. I have cerebral palsy and very limited speech and motor functions, so I rely on technology to express myself. SayIt! has been a great tool for me and many others who face similar challenges.

But I also have a passion for technology and innovation, and I wanted to create something that could benefit a wider audience. I realized that note-taking is a common activity that many people do every day, whether it’s for work, school, or personal projects. But note-taking can also be tedious, time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating. How many times have you struggled to find the right words, organize your thoughts, or remember what you wrote?

That’s why I decided to create oNote, a note-taking app that combines the simplicity of a traditional notepad with the power of AI. With oNote, you can jot down your thoughts, ideas, tasks, and more, then use AI-powered tools to organize, enhance, and get more out of your notes. For example, you can use AI to:

• Summarize long texts into concise bullet points
• Expand on ideas by generating more details or examples
• Draft emails by providing the recipient, subject, and main points
• Generate text based on an AI prompt, such as “write a short story about a dragon”
• And much more!

oNote is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, so you can focus on your content rather than the app. You can also use advanced search to quickly find the note you’re looking for, or sync your notes across your iOS and macOS devices.

But that’s not all. oNote also lets you chat with AI and go back and forth to create the perfect note. You can ask the AI questions, give feedback, or request changes. The AI will respond accordingly and help you refine your note until you’re satisfied. This way, you can collaborate with the AI and leverage its intelligence and creativity.

oNote is not just another note-taking app; it’s a smart assistant that can help you with any project or task that involves writing or reading. Whether you’re a student, a professional, a writer, or just someone who likes to take notes, oNote can make your life easier and more productive.

I’m very proud of what I’ve created with oNote, but I’m also always looking for ways to improve it. That’s why I value your feedback and suggestions. If you’re using oNote, please let me know what you think and how I can make it better for you. You can contact me at enaboapps@gmail.com or leave a review on the App Store.

Thank you for reading this blog post and for being part of the oNote community. I hope you enjoy using oNote as much as I enjoyed creating it.

Owen

Hello everyone,

As the creator of augy AAC and someone living with cerebral palsy, I wanted to share with you the journey behind developing this application and the motivation that led to its creation.

Living with cerebral palsy has given me a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those with speech impairments. Communication, something many people take for granted, can often be a hurdle for people like me. My personal experiences fueled my passion for technology and led me to consider how it could be harnessed to bridge this gap.

augy AAC was born out of the belief that everyone, regardless of their physical abilities, deserves to express themselves freely and effectively. We started with a simple idea: using technology to help those with speech impairments communicate. But we wanted to go further. We didn’t want to create just another assistive communication app; we wanted to develop an intelligent tool that could learn from its user and aid in their communication journey.

Our app uses a system of Phrase Folders and Phrases, designed to help users find the words and symbols they need to express themselves quickly and easily. We strove to make our interface user-friendly and intuitive, reducing the time and effort it takes to communicate a thought or feeling.

But the true innovation lies in our AI-powered phrase prediction system. This feature offers suggestions based on the user’s previous phrases, allowing for personalized and efficient communication. This system learns from each interaction, constantly improving and adapting to the user’s communication style.

Our journey hasn’t been without its challenges. As someone living with cerebral palsy, I understand the importance of accessibility, and designing an AI system capable of understanding and predicting human communication patterns was a daunting task. However, each hurdle reinforced our commitment to creating a tool that could truly make a difference.

We’re proud of what we’ve created with augy AAC, but we believe it’s just the beginning. As we continue to refine and expand the capabilities of our app, we’re excited about the potential it has to improve the lives of individuals with speech impairments.

We are grateful for the support and feedback from our user community, which is invaluable in helping us improve and evolve augy AAC. If you’re using our app, we encourage you to share your experiences and suggestions. Let’s continue this journey together, breaking down communication barriers one phrase at a time.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

At EnabO, we are excited to announce that we have been working on developing SayIt! for Windows, macOS, and the Web and we are close to rolling out these versions!

Considering the importance of our AAC app and the significant role it plays in the lives of people who have communication difficulties, this development has been a labor of love and determination. We believe that this expansion will allow more people to benefit from SayIt! and it will help in communicating with others.

Developing the Windows, macOS, and the web versions of the app has been both interesting and challenging at the same time. We have had to upgrade the user interface (UI), incorporate different APIs, employ more advanced programming languages, and test the new versions thoroughly to ensure they provide the same functionality and ease of use as the mobile version of SayIt!.

Our aim has been to create an app that runs seamlessly across different platforms while maintaining its usability and accessibility with the same features that users of the iOS version are accustomed to.

The challenges we faced while developing the different versions were indeed daunting. We had to upgrade our developers’ tools to advanced versions and also incorporate additional development frameworks. We also had to test the new versions and carry out rigorous debugging before launching them.

Despite these challenges, we are proud of the progress we have made, and we cannot wait for our users to experience the new versions once they launch.

Stay tuned for more announcement on the release date.

We are excited and always committed to making this world more accessible to everyone.

EnabO is proud to sponsor ISAAC’s upcoming conference in beautiful Cancún, Mexico! This year’s gathering promises to be an exciting one, with leaders in the field of AAC coming together to share their knowledge and expertise.

As a company dedicated to promoting accessibility, we are excited to take part in this important event. Our mission is to provide innovative solutions that help those with disabilities better communicate and connect with the world around them.

To that end, we are committed to working with the AAC community to develop new and improved technologies that make communication more accessible than ever before. We believe that by partnering with organizations like ISAAC, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who use AAC to communicate.

If you’re interested in attending this year’s conference, we encourage you to take advantage of early bird registration and sign up to join us in Cancún. It promises to be an unforgettable event, and we’re honored to be a part of it.

Thank you, ISAAC, for all that you do to promote accessibility and inclusivity. We look forward to seeing you in Cancún!

https://isaac-online.org/english/conference-cancun/

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is a day for increasing awareness about digital access and inclusion for the millions of people with disabilities around the world. As someone who has cerebral palsy, I know firsthand how important technology accessibility is. Everyone deserves the ability to communicate and access information, regardless of ability.

Recent advancements in technology, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), have opened up new possibilities for accessibility. My personal experience with AI has been through creating my own Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app for people with communication difficulties. Through using AI, we can now create more advanced and intuitive AAC apps, which can help users express themselves better and more efficiently. These technological innovations are a game changer for those who need them.

Despite these exciting advancements, it’s important to remember that there’s still a long way to go towards improving accessibility for everyone. This GAAD, I encourage people to learn about accessibility issues and take action towards improving accessibility in their own environments. Whether it’s creating accessible websites, or advocating for better accessibility in your community, each of us can make a difference.

In conclusion, I’m excited about the potential of new technologies like AI to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Working together, we can continue to increase awareness and make the world more inclusive for people of all abilities.

Introducing augy, the new app revolutionizing the way we communicate! At its core, augy utilizes cutting-edge AI technology to predict phrases and improve communication efficiency.

Have you ever struggled to find the right words to express yourself? With augy, you won’t have to worry about that anymore. The app uses the user’s age and previous phrases to generate accurate and personalized predictions, saving you time and effort in typing.

But that’s not all – augy takes things a step further by also offering Global Symbols. These symbols, hand-picked by our team, help to tconvey complex emotions and ideas in a simple and universal way. Whether you’re communicating with friends and family, or colleagues in a professional setting, augy has got you covered.

So what are you waiting for? Download augy today and experience the power of AI in your communication. Get ready to say more, with less!

Hey. I’m Owen McGirr, founder of EnabO.

As a person living with cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair, I have faced many challenges when it comes to using a computer and writing code. However, with the help of specialized software and tools, I am able to navigate my computer and write code just like anyone else. In this blog post, I want to share my experience and tips on how I am able to write code using a head switch, as well as other assistive technology. From selecting text to debugging, I have found ways to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible. I hope this post will inspire others with disabilities to not give up on their coding aspirations and to explore the assistive technology available to them.

Grid 3

Grid 3 is a software program developed by Smartbox, which is used to assist people with communication and access needs. It is primarily used by individuals with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis, to enable them to control their computer or other electronic devices. Grid 3 is designed to work with a variety of input methods, including switches, touchscreens, and eye-gaze technology. The software has an intuitive and customizable interface that allows users to create their own grids of symbols, words, and phrases. Users can then use these grids to communicate, control their devices, and perform various tasks such as browsing the internet, sending emails, and playing games. The software also includes a variety of built-in features such as word prediction, text-to-speech, and the ability to control other devices such as lights and appliances.

I use Grid 3 to control my Windows computer using a head switch. This allows me to navigate the computer and access various programs and functions without the need for a traditional keyboard and mouse. The head switch is connected to the computer via a USB port, and the Grid 3 software interprets the switch movements as commands. This gives me more independence and control over my computer, and allows me to use it for tasks such as communication, entertainment, and work. Overall, it’s an amazing tool that brings a lot of convenience to my life.

TeamViewer

I use Grid 3 on my Windows computer to control TeamViewer, which allows me to remotely access my Mac Mini. This setup allows me to control my Mac Mini using my head switch from a different location. TeamViewer is a remote access software that allows me to connect to my Mac Mini over the internet and use it as if I were sitting in front of it. The Grid 3 software interprets the switch movements as commands on my Windows computer, which I use to control the TeamViewer interface. This gives me the flexibility to access and control my Mac Mini from my wheelchair, whether I’m at home or on the go. This setup allows me to access all my files, applications, and settings on my Mac Mini, and with Grid 3’s intuitive and customizable interface, I can easily navigate and perform tasks with my head switch.

GitHub Copilot

As a switch user, I have found that AI-powered tools like GitHub Copilot can greatly improve my coding experience. With GitHub Copilot, I am able to use natural language processing and machine learning to understand the context of my code and receive suggestions for completions, documentation, and refactoring. This helps me to write more accurate and efficient code, without the need for a traditional keyboard and mouse. By using GitHub Copilot, I am able to take advantage of the latest AI technology and make the coding process more manageable and enjoyable. With the help of AI, I am able to work more efficiently and effectively, despite the limitations of using a switch.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a powerful language generation tool that can be used for a wide range of applications, particularly for people with disabilities. One of the ways that I use it is to generate text about my software and to run my social media. This tool allows me to easily create high-quality, engaging content for my software and social media platforms, which is crucial for promoting my business and reaching a wider audience. The ability to generate text quickly and efficiently is especially beneficial for people with disabilities who may have difficulty typing or writing.

Another application of ChatGPT is in the field of assistive technology. The ability to generate text and speech can be used to create communication devices and other tools that can help people with disabilities to express themselves more easily. The potential of this technology is truly infinite and it can bring a lot of benefits for people with disabilities in terms of accessibility, communication and autonomy. Overall, ChatGPT is an amazing tool that can be used in a variety of ways to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Switch Control

I use Switch Control, a built-in accessibility feature on iOS devices such as the iPhone, to control my device using a switch. This allows me to navigate my phone, test my apps, and use it as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Switch Control is an accessibility feature that enables individuals with physical disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries or cerebral palsy, to control their iPhone or iPad with a switch, a keyboard, or a touch screen.

The feature works by allowing users to select an element on the screen, such as a button or a text field, and then perform an action, such as a tap or a swipe, by pressing a switch or by using a keyboard shortcut. Switch Control can be customized to suit the individual’s needs, with options to adjust the scanning speed, the type of switch, and the action performed when the switch is pressed.

For me, this feature is a game-changer as it allows me to use my iPhone as an AAC device, which helps me to communicate with others and express myself better. Additionally, being able to test my apps using Switch Control gives me the ability to ensure that my apps are accessible for people with similar needs to mine.

Conclusion

In conclusion, technology such as ChatGPT, Grid 3, TeamViewer and Switch Control are powerful tools that can greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities. They provide a range of accessibility options, allowing individuals to control their devices and communicate more effectively. These tools can be customized to meet the needs of the individual, making them more efficient and easier to use. As a switch user, I have found that these technologies have greatly improved my ability to access information and communicate with others. I hope that my experience and tips have been helpful and will inspire others with disabilities to explore the assistive technology options available to them. With the advancements in AI and other technologies, the potential for assistive technology to empower people with disabilities is truly limitless.

My name is Owen McGirr, and I am the founder of EnabO. I was born with Cerebral Palsy and I have very limited speech and motor functions. But I don’t let this stop me from doing what I want to do. I have a beautiful fiancée and baby boy who are my world.

A major factor in my life is the ability to communicate effectively. That is why I created my own AAC app, SayIt!. It is primarily text based because that is what I grew up using. I did try symbol based AAC but I was too advanced for it. I created the solution that I required, which was an app for iOS with a powerful word prediction system. While some apps like this already existed, I felt like I could create a better system. So I did.

I feel like creating this app got me to where I am today. The ability to communicate is essential to everybody.