This log answers the Concept requirement for the Hackaday 2020 prize entry rules:

Concept-Is the project creative, original, functional, and pushing boundaries? Does the project effectively address the selected challenge?

Creative

This project is creative in that it creates a solution to a recognised problem.

I repurpose off the shelf technology in a creative way.

Original

The need for this project was identified by the Lead Technologist at Beaumont College, Lancaster. This is a specialist educational centre for students, many of whom have cerebral palsy. The professional at Beaumont were unable to find off the shelf technology that fills the gap that this project intends to.

The idea was original at the time of creation. Since I created the project, the idea of having a moving pattern indicate that communication software is in use is now implemented in a commercially available speech synthesis package. However, that is a close source commercial product and the technology only works with that one package. My project should work with any of the AAC packages that I have so far encountered and is safe, cheap and open source.

Functional

Preliminary testing was done with the target user group and shown to work. It is in use with the target user group.

Pushing boundaries

At the time it was built, there were no other solutions. The project pushed the boundaries of enabling natural two way communication for the target user group.

Does the project effectively address the selected challenge?

It is effective in that it works for the identified problem and is easy and safe to replicate.