Skip to:

  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to accessibility
City, University of London
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
Search
Menu
Home
  • Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
        • Undergraduate
        • Apprenticeship
        • Information for teachers
        • Postgraduate taught
        • Postgraduate research
          • Preparing your application
            • Preparing your research proposal
          • All PhD research projects
        • Booking Short Courses
          • Business and Management Short Courses
          • Computing Short Courses
          • Creative Industry Short Courses
          • Creative Writing Short Courses
            • The Novel Studio published alumni
          • Law Short Courses
          • Modern Languages Short Courses
      • Prospectus
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
      • Visas
        • Student visas
          • Applying from outside the UK
          • Applying from within the UK
          • Applying for a dependant visa
          • Preparing your application
          • Working in the UK
        • Standard Visitor visas
          • How to apply for a Standard Visitor Visa
          • Non-visa nationals
        • ATAS certificates
        • Brexit and European nationals
      • Study abroad programmes
        • Study abroad programme
        • Partnership programme
      • Clearing
        • Applying through Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
        • Foundation programmes
        • Second-year students
        • Work experience
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
        • Payment methods
        • Fee schedules
        • Deposit refunds
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
        • Undergraduate
        • Postgraduate
        • Clearing
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
        • Finding a place to live
        • Accommodation for families
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
        • Undergraduate online events
        • Postgraduate online events
        • Ask a student
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
        • Sport clubs
        • Non-competitive sport
        • Competitive sport
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
        • Mental health counselling
        • Learning support
        • Young, estranged students
        • Care leavers
        • Young adult carers
        • Personal tutoring programme
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
        • Micro-placements
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
        • Research ethics
          • Principles
          • Approval process
          • Approval outcomes and appeals
          • External ethics approvals
        • Ethics guidance and resources
          • Participant information and consent
          • Recruiting participants from City
          • Records management
          • Research conducted abroad
          • FAQ
        • Research integrity
          • Framework for good practice in research
          • Research misconduct
      • Research data
        • Managing active research data
        • Digital research data and Figshare
      • Researcher development
    • Doctoral College
      • Funding and scholarships
      • Essential information
      • Meet the Team
      • Training and Development
        • Researcher Development Programme (DRDP)
      • Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
        • One-to-one startup advice
        • The Good Entrepreneur Festival
        • Startup Camp
        • Startup Seminars
        • Side Hustle
        • CitySpark Workshops
      • Launch your startup
        • Start-up visa
        • Launch Lab
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
        • What is the apprenticeship levy?
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
        • Become a mentor
        • Employer engagement events
        • Micro-Placements
        • Industry Led Projects
      • Information for placement partners
        • Speech and Language Therapy training
  • Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
        • City Alumni LinkedIn groups
        • MENA Alumni Board
        • US Alumni Board
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
      • Alumni Events
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
        • WeChat social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy & Global Affairs
        • About the School
          • Athena Swan
        • Department of Economics
        • Department of International Politics
        • Department of Sociology and Criminology
          • Postgraduate Sociology at City
      • School of Communication & Creativity
        • About the School
          • Athena Swan
          • Creatives in Residence
        • Department of Journalism
          • James Cameron Memorial Lecture
            • Lectures
            • Special awards
            • Winners
        • Department of Media, Culture and Creative Industries
          • English, Publishing and Creative Writing
          • Culture and the Creative Industries
          • Library and Information Science
          • Media and Communications
        • Department of Performing Arts
        • The Centre for Language Studies
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health & Psychological Sciences
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Selection Process
          • Occupational Health Checks
          • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (formerly CRB)
          • MSc Nursing - RPL
          • Reference request
        • Department of Health Services Research and Management
          • Health Services Management at City
        • Department of Language and Communication Science
        • Department of Midwifery and Radiography
          • Radiography undergraduate learning contract
          • Postgraduate Midwifery at City
          • Radiography at City
        • Department of Nursing
        • Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences
        • Department of Psychology
      • School of Science & Technology
        • About the School
          • Athena SWAN
          • Aviation Management at City
          • Civil Engineering at City
          • Computer Science at City
          • Cyber Security MSc courses at City
          • Energy MSc courses at City
          • Library and Information Science at City
          • Maritime Management at City
          • Placements and internships
            • Placement and internship schemes
        • Department of Computer Science
        • Department of Mathematics
          • Potential PhD projects
        • Department of Engineering
      • The City Law School
        • Academic programmes
          • Undergraduate degree LLB
          • Graduate Entry Law GE LLB
          • Graduate Diploma in Law GDL
          • Master of Laws (LLM)
        • Professional programmes
        • Research and Scholarships
        • Athena Swan in The City Law School
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at The City Law School
        • Barrister training
          • Bar Training
          • Pupillage Advice Service
        • Solicitor training
          • Future Solicitors Careers Advice Service (FSCAS)
          • The Solicitors' Qualifying Exam (SQE)
        • Law in real life (Law IRL)
          • Legal work placements
          • Court visits
          • Mock Trials
        • About The School
          • Prizes from The City Law School
          • Global Engagement
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Academic excellence
        • Rankings
        • Education
          • Flexible learning spaces
          • Active and collaborative learning
          • Term dates
        • Student statistics
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
        • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
        • Data and objectives
        • Staff networks
        • Digital Accessibility
      • Sustainable development
        • Get involved
        • Environmental Impact and Performance
      • Civic engagement
      • Social responsibility
        • Social responsibility in our outreach
        • Social responsibility in action
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
        • Audit and Risk Committee
        • Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee
        • Remuneration Committee
        • Strategy and Finance Committee
        • Development Committee
      • Senate
        • Board of Studies
        • Collaborative Provision Committee
        • Educational Quality Committee
        • Research and Enterprise Committee
        • Senate Research Ethics Committee
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
        • Financial Summary
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
        • Coronavirus accommodation information
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
  • Student Hub
  • Staff Hub
  • Prospective students
    Prospective students
    • Courses
      • Undergraduate degrees
      • Apprenticeships
      • Foundation courses
      • Postgraduate taught degrees
      • Postgraduate research degrees
      • Short courses
      • Professional development courses
      • City Health courses
    • Apply
      • Entry requirements
      • How to apply
      • Prospectus
      • Visas
      • Study abroad programmes
      • Clearing
      • Alternative entry routes
      • Contact Admissions
    • Finance
      • Funding options
      • Earn while you learn
      • How to pay
      • Additional expenses
    • Accommodation and housing
      • Compare residential halls
      • Applying for halls
      • Paying for halls
      • Private accommodation
      • Short-term accommodation
    • Open events and fairs
      • Campus tours
      • Online chats
      • University fairs
    • Student life
      • London experience
      • Local area
      • Sports
      • Social activities and groups
      • Religion
      • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus
      • Volunteering
      • Student wellbeing
      • Learn another language
    • Career development
      • Placements, internships and employment opportunities
      • Career pathways
      • Job prospects and graduate destinations
      • Careers team
    • Subjects
  • Research
    Research
    • Research centres and groups
    • Research impact
      • Research Excellence Framework
      • Research case studies
    • Research strategy
    • Research support
      • Grants and funding
      • Integrity and ethics
      • Research data
      • Researcher development
    • Doctoral College
      • Funding and scholarships
      • Essential information
      • Meet the Team
      • Training and Development
      • Research Supervisors
  • For businesses
    For businesses
    • Start your business
      • Develop your startup idea
      • Launch your startup
    • Grow your business
      • Fund your business
      • Hire an academic consultant
      • Purchase our intellectual property
      • Companies formed
    • Develop your people
      • Bespoke training
      • My Home Life England
      • Degree apprenticeships for business
    • Business impact case studies
    • Access our student talent
      • Recruit with us
      • Meet and support our students
      • Information for placement partners
  • Alumni and supporters
    Alumni and supporters
    • Alumni benefits
    • Global alumni network
      • Networks and Groups
      • Alumni Ambassadors
      • Special Interest Groups
      • Alumni News and stories
      • Alumni Events
    • Contact Alumni Relations
    • Support City
      • Donate to City
      • Volunteering
      • Your impact
  • News and events
    News and events
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media directory
      • City social accounts
      • School and Departmental accounts
  • About us
    About us
    • Schools and Departments
      • School of Policy & Global Affairs
      • School of Communication & Creativity
      • Bayes Business School
      • School of Health & Psychological Sciences
      • School of Science & Technology
      • The City Law School
      • Dubai Centre
    • History
    • People
      • Academics
      • Research students
      • Students
      • Honorary graduates
      • Past students
      • Professional Services staff
      • International agents and representatives
      • Senior people
      • Extraordinary women
    • Facilities
      • Campuses
      • Libraries
      • Gym
      • University of London facilities
      • Specialist facilities
    • Work for us
      • Apply
      • Benefits
      • Career development
    • Vision and Strategy
      • Academic excellence
      • Equality, diversity and inclusion
      • Sustainable development
      • Civic engagement
      • Social responsibility
    • Governance and legal
      • Charter and Statutes
      • Rector
      • Council
      • Senate
      • Executive leadership
      • Financial statements
      • Legal documents and policies
      • Committees
    • Global City
    • Contact us and find us
      • Find us
      • Contact us
      • Staff directory
    • Guidance on Coronavirus
      • Admissions advice during coronavirus
      • Latest updates
      • Advice for visitors to our campus
  1. Home
  2. …
  3. Research impact
  4. Research case studies
  5. Exploiting digital technologies to benefit people with aphasia
Research impact
  • Research Excellence Framework
  • Research case studies
Attendees at INCA event, looking at tiles on a lightbox.
Research case study

Exploiting digital technologies to benefit people with aphasia

Transforming treatment and digital accessibility for people with aphasia

The researchers:

  • Professor Stephanie Wilson (Principal Investigator)
  • Dr Abi Roper (Co-Investigator)
  • Dr Timothy Neate (Co-Investigator)

Research status:Ongoing

In summary

Imagine waking up in hospital and finding that you can no longer talk. You also struggle to understand what others are saying, and reading and writing are difficult. These problems are faced by about 30,000 people in the UK each year who get aphasia following a stroke.

Aphasia has a huge impact on a person’s quality of life. Friendships suffer, work may become impossible, and many of those affected feel lonely and depressed. Indeed one study found the effects of aphasia were more devastating than in 59 other medical conditions, including cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) researchers at City, University of London have been investigating how the fast-developing field of digital technology can be harnessed to help people with aphasia.

This case study describes how Professor Stephanie Wilson has led her HCI team in supporting people with aphasia in their recovery of language and communication abilities, as well as for their wider well-being and digital inclusion.

Did you know?

Graphic: Tangled brain inside a head

Over 300,000 people
in the UK suffer from aphasia.

Source: Stroke Association

What did we explore and how?

Over 300,000 people in the UK are living with aphasia and we can expect this number to grow as our population ages. This language disorder can occur after any form of brain damage, but the most common cause is stroke.

Despite the challenges they face, people with aphasia are often excluded from studies of the general stroke population, meaning their problems are not fully understood. Many digital technologies are also inaccessible to people with aphasia because of the language skills required.

In 2010, Professor Wilson, her team and collaborators in City’s Division of Language and Communication Science, saw that there was limited use of technology in therapy for aphasia, scant awareness of the condition within the digital design community, and no guidance on how to design for people with aphasia.

Their initial research included investigating gesture therapy for people with severe aphasia, creating ‘GeST’, the first software tool to use gesture recognition and gamification to help people with aphasia learn how to make gestures.

The next major step was the design and development of ‘EVA Park’, the first multi-user virtual environment for people with aphasia. EVA Park provides a fun and accessible space where people can meet for speech therapy and social support, and studies showed that these can be delivered through the platform to enhance communication, and address social isolation.

The CommuniCATE project investigated how mainstream technologies, such as video-conferencing software, could be re-purposed to deliver new treatments for reading, writing and conversation.

Most recently, the researchers undertook work into digital content creation, creating the MakeWrite app that helps compensate for lost creative writing skills; CreaTable, a tangible table-top for creating multimedia digital content; and Comic Spin, an app for creating comic strips.

Benefits and influence of this research

The main beneficiaries of this research are people with aphasia who benefit both directly from the new technologies for therapy and content creation, and indirectly from the wide-reaching influence the research has had in the fields of therapeutic technologies and digital accessibility.

Further beneficiaries are practitioners who provide therapeutic and social support services and designers of digital services and products.

In 2015, EVA Park won the Tech4Good People’s Award and the European Disability Forum featured EVA Park in its 2018 report on opportunities of emerging technologies for persons with disabilities.

Also in 2018, 30 UK Speech and Language Therapy services registered to use EVA Park and, during the Covid-19 pandemic, EVA Park was rolled out to a further 46 stroke and aphasia services across nine countries including the USA, Australia, Spain and Bermuda.

To date, over 200 people with aphasia have directly benefited from technology-enhanced therapy developed on the CommuniCATE project. Those involved reported transformative individual benefits such as being able to read a book for the first time since their stroke.

Skills training on digital accessibility for aphasia have also been delivered to designers at major public and private organisations including NHS Digital, the Home Office Digital Service, Government Digital Services and Aviva.

A further 800 digital designers have been reached through Language-Light User Experience training workshops, MSc training, and talks at London Accessibility Meetup Group, Service Labs London meet-up and the User Experience Professionals Association UK.

Globally available resources include the first poster on accessible design for aphasia.

Share this case study

Details of this research

  • Professor Stephanie Wilson (Principal Investigator)
  • Dr Abi Roper (Co-Investigator)
  • Dr Timothy Neate (Co-Investigator)
  • Research status: Ongoing

    Topic: aphasia, inclusive design, stroke rehabilitation

    Industry/sector: Accessibility, Digital Technology, Speech and Language Therapy

    Project partners/stakeholders:

    School of Science & Technology

    School of Health & Psychological Sciences

    Department of Computer Science

    Department of Language and Communication Science

    Centre for Human-Computer Interaction Design

    What's happening

    • Event

      Feb 20

      Low technology communication aids in intermediary-mediated police investigative interviews

      Tina Pereira will discuss her findings on the manner in which low technology communication aids are selected, introduced and managed in intermediary mediated police investigative interviews.

      Monday, 20th February 2023, 12:30 – 13:30

      Location: Room MG26, Myddelton Street, or Online via MS Teams

      Audience: Public

    • News

      British Aphasia Society logo

      Wednesday, 7th September 2022

      The British Aphasiology Society Symposium 2022

      City, University of London hosts this annual symposium to understand and support the needs of people with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain injury, and commonly stroke.

    • News

      LUNA group team

      Monday, 25th July 2022

      Helping people with aphasia through personal storytelling therapy

      City, University of London's LUNA team share key findings of the project aiming to help people with the language disorder aphasia by allowing them to share and retell stories about their lives.

    Help us to improve this page

    City, University of London

    • Library Services
    • Moodle
    • Email
    • Staff directory
    • Term dates
    • Book a room
    • Schools and departments

    Back to top

    Contact us

    Make an enquiry

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Weibo
    • Youku
    • WeChat
    Social media directory

    Find us

    City, University of London
    Northampton Square
    London EC1V 0HB
    United Kingdom

    Campus map

    Our global campuses

    • London
    • Dubai
    • Athena SWAN: Bronze Award
    • UKRI Research England logo

    Useful links

    • Accessibility
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies
    • City Store
    • Support City
    • Work for City
    • City Magazine
    • 中文

    © 2023 City, University of London

    University of London