Original citation: O'Neill, Brian and Gillespie, Alex (2008) Simulating naturalistic instruction: the case for a voice mediated interface for assistive technology for cognition. Journal of assistive technologies, 2 (2). Abstract A variety of brain pathologies can result in difficulties performing complex behavioural sequences. Assistive technology for cognition (ATC) attempts support of complex sequences with the aim of reducing disability. Traditional ATCs are cognitively demanding to use and

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... hus have had poor uptake. A more intuitive interface may allow ATCs to reach their potential. Insights from psychological science may be useful to technologists in this area. We propose that an auditoryverbal interface is more intuitive than a visual interface and reduces cognitive demands on users. Two experiments demonstrate a novel ATC, the General User Interface for Disorders of Execution (GUIDE). GUIDE© is novel because it simulates normal conversational prompting to support task performance. GUIDE© provides verbal prompts and questions and voice recognition allows the user to interact with GUIDE. Research with non-cognitively impaired participants and a single participant experiment with a person with vascular dementia provide support for using interactive auditory-verbal interfaces. Suggestions for the future development of auditory-verbal interfaces are discussed. Evans J J (2001) Reducing everyday memory and planning by means of a paging system: a randomized control crossover study. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 70 477-482. Winsler A, Diaz R M, Atencio D J, McCarthy E M & Chabay L A (2000) Verbal selfregulation over time in preschool children at risk for attention and behavior problems. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 41 875-886. Winsler A & Naglieri J (2003) Overt and covert verbal problem-solving strategies: Developmental trends in use, awareness and relations with task performance in children aged 5 to 17. Child Development 74 659-678. Woodruff-Pak D S (1997) The Neuropsychology of Ageing. Oxford: Blackwell.