An App for People Who Can Not Speak

“La mia voce” – Second Voice is an assisted communication app created for people who, for instance as a result of head and neck cancer, have lost their voice or have serious difficulty speaking.

The app was developed around the everyday needs of these individuals, helping them communicate both in routine situations and in more specific or delicate moments.

It is designed to support not only those who use it directly, but also the people who care for them — including doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals, as well as family members and friends. With a few simple and intuitive steps, La mia voce allows users without a voice to express what they need or wish to say, from practical requests for help, to personal feelings.

Its features can be customised to better reflect users’ individual habits and evolving daily needs, making communication more flexible and responsive.

STATO PROGETTO

Completed

COMMITTENTE

Merck Group

RESPONSABILI

Giulia Candiani

Features and functions

More than 130 icons, each linked to a label and a pre-recorded phrase (with a choice of male or female voice)
A dedicated “pain” section to help describe intensity, type and location of pain
A “New icon” function to create personalised icons with custom images and phrases
A “Favourites” section collecting selected icons, along with two preset icon sets for hospital settings and for use outside the home
“Write and listen” function, allowing users to type text and have it read aloud by a speech synthesiser
“Me” section, to store personal information, which can be edited or deleted at any time
“Draw” function turning the device into a virtual sheet of paper, where you can draw using one finger for visual communication
“Amplifier” function enabling users to record messages and replay them at a higher volume

The app is also available in French, English, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish and Polish under the name Second Voice.