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Binary signaling is a method of communication that uses two distinct states or signals to convey information. By linking multiple binary digits, or bits, much more complex communication signals can be transmitted. This includes human speech.
Anything that can exist in at least two distinct states is capable of binary signaling. The table below provides examples of various binary signaling methods.
Table: Examples of binary signaling methods | ||
---|---|---|
Description | 1 | 0 |
Numbers | 1 | 0 |
Light | On | Off |
Electricity | High voltage | Low voltage |
Eye movement | Short blink | Long blink |
Facial expression | Smile | Frown |
Finger tapping | One tap | Two taps |
Limited speech | Groan | Silence |
Human speech can be transmitted through binary signaling by mapping sequences of bits to letters in the alphabet. The most well-known example of this is Morse code. Another example is a communication board, where the person communicating selects a letter by either accepting or rejecting the options presented to them. This process of acceptance or rejection corresponds to the binary values of one and zero, respectively.
A communication board is a tool designed to aid non-verbal communication. It typically includes the full alphabet, along with common phrases and important messages, such as those used to convey emergencies.
Simple communication boards, colloquially known as "no-tech boards", are a piece of paper or cardboard. The desired letter or symbol can be pointed to if the user is able; otherwise, an assistant may point to each letter one by one and ask the user yes or no if the letter being pointed to is the correct one.
Communication boards can also be included in PC or mobile phone software. They can support advanced features such as eye gaze and word completion.
No-tech boards may be too tedious for daily use, but they are easy to learn and don’t require electronics, making them useful during power outages or when working with inexperienced assistants.