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Abstract

A method of interfacing human users with electronic devices liberates electronic devices from specific input and output devices and substitutes a universal communication system between them. The method combines the advantages of personal customization with the advantages of unlimited access to electronic devices. In particular, it provides disabled individuals with full access to suitably equipped electronic devices such as ATMs, telephones, fax machines, computers, copiers, TVs, VCRs, stereos, and microwave ovens. This method therefore provides the means for making these important electronic devices equally accessible to everyone. In a preferred embodiment, the communication system includes a speech synthesis and recognition system [56] which is connected to an accessor total access port [54], an ATM [70] connected to a target total access port [68], and a total access link [66] between the accessor total access port [54] and the target total access port [68]. The total access link [66] is an information link over which universal data packets are transmitted between the total access ports. The universal data packets have a device-independent form and contain user-functional representations of data. A dialog initiated by the accessor total access port [54] helps the user locate the ATM [70] and establish a total access link.

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First Claim