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An MSU professor is
helping the disabled
communicate.

By Elizabeth Applebaum

Assistant Editor

ore than any-
thing in the world, Leigh
Campbell-Earl wanted to sing
lullabies to her baby daughter.
She never thought it would
be possible.
Mrs. Campbell-Earl, of East
Lansing, has cerebral palsy, a
central nervous system disor-
der that renders her unable to
clearly pronounce words. For
most of her life, her only

22

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1992

speech was a kind of mum-
bling no one could understand.
Dr. John Eulenberg gave
Mrs. Campbell-Earl a voice. It
is computer generated, but it
doesn't sound stilted or ma-
chine-like. It is warm and fem-
inine and gentle, almost
human. And with it, Mrs.
Campbell-Earl can sing. She
sings lullabies and love songs
to her baby, Natalie.

Dr. Eulenberg, head of the
Michigan State University Ar-
tificial Language Laboratory,
has for the past 20 years been
making voices to help the dis-
abled communicate.
The typical system consists
of a keyboard which, when
pressed, emits a computer
voice. But many require a
more specialized device.
Perhaps the disabled do not

have enough muscle control in
their hands to make use of the
usual keyboard. In that case,
Dr. Eulenberg can design a
keyboard directed by the foot
or head.
Or perhaps, like Mrs f'
Campbell-Earl, they dream of
being able to sing. Using a sys-
tem designed by Dr. Eulen- -
berg, MSU intramural sports
and recreative services assis-