Help & Guide
Here you will find answers to common questions and practical instructions for using Kalinio.
Welcome to Kalinio
Kalinio is a communication aid for people with significant speech impairments. The app helps to select words, sentences or calls for help and to output them clearly. It serves communication purposes only and is not a medical diagnostic, therapeutic or curative device.
It is aimed in particular at people after a stroke with dysarthria or apraxia of speech, as well as people with severe swallowing disorders and a tracheostomy, when at the same time a spastic or flaccid paralysis of the hands makes it difficult to operate conventional communication aids. The prerequisite is that the cognitive abilities to read, write and understand are preserved.
Getting started
Getting started is deliberately kept simple:
- 1Select a language.
- 2Activate the desired input method.
- 3If necessary, calibrate the microphone or camera.
- 4Start communicating.
After just a few minutes, Kalinio is ready to use.
How Kalinio works
Kalinio uses the principle of auditory scanning.
All available options are read out one after another and highlighted visually at the same time. As soon as the desired entry appears, a single signal is enough to select it. Precise mouse control is not required for this.
Kalinio offers several input methods. Choose the one that suits your affected relative.
- Mouse, touch or external switchThe classic operation is suitable for all users who can touch a screen or use an external switch.
- Mouth openingThe camera detects a deliberately opened mouth movement and can use it as a click. Processing takes place entirely locally on your device. A short calibration in the settings menu is required for high recognition accuracy.
- Tongue clickingA short tongue click can also be used as a click. A short calibration in the settings menu is required for high recognition accuracy.
- Read-aloud accelerationIf an entry located further back is to be reached more quickly, it is enough to keep the mouth open. Meanwhile, Kalinio temporarily increases the read-aloud speed and then automatically returns to the normal pace. This function must be activated in the settings.
Kalinio distinguishes between a single and a double signal – regardless of whether you use a switch, a tongue click or a mouth opening.
- Single signal: selects the current entry or continues reading aloud.
- Double signal: pauses the scanning or returns to the main menu.
Your privacy comes first.
- No cloud.
- No audio recordings.
- No video recordings.
- No transmission of your data to servers.
All audio and camera data are processed exclusively in real time directly on your device.
- What should I do if my tongue clicking or mouth opening is not detected reliably?
- Carry out a new calibration in the settings menu. Make sure there is good lighting for the camera or a quiet environment for the microphone, and keep an even distance from the device. Even a short calibration significantly improves recognition accuracy.
- Which microphones are recommended?
- Wired microphones or the device's built-in microphone in a quiet environment are recommended. Low latency is important so that signals are detected in real time.
- Why don't AirPods work?
- Wireless earbuds such as AirPods often cause excessive latency and switch the microphone depending on the situation. As a result, clicking sounds cannot be reliably detected in real time. Therefore, preferably use the device microphone or a wired microphone.
- How do I back up my settings?
- In Kalinio, you can create a backup of your settings and the words and menus you have set up individually. This backup is only carried out when you explicitly start it and remains on your device or the storage location you have chosen.
- Which hardware is particularly well suited?
- Current tablets or smartphones with a clearly visible front camera and a stable device microphone are well suited. For operation via a switch, commercially available external switches are suitable.
If you would like to read up on all functions, settings and technical notes, you can download the complete manual as a PDF here.
Download the manual as a PDFKalinio helps people express themselves and be understood.