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Lightning Core Research

About

Lightning Core is a robust AAC design that aims to eventually host over 20,000 words. But for any good AAC system to work, it must be backed by evidence based research that is ethically practiced.

Remiel's iPad home screen showing over various drawn disabled people in daily life.
The back of Remiel's iPad showing a greenish turquoise background with a white stand and it covered in stickers.

Evidence based research takes into consideration practioner expertise, previous reseach alignment, and client perspectives and experiences. While Lightning Core strives to follow these practices, it is also essential to note that it- like the reality of most evidence based research- is not perfect. Lightning Core is open to constructive critique on how it can better align itself with evidence based practices that also reflect ethical, morally considerate practices. Unfortunately, evidence based does not necessarily mean ethical and Lightning Core strives on being both for its users.

Cognitive Load and AAC Design

1.

Mouthwords are effortful for many people. Using AAC reduces the cognitive load it takes to speak.

Even for speaking people, speech can be effortful and often does not meet all of a person's needs (Zisk and Dalton 2019). AAC is often a tool that can help offload the cognitive load of speech and increase the capacity to communicate (corbin 2025). Unfortunately, AAC users are under identified and may have to "prove" a need to access AAC. While Lightning Core does not have the ability to provide access to AAC systems at this time, we can provide full access to all of our pagesets for free through TD Snap's pageset central. All of our work is community based and will never exist behind a paywall.

2.

AAC devices create oppurtunities for cognitive offloading.

AAC devices can be used for more than just storing words. They can be used for organization, scheduling, and lists. Lightning Core is arranged in such a way that designates spaces for these, as it includes a fully customizable scheduling section and more. These tools are known to significantly reduce cognitive load (Gauselmann, et al. 2023).

3.

In infants, white seems to be the current most effective background color.

Lightning Core is still in it's early development but it is a goal to have an infant pageset with reduced color combinations, following the latest research in background colors (Light, et al. 2019). This should help infants navigate their AAC devices, but if speech therapists or the AAC users themselves find that other colors work better they are welcome to customize their own pagesets.

4.

In all other populations, there is no significant data showing effects of background color on cognitive load.

Lightning Core is otherwise following best models in current research which show that there is no significant data that demonstrates background colors having negative or positive correlations at this time (Thistle and Wilkinson 2017). Because of this, for our team's organizational purposes and for an aesthetic appearance, a low contrast colorful design is being implemented first with future designs like a high contrast version in mind for accessibility.

5.

Larger grid sizers result in fewer button presses, offsetting cognitive load.

Larger grid sizes are being prioritized in the Lightning Core Project for many factors- one of them being to reduce button presses through more buttons on one screen. It has been shown that this does decrease cognitive load which is an essential effect (Light, et al. 2004).

6.

Demands- including ones relating to grammar- increase cognitive load in AAC users.

AAC users are often pathologized for most if not their entire lives. This pathology comes with demands, and the Lightning Core pageset intends to reduce this. Instead of having limited grammar and vocabulary options that give a user limited options, Lightning Core is working with the philosophy that more is better.

Further Resources

ASHA's AAC Evidence Map

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's current  collection of research on augmentative and alternative communication. It continuously updates and focuses on many populations in different settings. 

5 Open Access Articles

Hosted by PrAACtical AAC, this blog page introduces five open access articles that explore AAC research, including an article on suitability/feature matching which could aid in considering if Lightning Core could be a fit for you or a user you know.

References

  1. corbin, endever* (2025). Speech is exhausting, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 41:3, 245-247, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2025.2513907

  2. Creer, S., Enderby, P., Judge, S., & John, A. (2016). Prevalence of people who could benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in the UK: Determining the need. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 51(6), 639–653. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12235 

  3. Gauselmann, P., Frings, C., & Tempel, T. (2023). Cognitive offloading benefits eye gaze interaction. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 37(5), 1119–1123. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4098 

  4. Hunnicutt, S., & Carlberger, J. (2001). Improving word prediction using Markov models and heuristic methods. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 17(4), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/aac.17.4.255.264  

  5. Light, J., Drager, K., McCarthy, J., Mellott, S., Millar, D., Parrish, C., Parsons, A., Rhoads, S., Ward, M., & Welliver, M. (2004). Performance of typically developing four- and five-year-old children with AAC systems using different language organization techniques. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 20(2), 63–88. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434610410001655553 

  6. Light, J., Wilkinson, K. M., Thiessen, A., Beukelman, D. R., & Fager, S. K. (2019). Designing effective AAC displays for individuals with developmental or acquired disabilities: State of the science and future research directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 35(1), 42–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2018.1558283

  7. Thistle J.J. & Wilkinson K., Effects of background color and symbol arrangement cues on construction of multi-symbol messages by young children without disabilities: Implications for aided AAC design. (2017). Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 33(3), 188. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2017.1345504

  8. Zisk, A. H., & Dalton, E. (2019). Augmentative and alternative communication for speaking autistic adults: Overview and recommendations. Autism in Adulthood, 1(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2018.0007

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