Symbol Apps for Communication an introduction

Transcription

1 Symbol Apps for Communication an introduction Janet Scott, Scottish Centre of Technology for Communication Impaired Introduction There is a lot of interest and controversy in the AAC field surrounding symbol based apps for communication. Installing a symbol based AAC app on an ipad is certainly cheaper than buying an equivalent purpose built symbol based communication aid. But are we comparing like with like? Similarities: Just as with a more traditional communication aid, the user will have to learn how to operate the ipad and app, they need to be able to visually scan an array of symbols and make an appropriate selection, they need to learn how to integrate the use of the aid in social interactions to maximise their communicative effectiveness. Concepts such as working memory, recall memory, cognitive load, cognitive flexibility are just as relevant when using an ipad as an AAC device as any other more traditional communication aid. Even the simplest symbol type app requires the user to be able to navigate around the system. Apps which display messages in a list form, with no/limited categorisation may be easier for some people to navigate but this type of system can be cumbersome if there is a long list of possible messages to be spoken. How we lay out the vocabulary, how we structure the different pages etc is just as important in an AAC app as in any other AAC system. Differences: For some people using a mainstream device such as an ipad may be more acceptable it may reduce the possible stigma associated with having to rely on some sort of aid. Because the technology is widespread people may already be familiar with this equipment and so may feel comfortable using it for this additional function. However unlike traditional communication aids ipads are not designed to be used by people with disabilities so may not be as robust. They do not have inbuilt access options for people with physical disabilities e.g. switch input. Traditional communication aid companies provide ongoing technical support and may offer face to face training in their systems this is not available to the same extent for ipads/ apps. Currently there are no symbol based apps that combine all the functionality and linguistic features that might be found in the more advanced traditional symbol based aids. Further reading/ information: This handout should be read in conjunction with the handouts written by Sally Millar and Gillian McNeill. Sally s paper describes photo apps that can be used for communication and Gillian s paper describes spelling based apps. Obviously there is a great deal of overlap some of the apps allow the user to have photos, symbols and spelling; some people using e.g. a symbol based app would also benefit from having access to a photo based one. Another paper which is useful to read is the AAC- RERC White Paper on Mobile Devices and Communication Apps, (written in 2011) documents/ RERC_mobiledevices_whit epaper_final.pdf

2 Symbol Apps for Communication comparison between apps Janet Scott and Mark Scott, SCTCI Introduction The following pages describe some of the many AAC apps for people who use symbols. This is a very small selection from the wide range of apps which are available on the itunes store for communication and AAC. We have included symbol apps that we feel represent a range of different options for people who use graphic symbols for communication. We have used these apps with people with additional communication support needs and have found them to be useful. The information presented here is based on the version of the app which was current at the time of writing; many app developers frequently update their apps, adding new features, changing existing ones making this handout quickly out of date. tes We have attempted to describe the various apps using 8 main headings: does the app make any allowance for the physical abilities of the user? what changes can be made to personalise the content and layout of the app? what types of layout are available within the app? what kind of speech output is offered? does the app allow the user to build up sentences? Does the app involve categorisation etc? what support (if any) is available? does the app come with a prestored vocabulary? Symbol sets what symbol sets are supported? In addition, the following points may be helpful: Keyguard We have listed an app as compatible with a keyguard if, and only if, you can access the whole app for communication with the same keyguard. The synthetic voices listed for each app are the voices which are available for that app. They are not always preinstalled in the app, often additional voices (such as different accents) have to be downloaded separately from within the app once it has been installed. Hierarchy This descriptor is an attempt to describe how many levels of vocabulary can be contained in an app, or whether it is a more typical dynamic screen symbol based app. A fixed hierarchy usually indicates the ability to save phrases (a 1-level hierarchy is saved phrases alone, while a 2-level hierarchy is saved phrases in categories); an expandable hierarchy indicates that you can have as many pages and links between them as you wish, thereby creating a layout much like a typical high tech dynamic screen AAC system. Further Information New apps for AAC and communication are frequently released. There are a couple of web-based resources where an attempt is being made to chronicle all of the available AAC and communication apps: Apps for AAC Spectronics (Australia) iphoneipad-apps-for-aac Another source of unbiased information about AAC apps is: reviews/review-centre/ communication-apps.html

3 Proloquo2Go by AssistiveWare Types: Activate on release: Activation delay: Consistent target size: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour: Button colour: yes Button size: yes Font colour: Font size: yes Types: Keyboard, grid, list Adjustable keyboard: Qwerty, customisable Range of grid sizes:, based on number of columns Range of list sizes:, based on number of rows Consistent target size: Types: Synthetic female adults and children; British, American and Australian Hierarchy: Expandable Symbols and/or words, spelling, message window, no message window Types: , social media, website available: Pre-installed: Two medium vocabulary packages Symbolstix

4 Chat HD by Silver Kite Types: Activate on release: Activation delay: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour: Button colour: Button size: Font colour: Font size: Types: Keyboard, grid, visual scene, talking photobook Adjustable keyboard: customisable Range of grid sizes:, based on number of rows and columns Range of list sizes: Types: Synthetic, Recorded female adults, British and American; male and female children, American Hierarchy: Expandable Spelling, symbols and/or words, message window Types: , website available: ChatPower by Nancy Inman Pre-installed: A range of small vocabulary layouts Symbolstix

5 Sonoflex by Tobii Types: Activate on release: Activation delay: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour:, based on word type Button colour: Button size: Font colour: Font size: Types: Keyboard, grid Adjustable keyboard:, ABC Range of grid sizes: Range of list sizes: Types: Synthetic female adults and children, American Hierarchy: Fixed, 2-level Spelling, symbols and words, message window, no message window Types: , social media, website available: ne Pre-installed: Sonoflex context-based vocabulary layout (medium) Symbolstix

6 Grid Player by Sensory Software. Types: Activate on release: Activation delay: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: On-device editing: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour: Button colour: Button size: Font colour: Font size: Types: Grid, talking photobooks, visual scenes Adjustable keyboard: Customisable Range of grid sizes:, based on number of rows and columns Range of list sizes: Types: Synthetic female adults, British Hierarchy: Expandable Symbols and/or words, spelling, message window, no message window Types: , phone, social media, website available: Free of charge Sensory Software communication users Pre-installed: Medium Symbolstix Widgit

7 Small Talk Aphasia / Small Talk Conversational Phrases by Lingraphica. Types: Activate on release: Activation delay: Keyguard: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour: Button colour: Button size: Font colour: Font size: Add new categories: Add new items: Edit items: Remove categories: Types: List Adjustable keyboard: ne Range of grid sizes: Range of list sizes: Types: Recorded Synthetic Voices: ne Hierarchy: Fixed, 1-level Symbols and words, no message window Types: Website available: ne Pre-installed: Small Lingraphica specific

8 Voice4u by Spectrum Visions Global Inc. Types: Activate on release: Activation delay: Consistent target size: Keyguard: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour: Button colour: Button size: Font colour: Font size: Types: Grid on ipad, list on ipod and iphone Adjustable keyboard: ne Range of grid sizes: Range of list sizes: Consistent target size: Types: Recorded Synthetic Voices: ne Hierarchy: Fixed, 1-level Symbols and words, no message window Types: , website available: ne Pre-installed: Small ne

9 TapSpeak Choice by TapSpeak, LLC. Types: ; switch Activate on release: Activation delay: Consistent target size: Repeat delay: Requires scroll: Switch One-switch: Two-switch: Auto scan: Step scan: Multiple Users: Background colour: Button border colour: Button colour: Button size: Font colour: Font size: Types: Grid, keyboard Adjustable keyboard: Customisable Range of grid sizes:, based on number of items Range of list sizes: Consistent target size: Types: Recorded, synthetic female adults and children, American Hierarchy: Expandable Spelling, symbols and/or words, message window, no message window Types: , website available: Pre-installed: Small Mayer-Johnson PCS