Symbol Apps for Communication an introduction

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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) http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/ documents/ RERC_mobiledevices_whit epaper_final.pdf

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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.

Notes

We have attempted to describe the various apps using 8 main headings: Access—does the app make any allowance for the physical abilities of the user?

Editing—what changes can be made to

personalise the content and layout of the app? Layout—what types of layout are available within the app?

Speech—what kind of speech output is offered? Structure—does the app allow the user to build up sentences? Does the app involve categorisation etc? Support—what support (if any) is available?

Vocabulary—does the app come with a pre-stored 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.

Speech

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

http://www.appsforaac.net Spectronics (Australia) http:// www.spectronicsinoz.com/ iphoneipad-apps-for-aac Another source of unbiased information about AAC apps is:

http://www.aidis.org/ reviews/review-centre/ communication-apps.html

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Proloquo2Go

by AssistiveWare

Access Types: Touch Touch Activate on release: No Activation delay: Yes Adjustable button spacing: Yes

Consistent target size: No Keyguard: Yes

Repeat delay: Yes Requires scroll: No Resizable action buttons: Yes

Editing

On-device editing: Yes Multiple Users: Yes

Appearance

Background colour: Yes Button border colour: Yes Button colour: yes

Button size: yes Font colour: Yes Font size: yes

Content

Add new categories: Yes Add new items: Yes Edit items: Yes

Remove categories: Yes Remove items: Yes

Layout

Types: Keyboard, grid, list Adjustable keyboard: Qwerty, customisable Range of grid sizes: Yes, based on number of col-umns

Range of list sizes: Yes, based on number of rows Consistent target size: No Speech

Types: Synthetic

Synthetic Voices: Male and female adults and chil-dren; British, American and Australian

Structure

Hierarchy: Expandable Message Composition: Symbols and/or words, spelling, message window, no message window Support

Types: Email, social me-dia, website

Vocabulary

Packaged vocabularies available: No

Pre-installed: Two medium vocabulary packages Symbol sets: Symbolstix

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TouchChat HD

by Silver Kite

Access Types: Touch

Touch

Activate on release: Yes Activation delay: Yes Adjustable button spacing: No

Consistent target size: Yes Keyguard: Yes

Repeat delay: Yes Requires scroll: No Resizable action buttons: Yes

Editing

Appearance

Background colour: Yes Button border colour: Yes Button colour: Yes

Button size: Yes Font colour: Yes Font size: Yes

Content

Layout

Types: Keyboard, grid, visual scene, talking photobook

Adjustable keyboard: cus-tomisable

Range of grid sizes: Yes, based on number of rows and columns

Range of list sizes: No Consistent target size: Yes Speech

Types: Synthetic, Re-corded

Synthetic Voices: Male and female adults, British and American; male and fe-male children, American Structure

Hierarchy: Expandable Message Composition: Spelling, symbols and/or words, message window Support

Types: Email, website Vocabulary

Packaged vocabularies

available: ChatPower by Nancy Inman

Pre-installed: A range of small vocabulary layouts Symbol sets:

Symbolstix

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Sonoflex

by Tobii

Access Types: Touch Touch Activate on release: No Activation delay: No Adjustable button spacing: No

Repeat delay: No Requires scroll: No Resizable action buttons: No

Editing

On-device editing: Yes Multiple Users: No

Appearance

Background colour: No Button border colour: Yes, based on word type

Button colour: No Button size: No Font colour: No Font size: No

Content

Layout

Types: Keyboard, grid Adjustable keyboard: No, ABC

Range of grid sizes: No Range of list sizes: No Consistent target size: Yes Speech

Types: Synthetic

Synthetic Voices: Male and female adults and children, American

Structure

Hierarchy: Fixed, 2-level Message Composition: Spelling, symbols and words, message window, no message window Support

Types: Email, social me-dia, website Vocabulary Packaged vocabularies available: None Pre-installed: Sonoflex context-based vocabulary layout (medium) Symbol sets: Symbolstix http://www.tobiisonoflex.com/

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Grid Player

by Sensory Software.

Access Types: Touch Touch Activate on release: No Activation delay: No Adjustable button spacing: Yes

Repeat delay: No Requires scroll: No Resizable action buttons: Yes

Editing

On-device editing: No Multiple Users: Yes

Appearance

Background colour: Yes Button border colour: Yes Button colour: Yes

Button size: Yes Font colour: Yes Font size: Yes

Content

Layout

Types: Grid, talking photo-books, visual scenes Adjustable keyboard: Cus-tomisable

Range of grid sizes: Yes, based on number of rows and columns

Range of list sizes: No Consistent target size: Yes Speech

Types: Synthetic

Synthetic Voices: Male and female adults, British Structure

Hierarchy: Expandable Message Composition: Symbols and/or words, spelling, message window, no message window Support

Types: Email, phone, so-cial media, website Vocabulary

Packaged vocabularies available: Free of charge Sensory Software communication users Pre-installed: Medium Symbol sets: Symbolstix Widgit http://www.sensorysoftware.com/gridplayer.html

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Small Talk Aphasia / Small Talk Conversational Phrases

by Lingraphica.

Access Types: Touch Touch Activate on release: No Activation delay: No Adjustable button spacing: No

Consistent target size: Yes Keyguard: No

Repeat delay: No Requires scroll: Yes Resizable action buttons: No

Editing

Appearance

Background colour: No Button border colour: No Button colour: No

Button size: No Font colour: No Font size: No

Content

Add new categories: No Add new items: No Edit items: No

Remove categories: No Remove items: Yes

Layout Types: List

Adjustable keyboard: None Range of grid sizes: No Range of list sizes: No Consistent target size: Yes Speech

Types: Recorded Synthetic Voices: None Structure

Hierarchy: Fixed, 1-level Message Composition: Symbols and words, no message window Support Types: Website Vocabulary Packaged vocabularies available: None Pre-installed: Small Symbol sets: Lingraphica specific http://www.aphasia.com/products/apps/smalltalk

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Voice4u

by Spectrum Visions Global Inc.

Access Types: Touch

Touch

Activate on release: No Activation delay: No Adjustable button spacing: No

Consistent target size: No Keyguard: No

Repeat delay: No Requires scroll: Yes Resizable action buttons: No

Editing

Appearance

Button size: No Font colour: No Font size: No

Content

Layout

Types: Grid on iPad, list on iPod Touch and iPhone Adjustable keyboard: None Range of grid sizes: No Range of list sizes: No Consistent target size: No Speech

Types: Recorded Synthetic Voices: None Structure

Hierarchy: Fixed, 1-level Message Composition: Symbols and words, no message window Support

Types: Email, website Vocabulary Packaged vocabularies available: None Pre-installed: Small Symbol sets: None http://voice4uaac.com/

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TapSpeak Choice

by TapSpeak, LLC.

Access

Types: Touch; switch

Touch

Activate on release: Yes Activation delay: No Adjustable button spacing: No

Consistent target size: No Keyguard: Yes

Repeat delay: No Requires scroll: No Resizable action buttons: No

Switch

One-switch: Yes Two-switch: Yes Auto scan: Yes Step scan: Yes Editing

Appearance

Button size: Yes Font colour: No Font size: No

Content

Add new categories: Yes

Add new items: Yes Edit items: Yes

Remove categories: Yes Remove items: Yes Layout

Types: Grid, keyboard Adjustable keyboard: Cus-tomisable

Range of grid sizes: Yes, based on number of items Range of list sizes: No Consistent target size: No Speech

Types: Recorded, synthetic

Synthetic Voices: Male and female adults and children, American

Structure

Hierarchy: Expandable Message Composition: Spelling, symbols and/or words, message window, no message window Support

Types: Email, website

Vocabulary Packaged vocabularies available: No Pre-installed: Small Symbol sets: Mayer-Johnson PCS http://tapspeak.com/drupal/Choice