Computer Applications in Communication Disorders and Sciences

SECTION IX: DEDICATED COMPUTERS AS COMMUNICATION AIDS. There are numerous devices with computer chips that are designed and used solely for the purpose of providing an alternative to speech. Some are relatively inexpensive (looking at around $20). Others are very expensive (looking at $8000 +). Of the former, many may not be primarily designed for rehabilitation, but with a little imagination can be re-purposed by the clinician. A good example of this is the Talking Picture Frame. A clinician can typically afford to include this in his/her battery of materials. Talking Frames can be used, for example, to test the efficacy of using an alternative device with a client. A clinician could even afford to have several Picture Frames operating at one time for a client to provide some depth of complexity to the assessment process. Talking Picture Frame: This is sold through retail stores like Radio Shack and through many web sites for between $15 and $30. It is not a device made for the disabled, but through serendipity has some useful applications for alternative communication. It is easy to record a short digitized voice message and easy to play back by pressing the frame. It is portable and reasonably affordable for a clinician, who might wish to explore a child’s capability or readiness to use similar but more complicated and expensive devices. Big Mac: Available through Lab Resources for about $84, this is virtually an oversized switch, which includes in its mechanism a voice input/output capability. One can easily record a sentence and then give it to a child to “say” by pressing the switch. This gives Big Mac a quality of flexibility and timeliness that makes it very useful as a beginning communication device. As with the Picture Frames (mentioned above) the clinician could use a combination of them with a client to add power to the communication process. Cheap Talk 4 & 8: Produced by Enabling Devices, a Division of Toys for special Children, Cheap Talk 4 costs from $69 to $275 depending upon the memory. It has four keys for responses (more than four is often unmanageable for preschool children). It uses recorded (digitized) speech. Cheap Talk 8 has space for 8 responses and has visual and/or auditory scanning capabilities. It costs approximately $135 to $300. Alpha Smart Pro: This is a useful device, all solid state, that serves as an inexpensive word processor. It is the size of a laptop computer, costs approximately $250 and has a memory capacity equivalent to 64 pages of type. It can store as many as eight different files and can be downloaded into a Mac or PC. As a communication aid it provides a visual screen (small, but enough for a number of lines) for written output. For everyone it provides an alternative to carrying an expensive laptop to meetings, classes etc. Speakeasy: Obtained through Ablenet (1-800-3220956 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-3220956 end_of_the_skype_highlighting), this device has 12 cells and a total of 60 seconds recording time. It will work by direct button press or by remote switch. It cost around $365. Black Hawk: Produced by ADAMLAB, The BlackHawk communication device was developed for ambulatory individuals. It is compact and can be easily placed into a binder or notebook for concealment. For the cognitively able, there is a single overlay with all four levels represented simultaneously in the quadrants of each cell makes. In other situations single level representations and place and replace overlays are available as the context changes. EasyTalk: Sold by the Great Talking Box Company, EasyTalk is similar to but more complex than Black Hawk; and costs between $1000 and $2000, depending upon the amount of memory included. It weighs approximately 1.5 lbs. and can easily be attached to the user’s body or wheelchair. It has a maximum of 116 key presses (messages) which when totaled can present 16 minutes of recorded speech. This device is for communicating essential messages, but not for conducting spontaneous conversations. Speech is recorded so that the playback is of good vocal quality, relative to the synthesized speech produced by some computers. Someone else, however, has to record the messages for the user. This provides an opportunity for taylor-fitting the voice to the user’s personal traits which helps to facilitate acceptance of the system by the user.. For example, if the user is a male child, another male child (rather than an adult) can be enlisted to help in recording the messages. The messages can be stored and retrieved on four levels. Hence, a user could have message themes located on each level. For example, one level could be dedicated to communication during occupational therapy; another for dinner time; a third for playing a particular game; and the fourth for expressing daily living needs. Messages can be easily changed. A number of different overlays are available to determine the number and size of the key press areas -- ranging from one to 40 key spaces. These can be easily installed. Each space typically has a picture (icon) and a written word. For individuals with major motor problems, the device has scanning capabilities for selecting a key (without actually physically pressing it). This can be controlled by a variety of external switches which are activated by head movements, blowing or sucking movements, and foot movements etc. Alpha Talker II: This is a good device for beginning users offered through Prentke Romich Co. It uses the minspeak encoding system and has a 32 location, 7 level direct touch or switch interface. It costs approximately $1700. It is reasonably portable and easy to program. It is a lightweight, has a durable case and houses many capabilities for a device of its class. For example, it comes with enough digitized speech to record hundreds of words and can be set up with 4, 8, or 32 locations. To program it, the procedure is simply to press a few buttons and speak. You can have it ready to use in minutes. It is relatively easy to learn, because it has a system in which if you press any key, lights will appear where related words are stored. In the classroom, keys can be put on the overlay to switch to different vocabulary sets to support activity-based learning. It has the Prentke-Romich Unity vocabulary program, included with each device, which teaches words that can be used in any activity. A key can now be put on the overlay to access computer and environmental control commands. Vanguard: A somewhat simpler device using Minspeak is Vanguard. It is more suitable for someone typically younger person who is learning to use an alternative device. It is light and uses a dynamic screen. Fast, easy access to two types of vocabulary: words we use everyday and words we need for specific situations. Minspeak icons for words used most often don't change or move. Finding them soon becomes automatic, increasing the speed of communication. Most words can be spoken with only two activations. Icons that have words stored under them stay lit to assist in making the correct selection. It employs synthesized speech, which enables a large or independently generated vocabulary. Digitized speech is also available for adding fun sounds, singing, or communicating in other languages. There is no storing to do - vocabulary programs with hundreds of words are there, ready to use Books, songs, and games are also included, helping the user experience success quickly. DeltaTalker: This can be used by both beginning and advanced communicators with relatively intact cognitive abilities. It can be set up with 8, 32 or 128 locations (keys). It has a large memory with room for thousands of words (256K). It comes with a choice of one of two Unity vocabulary programs: Unity 128 Version Over 4,000 words Frequently used words require only two activations Many nouns require three activations Permits flexibility in adding new words Unity Condensed Version Over 3,000 words Most words require only two activations DeltaTalker uses both Digitized and Synthesized Speech. The latter has ten highquality DECtalk voices for most communication needs, and the former uses digitized (recorded) speech for songs, funny noises, introductions, or words in other languages. DeltaTalker's infrared option enabales control of a TV or VCR, to provide access to a computer, or operate anything else that uses an infrared remote control. DeltaTalker is available with the following languages: Dutch, French, German, Spanish and Swedish. In the United States, written support materials for all but Spanish are in English. In Europe, support materials are available in the respective native languages. Pathfinder: This is now the top of the line for Prentke Romich, which is replacing an older powerful but now outdated device called Liberator. One advantages of the Pathfinder is a high resolution, half VGA color display. This display maintains readability in a wide variety of lighting environments. And it incorporates touch screen technology for easy access. This is combined with a simple, easy-to-access static keyboard; it features 32, 128 and new 64 location keyboard options. There's also improved infrared head pointing access. Pathfinder offers synthesized speech with a memory capacity that holds thousands of words. Users can choose from a range of age and gender appropriate voice options. Plus, there's a digitized speech option for adding fun sounds, songs or additional languages. The unit has six User Areas that operate independently to set up a wide variety of access options and vocabularies. Users can upload and download information from computer disks for even greater flexibility. The notebook/journal function makes it simple to write letters or papers, create shopping lists or do homework. And a text editor function means you can add, delete, search, move or replace text. Added functions include calculator and clock, plus a computer emulation mode allows Pathfinder to imitate a computer keyboard. Dynamo from Dynavox: The dynamo, (costing about $2000) weighs only two pounds and is easy to transport. It uses a dynamic display and digitized speech, which can be recorded directly into the device. It can develop sentences using single words or it can use combinations of phrases organized in themes to efficiently express ideas. It is organized to automatically develop left to right tracking habits in beginning communicators. The Dynavox 3100: This is a communication device that has a dynamic screen, which can display a hierarchy of pages. A single key stroke can easily evoke popup screens to quickly embellish sentences. Communication is facilitated by a built in word prediction program and a dictionary, which can be made accessible from any page. It uses synthesized speech, which gives it almost unlimited ability to express any thought. It will interface with other electrical devices including another computer. The Dynavox 3100 costs around $6500. There is a portable version of Dynavox, called Dynamite. The Dynamite cost approximately $5900. It weights around 4 pounds but has almost all of the hardware and software capabilities of the Dynavox. Zygo Industries: We have mentioned products from PrentkeRomich, Dynavox, and Words+. The last of what I consider to be the BIG FOUR vendors for augmentive devices is Zygo Industries. They also have a wide choice of products to consider. On the simple side is the Parakeet 15… Simple and easy to set up - just as easy to change - and weighing less than 1 pound, the Parakeet 15 can be carried to any location and any environment. Each message area allows 8 seconds of recording time for a total of 2 minutes. Individual recordings can be changed at any time without affecting the others. The Parakeet 15 is operated by an easily replaceable 9 volt alkaline battery. Memory is permanent—it isn't lost even when the battery goes flat. Use Picture Communication Symbols, Imaginart Symbols, WordWise stickers, etc. on interchangeable inserts. Eight laminated inserts are provided for application of graphics or words. On the more powerful side is the MACAW series… The green MACAW (above) can access more than 19 minutes of recording time and have its vocabulary saved on computer disks. It's equipped with a built-in hard drive that can store over 13 hours of recording time. It's like having 40 super-MACAWs in one box, each with its own personality. Each personality is quickly attainable and contains the vocabulary and all operation parameters like key pattern, scan type, user accessible functions, etc. With its unique "no dead spaces" 128-key membrane keyboard, the Great Green supports operation from as few as 2 Enlarged Keys to Multi-Levels of any key pattern in each level. Any number of keys may be combined for Key-Linked messages, useful for spelling and facilitated communication applications. The Great Green MACAW utilizes both direct selection and scanning* (including auditory scanning!) and a novel, simple "Morse Code" access to all keys and functions. Its ruggedness, light weight and small size make the MACAW easy to carry by its unique folding handle or neckstrap, and its wedge shape provides a comfortable slope for access to the keyboard from a flat surface.