ipad apps review ms 1

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Review of some of the IPAD apps for Augmentative and Alternative Communication by Marion Stanton. Rview date: 12 th March 2011. I can’t guarantee that I have fully understood every capability of all of these apps but, as far as I have been able to use them, this review consists of my personal view of the advantages and disadvantages for various populations that use AAC. MyPECS Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £20 Range of communication options: 11 categories with between 3 and 41 options depending on the category. Tends towards life in the USA (e.g. Corn Chips in the food category). Editing possible: Can upload your own pictures and modify existing buttons. Can create 2 additional sets for three users. Can create schedules as well as communication icons. I found some descriptions of how it can be used on the website. Consistency of icon size: All icons the same size except the replay button. Can configure to several size options. Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Name, icon size, language (English or Spanish), male or female voice, edict mode, placement of configuration button, image source to upload photos, display clock, open image when pressed option, background (most of the backgrounds are quite busy but there is a light and dark grey, black, white and high contrast yellow option), text colour. Swiping or static screen: need to be able to swipe screen. Rotates between landscape and portrait? No, portrait only. Size of cells: several configurations available. Voice output? YES Quality of voice (if applicable): good, synthetic, USA Word prediction (if applicable): N/A Enables phrase building? NO. Whole phrases on icons selection. Clarity of selections: Clear photographs. www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Review of some of the IPAD apps for Augmentative and Alternative Communication by Marion Stanton. Rview date: 12 th March 2011. I can’t guarantee that I have fully understood every capability of all of these apps but, as far as I have been able to use them, this review consists of my personal view of the advantages and disadvantages for various populations that use AAC.

MyPECS

Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £20Range of communication options: 11 categories with between 3 and 41 options depending on the category. Tends towards life in the USA (e.g. Corn Chips in the food category).Editing possible: Can upload your own pictures and modify existing buttons. Can create 2 additional sets for three users. Can create schedules as well as communication icons. I found some descriptions of how it can be used on the website.Consistency of icon size: All icons the same size except the replay button. Can configure to several size options.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Name, icon size, language (English or Spanish), male or female voice, edict mode, placement of configuration button, image source to upload photos, display clock, open image when pressed option, background (most of the backgrounds are quite busy but there is a light and dark grey, black, white and high contrast yellow option), text colour.Swiping or static screen: need to be able to swipe screen.Rotates between landscape and portrait? No, portrait only.Size of cells: several configurations available.Voice output? YESQuality of voice (if applicable): good, synthetic, USAWord prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? NO. Whole phrases on icons selection.Clarity of selections: Clear photographs.Ease of use: medium. I was a bit surprised when clicking on the picture took you back to the index page rather than playing the message.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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SmallTalk conversation

Pricing (at time of writing) free or very cheapRange of communication options: about 66 commonly used phrases. USA based phrases. Editing possible: I could only work out how to delete phrases and not how to get them back! Couldn’t find instructions on website. There is a setting that I think lets you back to default under I Pad settings.Consistency of icon size: All icons and phrase buttons the same size.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): I only found delete and change name. Swiping or static screen: need to be able to swipe screen.Rotates between landscape and portrait? Changes between them and acts very differently in the two orientations (see pictures above).Size of cells: good size.Voice output? YESQuality of voice (if applicable): good, synthetic, USAWord prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? NO. Whole phrases on icons selection.Clarity of selections: Clear pictures.Ease of use: medium.

TikeNotes

Pricing (at time of writing) free or very cheapRange of communication options: This is a spelling programme that requires literacy but you can save phrases and build up a phrase based set of options. Editing possible: N/AConsistency of icon size: Icons are different sizes.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Lots of different languages on keyboards, can adapt font size. Very useful for emailing messages and saving work. Help menu available.Swiping or static screen: static.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YESSize of cells: mostly good size.Voice output? NOQuality of voice (if applicable): N/AWord prediction (if applicable): YESEnables phrase building? YES. You can type a phrase and save it for future use. You can email the phrase or copy and paste it to a voice output app but this is long winded.Clarity of selections: Very useful bunching of letters for selection which gets to the choice quite quickly.Ease of use: medium.

Speak it

Pricing (at time of writing) free or very cheapRange of communication options: This is a spelling programme that requires literacy but you can save phrases and build up a phrase based set of options. Editing possible: N/AConsistency of icon size: Icons are different sizes.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Lots of different languages on keyboards, can adapt font size. Very useful for emailing messages and saving work. Help menu available.Swiping or static screen: static.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YESSize of cells: mixed.Voice output? YESQuality of voice (if applicable): Good (USA)Word prediction (if applicable): NOEnables phrase building? YES. You can type a phrase and save it for future use. You can email the phrase or convert it to an audio file for email.Clarity of selections: Based on the Ipad key board.Ease of use: medium.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Icomm

Pricing (at time of writing) free or very cheapRange of communication options: category based. Editing possible: YES but need to pay to upgrade (about £5).Consistency of icon size: Icons are same size.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Need to upgrade to configure.Swiping or static screen: swipe.Rotates between landscape and portrait? NO only available in portrait.Size of cells: stableVoice output? YES if you upgrade.Quality of voice (if applicable): not known (I haven’t upgraded)Word prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? NOClarity of selections: GoodEase of use: medium.

iConverse

Pricing (at time of writing) free or very cheapRange of communication options: Limited number of choice buttons. Editing possible: YES but quite basic and only a few options.Consistency of icon size: Icons are same size.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Not sure. Very basic.Swiping or static screen: staticRotates between landscape and portrait? NO only available in portrait.Size of cells: stableVoice output? YES either recorded or synthetic.Quality of voice (if applicable): good recording. Basic synthetic voice.Word prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? NOClarity of selections: No text with the common buttons.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Ease of use: medium

Tap to Talk

Pricing (at time of writing) free but you need to take out a monthly subscription to edit and add your own pages.Range of communication options: 6 categories. Limited number of choice buttons. Editing possible: YES if you take out a monthly subscription.Consistency of icon size: Icons have two sizes with a smaller size for function buttons. Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Not sure. Very basic.Swiping or static screen: staticRotates between landscape and portrait? YES.Size of cells: stableVoice output? Synthetic.Quality of voice (if applicable): OK (USA).Word prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? NOClarity of selections: Clear pictures with text which you can choose to turn off. Stable layout. Similar to basic conventional device.Ease of use: Good. Icons reasonable size and well spaced.

TapSpeak Button

Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £6Range of communication options: Like a virtual Big Mack but with a feature that allows you to store many pre-recorded phrases which can be selected on the left hand side.Editing possible: YES. The app relies on your editing it.Consistency of icon size: A large single message button or a range of smaller choices in a list on the left hand side.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): It is possible to change button type between shapes, photographs or PCS symbols. You can configure required tap duration and allowance for movement.www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Swiping or static screen: staticRotates between landscape and portrait? YES. Rotating to Portrait gets rid of left hand list and leaves you with single message icon for cause and effect switching and turn taking.Size of cells: stableVoice output? records your own voice.Quality of voice (if applicable): good.Word prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? NOClarity of selections: choice between shape, photograph or PCS symbol. Can choose to have large text label.Ease of use: Good. Well supported by website that can be accessed from the app. Very easy to record messages.

TapSpeak Choice

Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £60

Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £6Range of communication options: Like a virtual Big Mack but with a feature that allows you to store many pre-recorded phrases which can be selected on the left hand side.Editing possible: YES. The app relies on your editing it.Consistency of icon size: A large single message button or a range of smaller choices in a list on the left hand side.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): It is possible to change button type between shapes, photographs or PCS symbols. You can configure required tap duration and allowance for movement.Swiping or static screen: static but you need to be good at swiping to edit it. I found it quite hard to get the hang of.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YES. Size of cells: stableVoice output? records your own voice or use sample library voice.Quality of voice (if applicable): good.Word prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? YES if you programme it to do so.Clarity of selections: choice between shape, photograph or PCS symbol. You can change the labels to say anything you want it to.Ease of use: Good. Well supported by website that can be accessed from the app. Very easy to record messages.

TapSpeak Sequence

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £18

One I haven’t downloaded yet. Here is Will Wade’s review:Submitted by willwade on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 10:14

Create sequences with photos and recorded sound that are stepped through with a tap (release needed) or tap. PCS symbols

soon to be added

TapSpeak Sequence for iPad revolutionizes how parents, speech therapists, vision therapists, schools, and institutions

create and use message sequences to help disabled children learn to communicate. Use TapSpeak Sequence instead of

sequential message switches to record and customize messages without losing any previously recorded sequences.

Kids with cerebral palsy, autism, cortical vision impairment (CVI), pediatric stroke, or any disability that impairs their ability

to communicate can make use of this app.

Features:

- Unlimited number of sequences

- Unlimited sequence length

- Unlimited phrase recording length

- Select from a number of geometric symbols and colors

- Use your own photographs or drawings 

- Tap response is configurable to accommodate kids with varying motor skill levels

- Basic usage tracking

- Reorder phrases in a sequence, modify existing phrases

Many more features coming including:

- Standard picture symbol set support

- Resizable and moveable visual targets

- Configurable background (low/high complexity)

- Comprehensive usage tracking and reporting

- More sample sequences

Proloquo2go

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Pricing (at time of writing) approximately £110Range of communication options: A basic dynamic screen vocabulary using Symbolstix symbols.Editing possible: YES. You can add to pages, edit icons on pages and create new pages.Consistency of icon size: The back button and the delete and clear are smaller than the icons and the delete requires two taps. It is difficult to get the key board to fit to the page and still have reasonable sized icons.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): You can go to the setting menu on the ipad and select Proloquo2go. There you can change the appearance of the display, Grid, colours, text and images. You can also change the way you scroll, restrict editing, change how the speech works, support grammar, change setting for holding and tapping and adjust prediction settings. Swiping or static screen: The larger the icons the more you need to swipe. Rotates between landscape and portrait? YES. Size of cells: can be changed from very small to one cell per page.Voice output? Synthetic (UK).Quality of voice (if applicable): good.Word prediction (if applicable): Has been produced for the standard ipad keyboard which can be accessed via Proloquo2go.Enables phrase building? YESClarity of selections: has colour coding as well as stable dynamic display.Ease of use: Good. Fairly easy to programme. Symbols get very small if you have a lot of text on an icon.

Easy Speak

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Pricing (at time of writing): Free or very cheap.Range of communication options: Word prediction attached to the iPad keyboard.Editing possible: YES. You can add to the prediction dictionary. Consistency of icon size: The speak, clear and prediction selections are a different size to the keys on the letterboard.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): You can get to settings from the typing page where you can change volume and voice speed, select a male or female voice and remove your customised words.Swiping or static screen: Static.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YES. Size of cells: Fairly small.Voice output? Synthetic (UK).Quality of voice (if applicable): good.Word prediction (if applicable): Has been produced for the standard ipad keyboard .Enables phrase building? YES by typing them. You can save phrases and choose to have them predicted.Clarity of selections: OK.Ease of use: Good apart from the narrow prediction bands.

Locabulary

Pricing (at time of writing): Free or very cheap.Range of communication options: Enables phrase building with automatically changing screens. Also has a basic spelling board.Editing possible: YES. You can add our own phrases and create your own categories but without so many follow on pages. . Consistency of icon size: Fairly similar and quite large.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): You can get to settings from the front page where you can change font size and select a male or female voice. You can also set the Locabulator to detect where you are from a range up to 10.9 miles. I’m not sure what the purpose of this is as it couldn’t locate me in my little corner of Cumbria.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Swiping or static screen: Swiping up or down on some pages.Rotates between landscape and portrait? NO. Portrait only. Size of cells: generous.Voice output? Synthetic (USA).Quality of voice (if applicable): ok on phrase pages but poor on the keyboard page.Word prediction (if applicable): NOEnables phrase building? YES. Clarity of selections: Good.Ease of use: Good.

Alexicom AAC

Pricing (at time of writing): Free or very cheap but then you have to pay for edit facilities on line.Range of communication options: Basic dynamic screen communication pages using photograph images.Editing possible: YES. There appears to be potential to substantially custom a number of pages but it has to be done on line through the website. Consistency of icon size: Very similar and quite large. Good back button.Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Can be set for scanning and selecting. You can also select zoom and bounce modes. Accessed at the bottom of the front page.Swiping or static screen: Static.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YES.Size of cells: GOOD.Voice output? Synthetic (USA).Quality of voice (if applicable): Good.Word prediction (if applicable): N/AEnables phrase building? YES. Clarity of selections: Good.Ease of use: Fair. Made a bit complicated by having to go on line to edit but there is lots of editing support on the website.

ICanSpeak

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Pricing (at time of writing): Approximately £18Range of communication options: Slightly different to a dynamic screen as icon changes either appear by pop-ups or partial dynamic screen changes in the central window. A large range of options available by category without having to go through many levels. You can also access the ipad keyboard by tapping the sentence bar.Editing possible: It appears that an editing facility is in the planning stages. Consistency of icon size: Very similar but quite small. Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): Found on page 10 of the activities section you can change the look of the buttons and put speak word on or off.Swiping or static screen: Static.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YES.Size of cells: Small.Voice output? Synthetic (USA).Quality of voice (if applicable): Poor.Word prediction (if applicable): NOEnables phrase building? YES. This is one of the best features. I was able to string a few sentences together but when I couldn’t find the word I wanted I had to resort to the ipad keyboard by tapping the sentence bar. However, it does give the iPad keyboard voice output which is useful.Clarity of selections: Good.Ease of use: Fair. Good for someone who has little problem with fine motor control.

Imean

Pricing (at time of writing): Approximately £3Range of communication options: ABC and qwerty keyboards plus a number board with math’s icons. Enables student to save work.Editing possible: NOConsistency of icon size: Fairly good size. Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): NoneSwiping or static screen: Static.Rotates between landscape and portrait? NO. Landscape only.Size of cells: medium.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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Voice output? None.Quality of voice (if applicable): N/AWord prediction (if applicable): YES but basic.Enables phrase building? Only through spelling. Clarity of selections: Very clear. This is the best feature.Ease of use: Good but Voice output would make such a difference to this app.

TouchChat HD

Another one I haven’t downloaded yet. I do however know that there is a version (not included in the review that follows) which includes Nancy Inman’s WordPower at a cost of approximately £180. I have been informed that a $10 un-editable version without speech will shortly be available for evaluation.

Here is Will Wade’s review:

Submitted by willwade on Sun, 01/09/2011 - 10:14

4 Vocab packages: VocabPC, Multichat 15, Spelling (with 4 cell word prediction) & Primary. Wordpower and iEssence available

as well as in-app purchases. Edit on the PC & Share pagesets with others.

TouchChat AAC for iPhone and iPod*

TouchChat is a full featured communication solution for individuals who have difficulty using their natural voice. TouchChat

is designed for individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, ALS, apraxia, stroke, or other conditions that affect a person’s ability

to use natural speech.

TouchChat fits into the category assistive technology known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

products and includes many features that were previously only available in much more expensive solutions on dedicated

devices. Words, phrases and messages are spoken with a built-in voice synthesizer or by playing recorded message. Five

English synthesized voices are available, allowing you to choose a voice that meets your own personality. TouchChat also has

a unique feature whereby one can simply tilt the device to make the message expand to fill the entire screen in large letters.

This feature allows a person to communicate silently or to communicate in noisy environments.

TouchChat gives an individual the ability to navigate through page sets and speak messages. Page sets are linked pages,

each of which is divided into a number of buttons. The buttons are programmed to have specific actions. For example, buttons

may be programmed to speak a message, navigate to a different page, change the volume, clear the display, etc. Four page

sets are included with the TouchChat: VocabPC, MultiChat-15, Primary and Spelling. Each page set targets individuals with

different communication needs. Additional page sets including WordPower and Essence are available as in-app purchases.

www.contactcandle.co.uk

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The pages, grid layout, buttons, messages, and symbols are fully customizable. You can modify the provided page sets or

create your own. Select from over 30 button actions when creating new buttons. Over 10,000 Symbolstix symbols are included

for customizing buttons. You can also use your own images or take photos with the built-in camera. Gestures can also be used

to navigate to new pages, speak messages, etc.

TouchChat enables you to subscribe to iShare, an online server where you can share customized pages with an online

community.

TouchChat has been inspired by Saltillo Corporation’s ChatPC product line. TouchChat page sets can be transferred to

Saltillo’s ChatPC and ALT-Chat devices.

Support URL http://www.silver-kite.com/touchChat

AutoVerbal

Pricing (at time of writing): Free or cheapRange of communication options: A range of words and phrases organised in a linear way within categories. There is also the possibility of typing to voice output using the ipad keyboard.Editing possible: Some limited editing seems to be available on icons that have been identified for the purpose.Consistency of icon size: Fairly good size. Configuration (what can be configured and how easily): None as far as I can see but this might just be that I haven’t found the way yet.Swiping or static screen: Swiping skills needed.Rotates between landscape and portrait? YES.Size of cells: medium.Voice output? YESQuality of voice (if applicable): GoodWord prediction (if applicable): NOEnables phrase building? NO Clarity of selections: The pictures are nice but I think it needs development. It has promise.Ease of use: Fair. There are some nice features like the fact that a little work areas captures your communications so that you can play them back together.

Many more apps are described at the following website where you can also find web links to the websites of the apps I have already mentioned:

http://www.appsforaac.net/applist

www.contactcandle.co.uk