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Glossary of Frequently Used AAC terms
 AlphaTalker II
$3500
Speech: Digitized Speech Output (11 minutes [expandable to 37 min], recordable)
Message Representation:
Combine symbols to create messages using the language
program Unity for AlphaTalker, or add your own symbols and recorded messages.
32 locations for symbols. Each is 3.5cm square. This device uses Minspeak technology
Access:
direct selection using the touch panel
single or multiple switch scanning and optical headpointer.
Remote switch box is available for up to 8 switches.
Auditory and visual scanning capabilities.
Operates in 4, 8 or 32 locations.
Includes 32-Loc Keyguard.
Icon prediction lights to show you where messages are stored.
Predictive selection for scanning
users - the device skips cells where no messages are stored.
Other Features:
Capacity for some computer keyboard
emulation/environmental control using 32 keys
Memory transfer kit for saving the device program to computer.
Available in Gray or Red
Size = 35 x 21 x 5 cm
Weight = 1.3kg
Prentke Romich Company
 Dec-Aid
$130
Speech: (recordable)
Access: Direct Switch Access
(each switch accesses seperate message)
Message Representation:
10 switch capacity, 6 seconds
for each message = 60 seconds total recording time
Other Features:
long battery life (8 mos)
resistant to dirt and spills
includes two Pal pad switches
a great introductory communication device
Size = 14.5 x 9.5 x 3.1cm
10 oz weight with batteries
Aptivation, Inc.
DigiVox 2
$1600-$3200
Speech:
Digitized Speech Output (recordable)
Message Representation: fully customizable. Can use
symbols, words, pictures, etc..
Access: Direct selection on touch screen or switch
scanning
Other Features:
2 speaker design (clear sound)
2 - 48 cell (keys) design flexibility
Customize your own overlays
16-142 minutes of speech
Optional disk drive to save and store user groups
2.7 pounds
Rechargeable battery
DynaVox Systems
DynaMyte 3100
$5995
Speech: Synthesized Speech Output and/or Digitized speech
Message Representation: Dynamic Display a fully
customizable
Access: direct on the touch panel, and has built-in switch interface for indirect selection
Other Features:
Similar technology to DynaVox, but more portable
Portable and lightweight for ambulatory users (3.2 lbs)
DECtalk synthesized speech with 10 voices
Built-in infrared remote for environmental controls like TV, VCR,
lights, etc
Color touch panel display
Word prediction capability
DynaVox Systems
DynaVox 3100
$6495
Speech: Synthesized Speech Output and/or Digitized speech
Message Representation: Dynamic Display a fully customizeable
Access: direct on the touch panel, and has built-in switch interface for indirect selection
Other Features:
12 inch color, dynamic touch panel display
7 lbs.
DECtalk synthesized speech with 10 voices
Built-in infrared remote for environmental controls like TV, VCR,
lights, etc
Word prediction capability
DynaVox Systems
 DeltaTalker
$10,600
Speech: DECtalk synthesized
speech AND digitized speech
output (2.5 minutes, recordable)
Message Representation:
fully customizable. Can use
symbols, words, pictures, etc..
This device uses Minspeak technology
Access: direct selection with the touch panel or optical head
pointing, or scanning with 1 or 2 switches, or switch joystick.
Other Features:
Visual and auditory scanning capabilities.
Add an operating kit to reduce the keyboard size from 128
locations to 8 or 32 locations.
Plugs directly into a printer.
Can be used to access a computer, either with a cable or by
infrared (requires an infrared receiver attached to your
computer).
Includes cable and software for saving the DeltaTalker's
memory to computer.
Built in infrared output for remote control of appliances e.g. TV
and VCR.
Size = 35 x 21 x 6 cm
Weight = 1.8kg
Prentke Romich Company
 LightWRITER
$5,000-$8000
Speech:Synthesized DECtalk
speech output
Message Representation:
Type messages on the keyboard. QWERTY or ABCDE layout.
Abbreviation/Expansion and "Text Prompting" (similar to word
prediction).
Store memos of up to 250 characters.
Access:
direct selection: keyboard sensitivity can be adjusted for
users with tremor or other fine motor difficulties. Some models have scanning or alternate keyboard access.
Other Features:
Characters on the backlit text display are 1cm high.
Optional Vacuum Fluorescent Display provides green neon
letters on a black background. These characters are 6mm high.
8 function calculator.
Two call signals to attract attention.
Available with a laptop computer-sized keyboard. The
keyboard is 28 x 13cm, and each key is 1.6cm square.
Includes a carry strap and handle built into the mounting plate
($7800).
Available with a very large "Big Keys" keyboard. Includes a
raincoat (moisture guard) and keyguard for users with visual or
motor limitations. The keys are 1.9cm square. WEIGHT =
3.9kg ($7800)
Zygo Industries, Inc.
 Link
$1400
Speech: Synthesized, DECtalk
Access: Direct keyboard access only (Access features
include “sticky keys”, key click, control over key repeat rate and delay)
Message Representation:
Spell messages on the lap-top size keyboard.
A four line screen display with 40 characters per line allows
you to check messages before speaking.
Rate enhancement features speed up your communication:
“Instant Message” feature allows you to say prestored phrases.
“Abbreviation Expansion” stores up to 100 words or phrases
Other Features:
Powered by two rechargeable AA batteries (supplied).
Four keyboard layout options: QWERTY, Dvorak, and Right-
and Left-one-handed
Store your thoughts and ideas, journals and speeches in up to 8
separate files
(64 pages of text) and download files to any Mac or PC to
format or print
Size = 30 x 21 x 4 cm.
Weight = 2 lbs
Assistive Technology, Inc
 Macaw Series
$4200-$10,000 (depending on # of access sites and recording time desired)
digitized Speech
Output (9 minutes to 12 hours,
recordable)
Message Representation:
Add your own
symbols/message overlays.
Up to 128 messages per page. Each message key is 1.5cm -
2.9cm square.
The number of message keys can be changed. Choose 2, 4,
8,16, 32 or 64 larger message keys.
Record up to 63 pages (levels) of messages.
Message retrieval by single key selection, key-linking, and
selecting keys silently and speaking them as a sequence.
Access:
direct selection using the membrane keyboard
single switch and multi-switch scanning, switch joystick.
Auditory and visual scanning, morse code access.
Other Features:
SIZE = 29 x 20 x 1/ 6 cm
WEIGHT = 1 kg
Zygo Industries, Inc.
 MessageMate
$500-1400 (depending on #of access sites and recording time)
Speech: Digitized recordable speech
Message Representation:
20-40 message keys
(1.9cm square)
membrane keyboard (can customize own overlays)
Access:
direct selection
Linear or row/column scanning using 1 or 2 switches.
Auditory scanning.
Other Features:
75-600 seconds total recording time
one to four levels providing up to 144 recordable messages
Words+
 SpeakEasy
$399
Speech: Digitized recordable speech
Message Representation:
12 message keys (2.25
mm) Good for preschoolers.
membrane keyboard
(can customize own overlays)
Access:
direct selection
12 switch input capacity
No scanning available.
Other Features:
4 minutes speech time
Connect 1 or 2 toys or appliances for reinforcement
1 lb total weight
19x14x4.5 cm
AbleNet
 SuperHawk
$800-$1000
Speech: Digitized speech
(6-12 minutes)
Message Representation:
Up to 72 message cells
per page, each is 2.5 x
2.2cm square.
Up to 72 pages of
messages with a possible 72 messages per page. However, this
is limited to 120 messages in total - 96 of 2.5 seconds and 24
with 5 seconds.
Choose from the following page layouts: 6x12, 3x6, 3x3, 3x2,
2x2, 1x2 or 1x1
Access:
Direct selection by the touch panel or plug in up to 4 remote
switches.
Single switch scanning, with auditory scanning activated simply
by plugging in a private speaker.
There are no "dead spots" between squares (Includes 72
location keyguard, and other configurations are available)
Other Features:
Message buffer (put words together and speak out in a
sentence)
Connect up to 4 toys or appliances
Volume control
Size = 27x35x5 cm
Weight = 3 lbs
ADAMLAB
 TuffTalker
$8000
Speech: Synthesized, DECtalk
Message Representation: Dynamic Display a fully
customizable membrane keyboard
Access: direct on the touch panel, and has built-in switch interface for indirect selection
300-MHz Intel Celeron processor and comes fully loaded with Windows 98 and our popular Talking Screen software.
Finger touch screen membrane keyboard
Rugged magnesium case & custom carrying case
Shock-mounted hard drive
Spill-resistant LCD
Lightweight and highly portable
Three-year limited warranty
Words+
 Vanguard
$15,000-$15,500
Speech: DECtalk
synthesized speech and
digitized Speech Output
(15 minutes, recordable)
Message Representation: fully customizable. Can use symbols, words, pictures, etc.. This device uses
Minspeak technology. Includes 3 levels of Unity with varying degrees of complexity, and
MinTalk, a MAP for adults with an intellectual disability. Minspeak icons are
displayed in 32 locations and represent the core vocabulary of 500 words and phrases.
Written words appear under each icon to promote word recognition. The core vocabulary is present on every page. Only the top row of pictures changes for extended vocabulary giving the user access to vocabulary needed for particular activities.
Customize your own extended vocabulary, choosing from 1700 pictures.
Spell words on the built in keyboard (ABC or QWERTY layout). Word prediction is available in spelling mode.
Access: direct selection with the touch panel or optical head
pointing, or scanning with switches/joysticks. Icon prediction helps
the user to recall messages by fading out pictures where no message
is stored.
Other Features:
Visual and auditory scanning capabilities.
Includes books, songs, games and activities for teaching
vocabulary.
A 12" active matrix screen for varied lighting and positioning
conditions.
Can be directly attached to a printer.
Includes mouse and keyboard controls for a Macintosh or
Windows computer.
Built in infrared output for remote control of appliances e.g. TV
and VCR.
Size = 34 x 28 x 10 cm
Weight = 4kg with one battery / 5kg with two batteries.
Prentke Romich Company
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Glossary of frequently used AAC terms:
DECtalk: The most common speech synthesizer used in communication devices. Voices can be programmed to simulate both female and male voices for children
through adults. (see this link for more info on DECtalk)
Digitized Speech: Unlike synthesized speech which relies on software to create spoken words,
digitized speech is simply "recorded" speech. The programmer records their own words into the
device, and the user then plays them back. This method requires lots of memory to store multiple
phrases and cannot make words which aren't directly recorded.
Direct Selection: With direct selection, "what you push is what you get".
Like a normal keyboard, pressing the "L" key, displays an "L" on the screen. This method does not require a sequence of
events like "indirect selection", but simply one action produces an effect.
Dynamic Display: A dynamic display changes as you move through sequences of "communication
boards" automatically. The device can be programmed to change screens when certain buttons are
activated. For example, one can program a "meal" board to change to a "lunch options
only" board automatically by the child pressing the "I want to eat lunch" button. This requires good memory and
problem solving ability by the user, and can be extremely valuable to the intelligent person who wants
to independently use large vocabulary and context choices throughout the day.
Indirect Selection: This method requires the user to activate a sequence in order to elicit a desired
response. For example, a user may use a switch to activate a scanning cursor. When the cursor
reaches the desired target, the switch is activated again to "select" the target.
Keyguard: A keyguard is used to help guide the user to
the correct location of a direct selection device like a keyboard. It allows the user to drag their
hand(s) across the device without accidentally hitting undesired keys or selection. Holes are made over the correct areas for more accurate selections.
Membrane Keyboard: A membrane keyboard is one flat surface. The advantage is that you can make overlays
which customize the layout to fit your specific needs. The disadvantage is that it is only 2 dimensional, and it can be easy to activate undesired fields without a
keyguard.
Minspeak: This is different from a dynamic display as described in this glossary in that it is not a
multiple "level" or overlay system. It uses pictures which carry certain meanings depending. One
can string many pictures together to create a complete idea, and these pictures change in meaning
depending on the context of the previously selected pictures. If this sounds confusing, you are not
alone. This requires a great deal of training to learn how to use this, but can be very useful when one
become proficient. Click
here for more info on this, and for a comparison (biased) on Minspeak vs dynamic
level systems.
Scanning: Scanning is frequently used with
indirect switch selection. Typically, activation of the switch initiates a scanning sequence (linear, column-row, etc..). A second activation will select the user's desired choice. Many
variations of this concept exist depending on the number of switches, and desired responses. Scanning rate is usually user adjustable.
Synthesized Speech: This is speech that the computer generates to closely resemble a human voice.
A digital answering machine is an example of a product that uses synthesized speech. This method
allows the computer to generate an unlimited number of possible spoken words, and takes up little
memory. The most common speech synthesizer used in communication devices is
DECtalk.
Word Prediction Software: Word prediction works well for "slower" typers and also for those who
have difficulty with spelling, but want to be able to write proficiently. The software "predicts" what
you are typing as you go. With each keystroke, the choices continue to narrow down to your
desired word, until the user simply hits one key or switch to select the desired word without having
to type the whole thing out. CoWriter is an example of word
prediction software.
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