New iPhone and iTouch AAC Solution
Published April 14, 2009 @ 10:28AM PT
While I was supposed to be writing a blog post, I was instead drooling over Proloquo2Go, a new Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) application for iPhone and iTouch. So, er, I suppose I've my post topic there.
I use regular Proloquo on my computer as a major part of my communication system. It works well for me because I type at about sub-light speed (OK, not really, but I do type very fast), the voice quality is very high (uses Acapela's high quality voices), and I was able to afford it (because I already had a computer). I souped up the system with a text expansion program, custom programmed function keys, and, most importantly, a gooseneck USB speaker that allows me to direct the voice right at my conversation partner.
Proloquo doesn't however have word prediction--while iPhone has some of the best word prediction I've ever seen. If only... if only...
And I am stuck always carrying my computer with me (or sometimes don't and regret it), which is large and only has about 2 hours of battery life which can be extremely nerve wracking when there are no outlets in sight--while iPhone is small, light, super portable (obviously) and has many more hours of battery life. If only... if only...
So now it looks like I can get my wish! And Proloquo2Go isn't just regular Proloquo--it's got a number of new features like automatic morphology and access to sentence history. One handed touch operation also makes it a viable communication tool while standing or moving, for example communicating with a sales person in a store, or with a bus or taxi driver, which can't be done with a laptop or larger device that needs to sit on a flat surface or which was developed for wheelchair mounting.
A video interview with Proloquo2Go's co-creator (not captioned, but the site claims a transcript coming soon) includes a demonstration of a beta version. While the demonstration uses the icons for sentence construction, the application does do typed text with the keypad.
Also exciting is that even with purchase of iPhone or iTouch the entire device is less than $500, compared with the thousands for most portable speech devices. The introductory price for the software in iTunes store is $149; it will be going up to $199 after the first few weeks on the market. The product isn't in the iTunes store yet, but you can be notified when it is by signing up for an alert (I certainly did! I'm excited!).
Photo source: http://www.proloquo2go.com.
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Comments (17)
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Dora is committed to improving quality of life for individuals on the autistic spectrum--including herself! She is Co-director of the Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education and a member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network's Board of Directors.
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Dora - very cool. Thanks for sharing this. I couldn't see your post yet in the archives of the proloquo2go community. I just signed up, so maybe it will hit the archives in a day or so.
Its a great price for what it can do. I can't wait to find one to test it out. I might have to suggest it to the local Apple store as an autism awareness effort.
Posted by John Ruch on 04/14/2009 @ 01:50PM PT
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Dora and John,
Regarding connecting to local Apple Store's as an autism awareness event, I think that is brilliant. What better way to tell the world about other communication options for individuals with autism, than packaging it around one of the coolest things going, the iPhone and iPod touch. Nice idea!
Dora, thanks for sharing about Proloquo2Go. We are excited to release version 1.0 and what it means for individuals and families to be able to get access to AAC easily and affordably, yet not compromise power.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sennott
Posted by Samuel Sennott on 04/14/2009 @ 02:01PM PT
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Now this makes me contemplate getting an iPhone. I wish I had the money for one and Proloquo2Go. (And as an aside, I keep reading it as Prologue)
Posted by Norah vd Stel on 04/14/2009 @ 02:58PM PT
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Dora, yet another intensely interesting post! and John's Apple store autism awareness idea is indeed brilliant. Should we be trying to orchestrate a cross-Atlantic Apple store promotion? anyone clues about how?
Posted by dinah murray on 04/14/2009 @ 11:25PM PT
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Samuel Sennot is the co-author of the product, so you can contact him perhaps either through private message on change.org or at support@proloquo2go.com (he answered a mail I sent to that address). Since he's deailing with the Apple store and loved the idea in the comment above, he might have some clues. Just make sure no one puts pity into the event if it happens--I know *you* would keep it respectful! :-)
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 04/15/2009 @ 10:09AM PT
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Proloquo2Go is available on the App Store!
http://www.proloquo2go.com/buy/
Posted by Samuel Sennott on 04/22/2009 @ 07:44PM PT
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I downloaded it immediately and have been reprogramming it to suit my needs all day *grin*
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 04/22/2009 @ 08:37PM PT
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Dora, I am amazed at how much you both produce on this blog. It is fantastic.
You may want to download the guide that is on board Proloquo2Go in the options.
You can get it here: http://www.proloquo2go.com/Manual/article/downloadable-manual
and also check out this: http://www.proloquo2go.com/Manual/
Posted by Samuel Sennott on 04/22/2009 @ 10:46PM PT
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I skimmed through the manual online but I learn better (and more happily :-) by poking through everything and trying stuff. There is a lot to love--I'm very, very excited about the portability, the battery life, and how quick it is to navigate the items (I'm horrifically clumsy with a mouse and never really used speech panels because of that.)
I also love that I can change the font and background colors--such things can be an accessibility issue for me so being able to control them is enormously welcome.
Are there any plans to be able to import items from Mac? I ask this because I do a lot of public speaking that I prepare in advance, and would LOVE to not be bound to my computer for that, but typing in paragraphs of e.g. 14 pages of slide text is a little daunting. The ability to copy/paste then from my Mac and then synch would be very welcome. Just as a suggestion :-)
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 04/22/2009 @ 11:17PM PT
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Check out iPrompts on the App store! Its a new iPhone and iPod touch application that lets you create picture schedules, social stories, visual countdown prompts and choice prompts on the fly. It just launched on the App Store this week!
Posted by Dan Tedesco on 05/09/2009 @ 02:21PM PT
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This communication system has come up at just the right time for it. I just got out of the hospital recently, and one thing that became really bad was having no means of communicating if I was lying on my side. Since I was lying on my side a good deal of the time, this became a safety issue: If no advocate had been present I'd have been in deep trouble, because people were making decisions about me without my being able to consent, or to dissent as the case may be.
I started thinking I badly needed a smaller communication device. A Dynavox VMax is all well and good until I have to sit in some position where it is hard to poke the screen or use a keyboard. Or to type one-handed on the screen, which is incredibly difficult. Even the tiny little talking computer that AnneC taught me how to make, is very hard to type on, or read the screen on, in certain positions. So I wanted something small, portable, affordable, and easily typed on from several angles. And a friend told me this really worked for her, so... despite never thinking I would get this kind of ipod, one is arriving in the mail shortly.
This thing is just going to be all kinds of good things on all kinds of levels. :-)
Posted by Amanda Baggs on 05/27/2009 @ 09:56AM PT
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We (autreach.it) will be very interested to hear how it goes for you. To use it as a VOCA, unless it is a very quiet context, we found one of the (robust) carrying cases with speakers was helpful.
It's extremely good to learn you are back out of hospital; hopefully better and able to get your life back.
Posted by dinah murray on 05/27/2009 @ 11:26AM PT
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I've been using a portable speaker attached to a lanyard around my neck for amplification. That's worked pretty well for me so far (though I wish the speaker did not use AAA batteries but had an internal rechargeable instead).
Posted by Dora Raymaker on 05/27/2009 @ 10:38PM PT
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Dora: (I couldn't hit "reply" directly to your post for some reason) Which portable speaker are you using? I have a portable speaker but mine is not easy to hang around my neck on a lanyard. I am planning to hang my ipod on one lanyard and the speaker on another if I can manage it.
Unfortunately your link tag was never filled in with the actual link, it reads (I'm substituting square brackets for pointy brackets) [a rel="nofollow"]portable speaker[/a], which doesn't go anywhere. :-/
Posted by Amanda Baggs on 05/30/2009 @ 02:47PM PT
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Amanda, Hi its Samuel Sennott. You may like the X Mini. On our site we have some listed, http://proloquo2go.com/resources/article/speakers
We also have some new ones we are testing. Message me if you would like to speak further.
Posted by Samuel Sennott on 05/30/2009 @ 02:56PM PT
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I've thought of the x-mini or a similar one (ihome or something sold at Amazon). It's at the high end of my current price range (end of the month on disability income). I've also been looking at one of the Altec Lansing Orbit kind (the $28ish one on Amazon with the case with a carabiner on it, therefore easy to hang around neck).
Posted by Amanda Baggs on 05/30/2009 @ 05:48PM PT
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Hello,
My son was diagnosed with developmental delays and generalized anxiety disorder. We found storyboards to be a helpful tool for him. We created an iPhone app to make customized storyboards and visual schedules for children.
Take a moment to check it out and let us know what you think.
http://grembe.moonfruit.com
Posted by Lisa Brandolo Johnson on 07/21/2009 @ 04:59PM PT
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