Augmentative & Alternative Communication Apps

5 AAC Apps

In order to have a look at these apps, I chose five that are free and available for iPhone. Although these apps all have good points, they do illustrate the saying "You get what you pay for."

1.
Alexicom AAC home page
Alexicom on iTunes

Alexicom is an online-based app that is not device-dependent. Instead of purchasing an app, one in fact subscribes to a service. The best price is $34 a month for a year-long subscription, $23 a month when at least 10 licenses are purchased. Once a user is set up, they can access their account through any device that can access the Internet. Of course, you need a device that can access the Internet! Yes, there are such things--in my school, we have no Internet access in the Learning Centre. We do have iPads now, but they can only access the Internet through wi-fi, which we don't have. Since iPads with 3G capability are more expensive, that could be a barrier to some users. And the icons looked pretyy small on my iPhone.

The interface on this app isn't pretty, but I couldn't really judge it fully. The setup process looks cumbersome, but it's the end result that counts! The ability to use multiple devices can certainly be handy, and it's probably the way of the future.

Alexicom does lunch:




2.
Say Hi! home page

Say Hi! on iTunes







Say Hi! has an unusual setup: you need an iPad and two iPhones/iPod Touches. The iPad acts as the screen, which can be customized to suit the user. It displays a grid with up to nine boxes. The smaller devices act essentially as switches; one is a mover, rather like an arrow key that moves through the boxes on the iPad, and the other is a selector, a kind of enter key. Each device must be on the same wireless network, so Internet is required.

It seems odd to me to use two iDevices as simple, single-function switches. Surely one can find switches, and one can find uses for two iPhones! Other perusers of this app seem as puzzled as I, but there are apparently some happy users as well. Perhaps a good use for iPhones left behind by upgrades.

The iPhones each use the whole screen, so provide a fairly large surface to tap. The iPad is not touched at all by the user. A typical user would be someone with severe physical limitations.

This app is completely free, from the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation.


Can't picture? Me neither, until I watched this video.


3.

MyTalk home page

MyTalk on iTunes





MyTalk was developed by Bick Pratt, the father of a son with multiple disabilities. The app is used on an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, but can be customized online using a computer. You can, however, customize directly on the device. The app is free, and comes with a 30-day trial of the computer-based editor, Workspace. Once the trial is over, you can keep the mobile app, and continue to customize on the mobile device. Apparently it's easier to create your boards on the computer, but once they're set up, you get to keep them, whether you purchase the extension or not. And catch this--SLPs pay less! Less than users and parents!

The interface is appealing, clear and easy-to-use. Instructions are logical and comprehensive. My favourite so far. The pricing is staggered, between free and $200.

Autism Hangout likes it. Good enough for me.




4. 
OneVoice home page

OneVoice on iTunes

Here's what they have to say about themselves:
"OneVoice does less than most augmented communication devices. Why? Because making it easy to use is far more important than making sure it has every possible feature."

Okay, that's an interesting approach, and makes a certain amount of sense. It would probably make more sense if it cost less than Proloquo2Go, but it's $200. The reviewer on iAutism is skeptical, and so am I.

It certainly is quick to get started with and easy to use, and you can edit on the device, adding your own images and text. The vocabulary included is small. The appearance cannot be customized much, so there's not much you can do to make it visually or physically more accessible. The free version has no voice, so you can't check that out beforehand. While it might be easy to start using, an app that will carry you through the long-term is worthy of a learning curve.

5.
Locabulary home page

Locabulary on iTunes

Besides having a cute name, Locabulary has a unique feature: it works with GPS. This app uses the location feature of the iPhone to help you create categories for specific locations. Apparently, one must go to the location (or type in the multiple-digit coordinates), label it, and add vocabulary to match. Your location is now a locabulation--seriously. The free version comes loaded with much of the menu items for MacDonald's and Starbucks. Strikes me as a limited application, but it might be handy for running errands to frequently-accessed locations.