(I was going to write this in comments to the previous post but thought it would be better here)
I'm sitting here going through the video tutorials for the Voice4u and Look2learn :) - So far managed to add pictures (hooray!) but as its an iPod I need to get an external microphone to add a voice. Not too much of a problem though, if I can work out how to add photos and voice then I think it's safe to say that it's easy to use!
We added a second program, the Look2learn, which seems as though it may be easier for Dimitri to scroll through and has the "I want" which he is familiar with from PECS.
Dimitri's skills at using a touch screen............. will take some work, he is a bit forceful, but is already catching on to the scrolling. The difficulty is he gets frustrated if someone else tries to help him - how sturdy is an iPod? (We've put a protective cover on it, but it's not Kevlar)
The two apps were 25dollars each, plus cost of the iPod. I think depending on how long the iPod survives will determine whether this is economically better than a dedicated AAC device. The ability to add pictures and voice are what makes the applications worth while I think, plus the portability.
8 comments:
Emma: thanks for the expansion.
Adding pictures, tick.
Adding voice, big tick (but did you see the reviews? Somebody had trouble).
Portability, tick.
The IPad has at least a 5-year warranty.
Someone also complained that there was only "I want" in one of the applications.
My thoughts are on protecting the device from destruction, but your comments hint that this can be learned soon enough, too.
I've imagined children carrying the device on a lanyard around their neck. Perhaps something like a strap to a belt loop, (old concept of a watch chain), perhaps even a retractable cord? Can you see the movie "Night at the Museum"? Stiller's character has a retractable cord for his keys. Must be commercially available some where.
I'm long on this comment, but I am also thinking a simple method for protecting the device is possible if not kevlar. :)
Please post on how use of the the apps is going and I will keep thinking about how to protect it. Barbara
Hi Emma -- I'm very interested in your posts as Ben in the last month got an iPod with software called Proloquo2Go -- I didn't realize there was other communication software that had been developed for the iPod.
As Barbara suggested, we have a lanyard attached to Ben's and he does sometimes wear around his neck. The iPod is the most perfect device for Ben because it is tiny and light, and doesn't require strength to use.
He is part of a research project assessing it, and they put a small case around it to protect it (I think it's just like a leather glove it slips into).
What I'm trying to figure out is how to make his creation of sentences more fluid -- because the way it's set up now, you have huge amounts of vocab sitting in different folders on different pages -- so it's a bit cumbersome to combine quickly.
Look forward to hearing more about how Dimitri uses his. Ben's favourite section is one that includes all his favourite Star Wars characters (the researcher put in photos she grabbed from Amazon.com) Thanks!
Oh YES!
Lanyards and keyrings.
Proloquo2Go seems to be the industry standard for communication, certainly among the special needs children and adults I know.
Great for the Star Wars characters. It will be great to talk about Skywalker and Han Solo and the rest.
Barbara - I saw a wrist thing you can attatch it to, gave me an image in my head of Dimitri dressed as Batman with a utility belt and wrist communicator.
Damage - is inevitable. Either by dropping or throwing - it happens, we are working on it.
Bloom - That's great that there is a research project evaluating! It helps to have some idea of how these things go in "real life". Proloquo sounds good with sentences, but the files would be too tricky for Dimitri, at the moment at least.
Adelaide - I must go and look up lanyard :-) ipod is such a great size for portability, AAC is moving on!
A lot of Greek kids probably do scoubidou, so you could make the lanyard tough and personal.
Also Terri Mauro - or rather her son - is your person.
Hi Emma, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the apps! I have an iphone and the Speck Candyshell has made it indestructible...I've dropped it on a wood floor, face down, many more times than I would have anticipated. The material is shock absorbent from what I hear, and there is a rubber rim around the face to keep it from cracking.
Probably has to be replaced every 6 months but definitely worth it.
I wonder if there is something you could attach that to?
Adelaide - ah yes, th daughter of a friend of mine does this (i no longer confuse it with Scooby Doo :-))
aspieteacher - Thanks! that sounds just what we need. Just took a look at your blog and the review of Model me Going Places, that sounds interesting, thanks to you too for writing about it - I'm learning so much the past few days!
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