|
March 2001
Dynamic screen voice output communication aids (and communication aid software on standard portables or classroom computers) are increasingly used in schools. The problem is that it takes too much time and effort for teachers, therapists or parents to start from scratch and design a whole vocabulary of linked pages, containing thousands of symbols and words, for each individual child. They need someone else to do that work so that they can get on with teaching and supporting the child! CALLtalk is just that - a pre-stored vocabulary.
Somewhat more complex than IDV/Quickfire, CALLtalk is designed for Primary school age children with good educational potential, who are expected over time to develop full language abilities, and to make the transition to literacy (ie. where ‘talking’ and writing in sentences is a realistic target). It may be found useful by older learners moving more slowly towards such goals. It will be particularly useful to users who can access a touch screen by direct pointing, but scanning can be used (and there is a Mac based ‘Trainer’ version for younger scanners).
CALLtalk is still in development, but should be widely available for Mac, PC and Dynavox in the early part of 2001 from suppliers of communication aids and educational software.
|
