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August 2001
 An easy to use communication aid that will not break the bank, that’s what most people working in the AAC field are looking for. The Tech/Talk 8 or Tech/Speak 32 will fit the bill perfectly. Light, user friendly and under £500, these devices really are as good as they sound.
Layout
The Tech/Talk 8 has eight locations or cells, with six or eight levels, where you can store recorded messages, while the Tech/Speak 32 has 32 locations with two or four levels. At the back of the device there’s the on/off button and volume. The level switch lets you move between the different levels that the messages are stored on. Recording is easy, press the red button, hold down a location, speak and release. There is no need to re-charge the Tech/Talk, it runs from 4 A4 batteries which are included.
Changing Overlays
To change the overlays, simply pull one out and slip in the next. Change the level switch at the back to where the messages are stored and away you go. To make new overlays there’s a template that’s compatible with the Boardmaker computer programme. You can be as creative as you want using digital camera photographs or scanned images.
Remember to save the template as a different name each time you use it, otherwise you will have to delete an overlay to get it back! When printing, another tip is to cut down A3 paper so you have the extra length, as the overlay prints out as US Legal size.
Flexibility of Use
The main strength of the Tech/Talk is its flexibility. It’s as useful for an individual as for a group. The Tech/Talk can be used during music/group time for example ‘Old McDonald’, to let children choose the animals, then the teacher moves to the next level and the child choose the animal again and hears the sound the animal makes. By using this children can be active participants in an activity.
At story time, the Tech/Talk can be used by the whole group, to choose the story, then to tell parts of the story. In “Walking through the Jungle’ the children can identify the animals and say the repeated parts of the story for example ‘Looking for its tea’. BigMacks can also be included for ‘turn the page’. Other suitable books are ‘The Train Ride’, ‘Owl babies’, ‘The Big Red Bus’, ‘The Bear and the Scary Night’. A Tech/Talk programmed with stories works well in an inclusive setting. In a nursery, a small group of children can all benefit from a group story through turn taking, recognition of pictures, anticipation and listening.
Whenever the opportunity for communication exists the Tech/Talk can be used. Some possible uses in group situations are during baking giving the next instruction ‘Mix it, pour it’, saying what ingredient needs to be added. While playing a game, requesting a turn, roll the dice, asking for help if needed. During a walk outside, the Tech/Talk can aid the children to express what they are seeing.
A blank overlay can be made so that pictures can be quickly drawn on it and used instantly. As a lesson develops you often find you don’t have all the vocabulary you wish you had – this is an easy way to get round that problem.
Activities for an individual child could involve recognising and counting sets of objects in maths, this would use the already supplied overlay of numbers. Recognition of objects from descriptions, reading words rather than just symbols. For teachers used to printing out low tech communication boards, the possibilities are endless At various parts of the day the device can be given to a particular child for example snacktime or lunchtime.
A possible way of storing the overlay could be in a ring binder with punched pockets. Each pocket would have the overlay and then a list of the messages to be recorded into each location. This means the Tech/Talk can be programmed easily for the next activity by anyone in the classroom. It’s also worth having a record of the levels you can record onto, the Tech/Talk comes with a record sheet, which means that overlays can be numbered, and all people know where they are stored and what level to record them on to.
Price Guide
The Tech/Talk 8 costs between £295 and £495 and Tech/Speak 32 costs between £345 and £495. Both can be purchased from Inclusive Technology 01457 819799 or www.inclusive.co.uk.
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