This document provides information about apps for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on various mobile devices. It discusses the Android and Apple operating systems, relevant hardware options, and 15 AAC apps available on Android. It then provides more detailed information about AAC options on Apple devices, including iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad models and pricing. Key AAC apps like Proloquo2Go, Sono Flex, and TouchChat are described in terms of their features, vocabulary packages, and pricing. The document aims to help people choose appropriate AAC devices and software.

1. Apps for AAC
What Can I Say?
V3 September 2011
Will Wade, Kent Communication & Assistive Technology Service

2. Android
• Android is the name of Google’s “Open”
Operating system
• Open = easier /cheaper to develop on but
can mean questionable quality software
(buggier, may not do quite what it says)
• Android is more widespread but high
quality software not at same stage of
Apple devices
• Still at an early stage for AAC

3. Android Hardware
• A minefield. More choice with more features
which may be good for AT.
• No real iPod touch alternative. Phones or
Tablets
• Phones - good quality.
• Tablets - Getting there.
• Real problem is software and shelf-life of
hardware

4. Android Software
• Apple devices - you have to use Apple’s input
method (Touch, External Bluetooth
keyboard or Onscreen keyboard)
• Android - a software developer can change
the input method (e.g. Make a system wide
change to the onscreen keyboard)

5. Alternative keyboards

6. Plus a Text to Speech
system
• = a Wide AAC
choice for Text

7. 15 AAC apps
• But of lower quality •
•
Voice4U
Alexicom
than the big symbol
• TapTalker
• LetsTalk
• Powwow Talk
grid systems on iOS •
•
TapToTalk
iAugComm
• SpeakingPad
• Note also in-tic. •
•
•
TypeAndSpeak
TalkAndroid
Talkadroid
• A free alternative to
• Flext9
• Pocket SLP
• VocalSlides
the grid for tablets
• Discover MyVoice
• TapTalk

8. Alternative Access
• Tecla
• Not very
everyday
consumer
ready yet
• Promising

9. iPod, iPhone, iPad
• 4 Devices to choose from (5 incl iPad)
• £189 to £419 for device
• £10 - £210 case
• Software free to .59p to £110.
• 135 AAC focused apps
• Rough cost:
• £340 for full AAC device (£579 on
iPad) £230 for additional user
devices. Insurance; £40-120/yr

10. iPod Touch
8GB (£193) , 32GB (£254) or 64GB (£336)
NB: Still makes this unique cf Android. No standalone handheld that ISNT a phone

11. iPhone
4
3GS 16GB £510
8GB 32GB £612
£428 “Multitasking”
Better camera
Retina Display
Gorilla Glass
Deals available on both, and the 3G
phone on Orange, O2, Vodafone, Three,
T-Mobile and 3rd party Telcos (e.g.
Tescos, Virgin) from Free (£35-45/
month) on 3G/S to PAYG

12. iPad - Its a big iPod
touch!
• Wifi only:
• 16 / 32 / 64 GB
• £399 / £479 / £559
• Wifi + 3G (with
contract):
• £499 / £579 / £659

13. iPad Facts
• 10 hr of video / surfing the web / AAC usage (1
month standby)
• 600g
• Just over A4
• Front and rear camera
• Speaker and Microphone
• Bright - sunshine happy screen
• iPad 2 currently on sale - but 1’s are around second-hand and
in some shops cheaper. Still suitable for many AAC uses (no
camera)

14. Insurance
• Comes with 1 year warranty & 90 days
technical support (Apple Stores or Phone)
• Consider Applecare. £60. 2 years support
• GET Insurance for Breakages! Note
you will pay more through the phone
company. Try third party insurance cost:
£30-80/year (e.g. Protectyourbubble.com)
• Note replace broken screen on a 3G will
cost approx £40.

15. Cases / Speakers
• AMDi iAdapter
Speaker / Case
• 10 hr run time
• Covers front
button
• Inclusive and
Therapy Box:
£158, £208 for
iPad 2 case

16. Otterbox
• Approx £50. 3 layers;
rubber, hard plastic,
silicone
• (Stand using screen
protector) (Maxess angled
rest £20 (Inclusive))
• 1cm height difference
from screen
TIP: Don’t bother with film screen
protectors.

17. Cases / Speakers
Consider child and hand grip/function
iMainGo 2 / X
• 12 hr battery life
• Lion rechargeable battery
• Can daisy chain for extra volume
• Can use headphones without removing
from case
• Cut out the plastic screen!
• £40-60

18. Speakers
Gear 4 Blackbox
Mini
Bluetooth, Loud, Needs a
bag!
Veho Portable 360
4 hrs of battery life
(constant use)
SuperTooth Buddy
Xmini
Handsfree Bluetooth
Wired, Small, £13
Visor Car-Kit
20 hrs talktime, 1000 hrs
standby. Clippable.

19. Buying
• Apple stores, but not everything and will pay
extra for peripherals.
• You can hand your cash over to third party
e.g. Therapy Box to do everything for
you - added cost involved
• 5 Machines can be authorised to one
account
• You can place purchased software on as
many devices as you like

20. For assessment
Computer with iTunes
equipment
One account for Assessment
e.g:
kentassessment@kcc.gov.uk
No credit card stored!
Items purchased (once gone
through an approval process to
meet purchasing guidelines)
You can use “gift cards” for
the purchase of apps if you
Assessment Devices synced with this struggle to get through a
account
purchasing system
NB: YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY
DEVICES AS YOU LIKE USING
APPS

21. Same Computer with iTunes
For Children’s
equipment
Create a new iTunes library
(hold shift on start up) for
student.
Create a new iTunes account:
iosdevice4@mailnull.com
Apps purchased with KCC
credit card by authoriser.
Credit card details removed.
iOSDevice 4 synced with this iTunes
library
iosdevice4@mailnull.com iTunes
account details handed to family/
school
Kent CAT Staff member "authorises"
iosdevice4@mailnull.com account You can “Gift” items to
onto Home iTunes machine. Family
can now update app and manage another account too.
backups etc.
NB: You can only have 5 machines
"authorised" to use an account.

22. Any Computer with iTunes
Alternatively..
Authorise
kentassessment@kcc.gov.uk in
iTunes. Login as this user.
Re-"purchase" software. (Just
downloads it).
Note: If the client’s family
go and stick there CCard
Families original device synced with
details in by accident and
this iTunes library as they usually do. you have authorised this
App added. you can confuse folk! (It’s
Child can use it as though it is theirs
safe but..).. It can be
problematic keeping track
of authorised machines..

23. AAC Software - Stats
• 143 AAC Apps (as of Sept 2011, NB: 5th
January : 65, May: 130)
• 45 Both (+) iPad/iPod Touch Apps.
• 61 iPod Touch apps.
• 25 iPad only.
• 37 free. 43 between .69-£5. 11 > £70.
• Approx £1500 to buy everything

24. AAC Software
• Symbol Grid systems
• Word predictors
• PECS specific
• Eye pointing / Photo story systems
• Text to speech only / Phrase banks
• Misc: Screen readers / Language devpt
• See http://appsforaac.net for the full list

25. Choosing an iDevice - a
reminder
• Language first, Technology second. Don’t focus on
the hardware - focus on the software and an individuals
language.
• A 3 yr old will have a vocab of 1000 words +. Therefore if
a child has language equivalent of a 3 yr old then the vocab
system should provide access to the same level as their
peers.
• Ease of use at first encounter frequently does not lead to
effective long term use. Language acquisition is complex -
vocabulary, grammar and social language skills all need to
be developed

26. AAC App Decisions
• Three questions to ask:
• How is language represented? (symbols, photos, words)
• How words are selected and organised? (grid, drag & drop, tables)
• How are messages generated or constructed to talk? (PECS or
Grid like, Synthesised voice etc)
• 3 methods of language representation available: Alphabet-based,
single-meaning graphic symbols, multiple-meaning graphic symbols.
• Core & extended vocabulary.
• Spontaneous & Novel utterances Generation (SNUG) & prestored
messages. SNUG allows for growth in vocab, grammar and fluency.
Prestored messages useful in routine and social environments,

27. Symbol/Grid Systems

28. Proloquo2go

29. Proloquo2go
• Proloquo = speak out
• One purchase - free
updates.
• V 1.7 End of September
• V 2.0 October
• Demo

30. PQ2G 1.7
• More spacing
between cells
• Bigger toolbar

31. PQ2G 1.7
• Live
editing of
options

32. PQ2G 1.7
• Options
password
protected

33. Features / App Proloquo2Go (iPod) Proloquo2Go (iPad) Proloquo2Go v2 (iPad)
For Device Bpth+ Both+ Bpth+
Access SIngle Tap or Tap and Hold SIngle Tap or Tap and SIngle Tap or Tap and Hold (0.1-5
(0.1-5 seconds). Can set to Hold (0.1-5 seconds). Can seconds). Can set to ignore
ignore multiple taps. Repeat set to ignore multiple taps. multiple taps. Repeat Delay (0.5-15
Delay (0.5-15 seconds). Flick Repeat Delay (0.5-15 seconds). Flick for scrolling (if on).
for scrolling (if on) seconds). Flick for Alternative options provided.
Accessibility Accessible with VoiceOver. scrolling (if on) VoiceOver.
Accessible with Accessible with VoiceOver. Switch
Switch access end of 2011 Switch access end of 2011 access end of 2011
Portrait Mode Yes Yes Yes
Landscape Mode Yes Yes Yes
Minimum Cell size 22mmx11mm (Landscape) 22mmx11mm (Landscape)
27mmx17mm (Portrait) 27mmx17mm (Portrait)
Average Cell size Variable. 8 cell sizes. Variable. 8 cell sizes. Medium:
Medium: 147mm x 22mm 147mm x 22mm (Landscape)
(Landscape) 35mmx35mm 35mmx35mm (Portrait)
(Portrait)
Grid size Variable. Medium: 4x4, Variable. Medium: 4x4, Ultra small:
Ultra small: 8x8, 1x1 8x8, 1x1 (Extreme)
(Extreme)
Space between cells 1mm Variable
Size of message bar 141mmx19mm (Portrait) 141mmx19mm (Portrait)
198mmx19mm 198mmx19mm (Landscape)
Restrictions to Options/ No (Landscape)
No Yes - with password
Editing
Resizable message bar no no Yes
Switch off message bar yes yes Yes
Symbol system SymbolStix SymbolStix SymbolStix
Edit cell colour Yes Yes Yes
Edit message bar color Yes Yes Yes
Speech Acapela 2 UK women. 2 UK Acapela 2 UK women. 2 Acapela 2 UK women. 2 UK Men. 1
Men. 1 India Woman. 2 US UK Men. 1 India Woman. 2 India Woman. 2 US Children. 3 US
Children. 3 US women. 2 US US Children. 3 US women. women. 2 US Men.
Men. 2 US Men.
Vocab packages available 1 1 3 (VocaSpace, One core word
based and one basic vocabulary
for beginners)
Prediction in Keyboard Yes Yes Yes
Prediction anywhere Yes Yes Yes
Access to Leisure apps No No No
Access to device functions No No No
Sharing text (socially) No No No
Printing/saving of writing No No No
Visual scene displays No No No

34. Tobii Sono Flex
• iPod Touch and iPad. Slightly
different on each
• An attempt at bringing a thought
out vocabulary structure to the
device
• Scalability to C series of devices.
• Editable on Communicator
• Multiplatform. Growth on and off
around vocab devices.

35. Features / App Sono Flex (iPod) Sono Flex (iPad)
For Device Both+ Both+
Access Single Tap (Swipe possible for Single Tap (Swipe possible for changing
changing pages, Tap and Hold for pages, Tap and Hold for editing), (slow)
editing), (slow) Double Tap to access Double Tap to access Caps Lock on
Caps Lock on keyboard. keyboard.
Accessibility Accessible using Apple's iOS API Accessible using Apple's iOS API
Portrait Mode Yes No
Landscape Mode No Yes
Minimum Cell size 51.42mm x 6mm 7mm x 7mm
Average Cell size 11mm x 11mm 26mm x 26mm
Grid size 4x4 7x4
Space between cells 1mm 1mm
Size of message bar 51mmx10mm 81mmx21mm
Resizable message bar no no
Symbol system SymbolStix SymbolStix
Speech Acapela, US Only. 2 Women, 1 Man, Acapela, US Only. 2 Women, 1 Man, 1
1 Boy, 1 Girl Boy, 1 Girl
Vocab packages available 1 1
Access to Leisure apps No No
Access to device functions No No
Sharing text (socially) No No
Printing/saving of writing (Screengrab only) (Screengrab only)
Visual scene displays No No
Support/Help In-built PDF, Website, Forums In-built PDF, Website, Forums
Desktop Editing Yes - Tobii Communicator Yes - Tobii Communicator
Vocabulary available on other Yes - C Series Yes - C Series
devices
Cost
In-App Costs
Pros Lots of predefined vocabulary in easy Lots of predefined vocabulary in easy to
to locate and use "Contexts". locate and use "Contexts". Consistent cell
Consistent cell size in iPad version. size in iPad version. Fixed location of

36. TouchChat
• Silver kite
• 3 options on iTunes.
HD: £84.99 HD with
Wordpower: £179.
For iPod: £84.99
• 5 voices
• Buttons can be
programmed to do
more than just
speech e.g. volume

37. TouchChat
4 Vocab packages included:
• VocabPC. Gail van Tattenhove designed package. 12 location. Adults
& Adolescents.
• Multichat 15. School aged children with emerging language. Core
and Activities
• Spelling. QWERTY keyboard with prediction
• Primary. Vocab for school, home & general communication

38. TouchChat
In-App purchases available
• iShare - server based
subscription to store
personal vocabs and allows a
teacher to share vocab to
other users.
• iEssence - redesigned
version of essence on
Vantage & Vantage Lite

39. TouchChat
• Windows Editor. Design on computer and
transfer to device. Transfer from ChatPC or
ALTChat to TouchChat on iPod.
• So lets imagine: iPod, MainGoX, TouchChat,
WordPower, Windows editor est £490.

40. Grid Player
• Play Grid 2 Grids
• No editing on device
• Use any communication grids
• All symbol systems
• Includes word prediction engine
• Clever auditory fishing feature
• Cost: Free. Require Grid 2 licence.

41. MyChoicePad
• Makaton! Videos!
• £74.99
• In-App purchase allows you to purchase
extended makaton vocabularies
• Can use Dropbox to upload/save grids
• Demo

42. Fixed language
• SmallTalk range (demo)
• PhraseBoard
• LetsTalk
• VoiceSymbol

43. Typ-O (HD)
• 6 Prediction cells.
• Uses the normal keyboard
• 8 Voices
• Set vocabularys (4 sizes)
• Can change font size
• Auditory support
• Notes
• Voice based prediction,
homophones, misspelling
• iPhone version: 2.99, iPad
8.99

44. Prediction
• Grid Player, Touch Chat, Proloquo2go all can
do prediction
• Apps are hard to compare. Not an easy like
for like.

45. iMean
• Has a Tap & Hold
feature
• Full Screen
keyboard
• QWERTY or ABC
• 3 Prediction cells

46. Verbally
• Free!
• Nice design
• Core words, Core
phrases
• Learning prediction
• Three different
keyboard layouts
• Cant change words or
phrases
• In-App purchase for
high quality voices

47. Predictable
• Designed for switch
access
• Switch box £89
• Tap switch action
• Configurable design
• Use of icons to
support categories
• Loquendo

48. Eye Pointing / Photo
Stories
• Pictello
• My Pictures Talk
• iCommunicate
• TapSpeak
• iComm

49. Pictello
• £8.99
• Each page a photo, 5 lines of text, recorded
sound or text to speech.
• Share stories with iTunes or using central
server (free).

50. Pictello

51. iComm
• Designed for
eye pointing
• But use how
you see fit!
• Free to
download.
£4.99 to buy
• Will need mic if
using with iPod

52. iComm
• Designed for
eye pointing
• But use how
you see fit!
• Free to
download.
£4.99 to buy
• Will need mic if
using with iPod

53. TTS only
• Speak It! • Voice
• Speak!
Generator
• Text to
• iSayIt • NeoJulie
speech Plus
• Talk Assist • NeoPaul
• TextToSpeech
• NeoKate
• Text2Speech • HearIt
• Iphonic • SynthSpeech
• Read it Text
• Ispeakit • My Talking
• SpeakPad
Phone

54. Speak it!
• Highlights words as spoken
• Copy and paste text in or write directly in
• 20 voices to download, 2 British as standard
• Font size can be changed
• Phrase bank
• £1.19

55. Speak it!

56. iPhonic
• Bizarre UI
• £0.59

57. Language development,
Screen readers etc
• Dragon Dictation • Scene&Heard
• Web Reader HD • TapSpeak Sequence
(demo)
• Talking browser for
iPad • iSignLite
• Knowtilus • iSpeak and Spell HD
• Speaking Images • SpelllNSay
• iSpeech • iSpeech for iPad

58. Text to speech from
photo
• Prizmo
• £6.99
• Acapela
voices in-
app
purchase

59. Problems!
• Loudness - you often need a speaker
• Documents - remember not a normal computer!
Getting docs on/off it is “different”
• Keyguards. None available.
• Software - a lot of it, how do you find it
• Software - many have not taken into account many of
the lessons learnt about AAC over the past 25 years.
e.g. symbol systems
• Software - many have not stuck to Apple design
guidelines (or any guidelines!) and thus created a
confusing hard to use interface for some apps.

60. Alternative Access
Accessibilty Options
• VoiceOver
• Zoom
• White on Black / Black on White
• Keyboard access

61. Accessible = Usable for all

62. Bluetooth Keyboards
• A number exist
• Fullsize or mini
• Rubber, Folding - a large range
• Apple Bluetooth keyboard £40-65

63. Using a keyboard
• NB: Apple supports more than 30 wireless braille
displays
• Voiceover command: Control-Option (alt)
• See page 243 of iPhone User guide for full
shortcuts
• VO-H : Home button,VO-Right arrow: Next item,
VO-Space: Tap an item
• Can speed things up with Quick Nav
• Tip: Turn triple click home button into VO on/off

64. Restrictions
• iOS 4.2 brings
restrictions to stop
deletion of apps
• Also restrictions to
disable web browsing,
youtube, camera,
installing apps. BUT
NOT MUSIC!

65. Alternative access
• iOS does not allow all normal bluetooth
functions (e.g. File sending) but does support
Bluetooth HID input. That + good keyboard
shortcuts means its fairly easy to develop
alternative access devices.
• Switch access: Predictable, RJ Coopers
Switch Box, ? Proloquo2go
• Joystick: iPortal and Dynamics REM550
Wheelchair controller

66. Switch boxes
• RJ Coopers switch box. $99.
Works with a range of software.
2 switches.
• RJ Coopers super switch. 5”
diameter. Chargeable via lion
adaptor or USB. $149
• Tbox Switch Box. £89. May work
with apps other than predictable?
• ? Standard keys being sent?

67. Dynamics iPortal
• Control an iPod or iPad
with your wheelchair
joystick.
• Gestures been
developed with
joystick. Configurable.
• Compatible with Shark,
DX & DX2.

68. Supporting Access
• Pogo Stylus £5-20
• Mobile Arm Supports
• Gloves £10-30
• Remember Maxess wedges and slanted
writing boards!

69. Sources of information
• Assistiveware forums & email news group
• ATMac.org
• SENIT email list
• CM email list
• OT Access Group & AAC SIG
• http://appsforaac.net

70. Thanks
• SpeechBubble: http://speechbubble.org.uk/
• The ACE Centre Oxford & North
• Apple!
• Will Wade, willwade@gmail.com or
will.wade@nhs.net