Assistive Software Products - Communication

 

 

SoundingBoard AAC app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

AbleNet transforms your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad into the latest in communication technology. In just minutes, you can create custom boards using AbleNet symbols or your own photos.

• Create boards with up to 9 message locations
• Virtually unlimited capacity; create boards for any situation
• Use the built-in AbleNet symbol library for instant access to hundreds of symbols
• Record messages of virtually any length for each symbol
• Use your own photo library for even greater flexibility and options
• Take your own photos using your iPhone and use them in a board immediately*
• Increase the physical size of the boards by using iPad

*Function not available on previous generation iPod Touch or iPad 1.

SoundingBoard™ Version 2.0 Now Available - Purchase Online  

• Linked Boards: You can now choose to link one board to another on any message location. For example, you can create one board with "red" objects and one board with "blue" objects. Then create a third board with two messages that invites the user to choose the color. That message can now link them to the appropr style="list-style:none;"iate board.
• Single and Dual Switch Access: Using AbleNet's bluetooth access switch, you can configure SoundingBoard™ to recognize single switch access (with a scanning interval from 0.5 to 9.0 seconds), as well as two-switch access. Switch access works both on the board screen as well as the board selection screen. AbleNet's Blue2™ access switch will be available soon. Contact customer service to place your pre-order now!
• Pre-Loaded Communication Boards: SoundingBoard™ version 2.0 now comes pre-loaded with 14 communication boards, ready for immediate use. Those boards highlight key communication outcomes: Expressions, Emergency information, Reading, Daily Living, Social Situations, Shopping, and much more! You can always customize those pre-loaded boards just as you would any other board.
• Other minor improvements including: Improved speaker performance, easier searching, and performance enhancements

All current owners of SoundingBoard™ will receive this update for free along with other Apple app updates through iTunes.

Important Note: Because hardware specifications frequently change, and it is our intent to take advantage of the latest features, SoundingBoard™ is designed to work only with current and previous versions of Apple hardware including: iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3rd and 4th Generation, and iPad 1 and 2.

SoundingBoard™ Operating Instructions

• 1.0 About SoundingBoard™
• 2.0 More Information Online
• 3.0 Using SoundingBoard™ - The Basics
• 4.0 Using an Existing Board
• 5.0 Using a Board with Switch Access
• 6.0 Creating a New Board - Part 1: Setting up the Board
• 7.0 Creating a New Board - Part 2: Adding Messages
• 8.0 Configuring Settings
• 9.0 Troubleshooting / iPod Touch and iPhone Differences

1.0 About SoundingBoard™
SoundingBoard allows educators, caregivers, and parents of persons with disabilities to easily create customized communication boards of up to nine messages per screen. SoundingBoard is also the first AAC app to incorporate scanning switch access, opening up the "app world" to hundreds of thousands of new people who cannot "touch" a screen.

Communication boards are used for peer interaction, learning, evaluation, day-to-day activities, games, and many more purposes inside and outside of the classroom.

2.0 More Information Online
Visit AbleNet online for product details, tutorials, and example boards at www.ablenetinc.com/soundingboard.

3.0 Using SoundingBoard - The Basics
If you are new to SoundingBoard, you can get started right away by using one of the pre-loaded boards installed with the application. You may also choose to edit any of those boards to fit your specific situation. 

The power of SoundingBoard, however, is how easy it is to create new boards of your own design. you will need to create a new board. Once you have created your board, select it from the list of available boards stored on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Make sure to have the sound turned on and the volume turned up, otherwise you won't be able to hear message sounds when you touch the images. 

Note: If you are using external speakers, make sure you visit the "Settings" screen to activate them for use with SoundingBoard.

4.0 Using an Existing Board
After you have selected an existing board, it will appear - full screen - and is ready for use. Touch the image to play the associated sound/message.

Messages that are "links" to other boards will show an orange border with an arrow icon in the top right corner. When you touch that message, the sound will play and then display the board you've linked to. 

To return to the previous screen (and select a different board), touch the far upper left corner of the screen to reveal the navigation bar, then select "Back" to go back. The navigation bar will disappear after a few moments if you do not use it.

5.0 Using a Board with Switch Access
Using AbleNet's access switch, you can use a switch to simulate the "touch" on the "Boards List" and board display screens. Single switch access works on a time interval. To begin scanning, press the switch. To select a message, press the switch again when the desired message is highlighted. Press the switch again to continue scanning. 

For two-switch access, press switch 1 to advance to the next message location, and press switch 2 to activate it. Press switch 1 again to continue scanning. 

To configure switch access, visit the "Settings" screen (section 8.0). 

6.0 Creating a New Board - Part 1: Setting up the Board
Select the "Create a New Board" option to begin the process. You may complete the following tasks in any order, but we recommend beginning by giving the board a name to differentiate it from other boards you'll create later. Next, choose the visual layout for the board. You may choose a 1x1, 1x2, 1x3, 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3 grid for a total of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 message locations respectively. 

Note: You do not need to fill every location on the grid. For example, if you want an "8-message" grid, simply select the 3x3 grid and do not add a message to the ninth location. You can use this technique to create a number of additional configurations to suit the communication needs of the user.

Part 7.0 describes the steps to add messages to your new board.
 
Adding messages to your board is a three-step process (with an optional fourth step to link the message to another board). When you select the "messages" option, you will see available locations on the grid. Click on any message location to begin.

  

1. Give the message a name. That name will appear on the board under the image, so name it whatever makes sense for your communication outcome. You may choose not to name the message if you do not want that name to appear on the board when it displays for the user.

2. Select an image for the message. You may choose (and search for) a message from the included AbleNet symbol library, use a photo from your iPhone or iPod Touch photo library, or take a new photo using your iPhone camera (the last option is not available for the iPod Touch). For each selection, you will need to confirm your choice. 

    

3. Record a message to be played when the message is touched. Simply touch the "Record Message" button to begin recording, and "Stop" when you are finished. Remember to speak clearly and close to the microphone to ensure a clear sound.

 

4. (Optional) To link a message to another board: Select the "Link Message to Another Board" option. The "Boards List" screen will appear. Select any existing board. When you finish your board, this message location will play its message and link to the board you specify. Click "Done" to finish. 

Repeat steps 1 through 3 (and optional #4) with each additional message.
 

8.0 Troubleshooting / iPod Touch and iPhone Differences
Switch Access Options:
Activate switch access by sliding the toggle to "on". SoundingBoard is now ready to be used with AbleNet's iDevice switch access products. If you select "Single" switch access, you will need to set a rate interval (in 0.5 second increments from 0.5 seconds to 9.0 seconds). Use the "-0.5s" and "+0.5s" icons to decrease or increase the interval. If you select "Two" switch access, you are ready. No other configuration is needed. 

External Speaker Options:
To use external, plug-in speakers (through the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad audio jack), slide the toggle switch to "on". In the "off" position, SoundingBoard™ will use the built in device speaker (i.e. the speakerphone function built into the iPhone).

9.0 Troubleshooting / iPod Touch and iPhone Differences

• Use must have your sound turned on and your volume turned up in order to hear messages. If you need a louder volume than the device can produce, you may plug in external speakers.
• When using an iPod Touch, you must use an external microphone to record sounds.
• When using an iPod Touch, the "Take a Photo" option is disabled. You may still use existing photos stored on your device.
• When using an iPhone, an incoming call or text message will interrupt the use experience. We recommend setting the phone to "Airplane Mode" to avoid confusion for the user.

 

 

 

 

Windows: Non Compatible

Recommended for: Communication

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