Vol 19, No 3 – Handheld Speech Generating Devices

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TechnoTalkHandheld Speech Generating Devicesby Alana Bain and Angela VassAs technology continues to develop andimprove, there have been advances in speechgenerating devices and technology. In recentyears, we have seen an increase in theintroduction of handheld speech generatingdevices. The devices are dynamic, meaning thatthe touch-screen will change according to whichbutton has been activated. There are now alsosoftware applications which can be purchasedfor commercially available (non disabilityspecific) devices such as the iPhone, iTouch, iPadand Nintendo DS.Handheld devices are suitable for people whoneed a small, portable and compact dynamicdevice and are able to direct access (point) oruse a stylus. They can be used for phrase-basedcommunication, sentence construction and textto-speech.Most of the devices are able to storeand use photos and symbols.The following table provides an overview of thehandheld devices currently available. The pricesgiven are current from April 2010, but pleasecheck with the supplier for exact prices.The communication software on the devicesallows pages to be specifically designed to suitthe user’s needs. Many of the devices alsocome with pre-programmed page sets designedfor communication that can be individualised.So, although these devices have many similarfeatures, the software and pre-programmedpage sets require careful consideration. Forexample, some of the page sets are moresuitable for sentence construction or text-tospeechrather than phrase-basedcommunication. Therefore, it is important todetermine the communication needs andpreferences of the user to determine the mostappropriate system.ChatPC Silk(StandardModel)ChatPCSilk+Say-it! SAMTellusSmartProloquo2Go oniPhone /iTouchTapToTalkonNintendoDS oriPhone /iTouchDynaVoxXpressAltChatSpringboardLiteDiamensions (approx) Speech OutputSynthesisedAcapelaNeoSpeechLoquendoSize:8.3cm x14.2cm x4.1cm withprotectivecaseWeight 350gScreen: 10cm(diagonal)SynthesisedAcapelaNeoSpeechLoquendoSize:8.3cm x14.2cm x4.1cm withprotectivecaseWeight: 350gScreen: 10cm(diagonal)SynthesisedDECtalkNeoSpeechSize:16.5cm x8.9cm x4.8cmWeight: 397gScreen:8.9cm(diagonal)SynthesisedAustralianReal SpeakDigitised:Approx 9hoursSize:14.6cm x8.2cm x2.7cm (min)to 3.4cm(max)Weight: 340gScreen:10.1cm(diagonal)SynthesisedAcapelaSize iPhone:11.6cm x6.2cm x1.2cmWeight: 135gScreen:8.9cm(diagonal)SynthesisedAmericanmale voiceonlySizeNintendoDS:14.9cm x8.5cm x2.9cmWeight:300gScreen:7.92cm(diagonal)SynthesisedAustralianReal SpeakAT&T NaturalVoicesAcapelaLoquendoMicrosoftEnglishVoicesSize:15.2cm x10.2cm x4.4cmWeight: 1.1kgScreen:12.7cm(diagonal)SynthesisedAcapelaNeoSpeechLoquendoSize:18.5cm x18.5cm x4.6cmWeight:1.3kgScreen:18cm(diagonal)DigitisedSize:18.5cm x18.5cm x4.6cmWeight:1.3kgScreen:18cm(diagonal)2
TechnoTalkChatPC Silk(StandardModel)ChatPCSilk+Say-it! SAMTellusSmartProloquo2Go oniPhone /iTouchTapToTalkonNintendoDS oriPhone /iTouchDynaVoxXpressAltChatSpringboardLiteDiamensions (approx)continued...Size iTouch:11cm x 6.1cmx 0.9cmWeight: 115gScreen:8.9cm(diagonal)Size iPhone:11.6cm x 6.2cm x 1.2cmWeight:135gScreen8.9cm(diagonal)Size iTouch:11cm x 6.1cmx 0.9cmWeight: 115gScreen:8.9cm(diagonal)Pre-programmed Communication PageSets- 3 simplesentencebuilding- 1Grammaticalcore (text +symbols)- 1 text-tospeech(nowordprediction)- 3 simplesentencebuilding- 1Grammaticalcore (text +symbols)- 1 text-tospeech(withwordprediction)- 1 phrasebased- 4 simplesentencebuilding-2 phrasebased- 3 text-tospeech- Phrasebased- Phrasebased- Phrasebased- Phrasebased+sentencebuilding(symbol +text)- Phrasebased+sentencebuilding(text)- 3 simplesentencebuilding- 1Grammaticalcore (text +symbols)- 1Grammaticalcore vocab(text-based)- 1 text-tospeech(withwordprediction)- Simple coresentencebuilding(based onMinspeak)Grammaticalcore(Minspeak)PCS optionavailableText-toSpeechYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYesYesRate EnhancementNoYes Letterprediction WordpredictionAbbreviationexpansionYes Letterprediction WordpredictionAbbreviationexpansionYes Letterprediction WordpredictionAbbreviationexpansionYes LetterpredictionNoYes Wordprediction PhasepredictionYes Letterprediction WordpredictionAbbreviationexpansionNoAccess MethodDirect touchscreenaccessDirect touchscreenaccessDirect touchscreenaccessDirect touchscreenaccess andscanningDirect touchscreenaccessDirect touchscreenaccessDirect touchscreenaccess andscanning(visual andauditory)Direct touchscreenaccess andscanningDirect touchscreenaccess,scanning,head-mouse,joystick3
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