Research & Opinions

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) can come in many forms but I am looking into devices which is one of the most common due to technologies. There are different devices depending on what is best for the person and money restrictions. I want to look at some past designs.

The Go Talk 20+ is a lightweight portable device that allows you to record your own words.
Negatives of this device is you can only use 25 words at a time and to change the words you need to pull out the image sheet and replace it with a one with different words then rerecord all of the new words. This takes time and effort and leads you to only have limited speech that could not carry out a full conversation.
However the device is aimed more a younger children who struggle with words and attention.
It only comes in this dull green colour that isn't very attractive or engaging.

From the same company there is also a smaller 6 option version that in reviews people like because  'It easily fits into the hand for on-the-go use.' There are multiple of this type of device with different amounts of words available to say at a time.

The larger device costs £199.99
with the smaller at £170.00

Strictly design wise The MegaBee Assisted Communication and Writing Tablet has a simple enough layout and uses peoples eyes to track what is being said. It is a complicated device that costs $1,800. It is a well thought out device that needs all of its colours to work therefore cannot be redesigned. However there are now technologies that people can use tablet devices with their eyes alone.

Apps like Proloquo2go and Son Flex Lite are the apps I am wanting to redesign. They have thousands of speech options and are created more for children to be able to speak when they have difficulties spelling on a keyboard. They work well as a device but look cluttered and somewhat overwhelming with its colours. The clipart's are also important to children but are incredibly basic looking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibgSEx4AIIg


Talking to others 

I know a women called Kat who lives in America and has lots of experience with working with people who use speech devices. I wanted to talk to her about her experiences with the apps and devices and how she feels about them visually.

• Part of the way they're designed is for functionality for instance, the 12 year old I am currently caring for has her background black because it makes it easier for her to see the icons. However, I think there are ways to make them more fun, icons are always squares, maybe some could be differently shaped? The color coding of icons is for functional purposes but I'm sure there's something to making it look fun that is important too. There can be ways to go around all of this and make it better for the user.

Talking to her helped me to understand that colour is important due to the app sometimes being used to track eyes. Also it was important to find out that others feel like these apps should be able to personalised more!