Now Available: Version 2.3*
Communication and computer access -The Grid 2 allows people with limited or unclear speech to use a computer as a voice output communication aid, using symbols or text to build sentences. You can also access your Windows desktop and other programs, with the built in Computer Control features. In addition to this, you can send and receive email and sms messages, browse the web, listen to music... and more too! The Grid 2 is accessible to everybody, accepting input from switches, headpointer, touchscreen, mouse, and other options too.
Instant communication -You can set up a grid with just a few cells that speak as soon as they are selected. For example, you could have yes, no, I need some help please and I want to do something else.
Sentence building -Moving on from this, you can have cells that contain elements of a sentence, and build sentences to allow more freedom of expression. You can link together several grids to provide a larger vocabulary divided into topics (this is often referred to as dynamic screen communication). Typically, the first page the user sees will display a number of topics. Selecting a topic leads to a grid with vocabulary specific to that topic.
Grid sets -There are a number of ready made grid sets (sometimes called pre-stored vocabularies) available, designed for different levels of literacy and with different approaches to arranging vocabulary. Once you have selected a grid set, you can customize it as much as needed, adding to the vocabulary and expanding the topics available. You can also start from scratch and create your own communication system.
Symbol options -The Grid 2 is compatible with many types of symbols and photographs. The Widgit Rebus symbols are included with The Grid 2 (UK only), and the Mayer-Johnson PCS symbols are also fully supported. With the screen capture tool, it is really easy to use photographs from a digital camera, pictures from the internet or other images.
Text Chat -The Grid 2 provides quick and accurate text communication for literate users. Grids can be simple typing grids, or more complicated setups with stored messages and prediction.
Write sentences by spelling words or selecting complete words, and then speak them aloud.
You can type using:
Writing tools -The Grid 2 has a number of tools to help write more quickly and accurately.Choose your keyboard layout -You can decide how to arrange the keyboard.
Sounds-like -Using phonetic matching, The Grid 2 can suggest words that sound similar to a word that you have typed, which can be a great way to help find the right word.
Spelled-like -The Grid 2 can suggest words with a similar spelling to the one you are writing.
Verb morphology -You can display the different versions of a verb to aid correct grammar. Symbols can help to identify the parts of a verb and get correct verb agreement.
Out-of-the-box flexibility -The Grid 2 comes with ready-made grids for text communication. You can also purchase popular communication vocabularies such as WordPower. You can also create your own grids or edit the provided grids to create your perfect text communication system. You can make a grid with the things that you need on it, and link to other grids with other useful options - friends names, alternate word lists, or the option of sending your writing as an email or text message. Computer Control -The Grid 2 includes all the features you need to use everyday Windows programs, without using a standard keyboard and mouse. Control your computer -The Grid 2 can replace either a keyboard, a mouse - or both!
The Grid 2 replaces your keyboard, so you can type into other programs, write Word documents or emails, use the internet and more. The Grid is accessible with switches, touch screen, headpointer, joystick... and many more (see access options for more). All of these can be used for Computer Control. The Grid 2 also replaces your mouse, so you can move the mouse and click anywhere on the screen.
Better yet, for commonly used functions you can set up a single cell to perform the action. For example, you can save in Word by typing Control-s on the keyboard, so our Word grids include a cell that types Control-s, providing access to the save function in just one selection!
Use any software -The Grid 2 can be used with almost all Windows programs. Here are just a few that people use with The Grid 2 every day:
You can design your own grids for The Grid 2, and it is easy to add support for other programs that you want to use.
Access -The Grid 2 has been designed to be accessed by everyone, from those with complex disabilities to people with good motor control.
The Grid 2 supports the use of up to 8 switches, although most people use just one or two.
Making selections using switches involves a process called scanning, in which cells are highlighted in turn. The Grid 2 has many options for scanning to allow all users to get the most efficient and least frustrating setup. Some of the switch features include:
Using a touch screen in The Grid 2 is straightforward. The following options are available:
Keyboard and mouse -You can also access The Grid 2 with a standard or modified keyboard and mouse. The speech and word finding features in The Grid 2 allow quick and effective voice output communication, whilst the simplified email and sms grids can allow people who are not proficient with computers to access these methods of communication. Speech -The Grid 2 includes the latest life-like and natural sounding voices from Acapela. Many languages -You can choose one free language from our range, which includes:
Most languages include both male and female voices, and additional languages can be bought to support bilingual people.
Editing -Editing grids in The Grid 2 has been designed to be easy and fast. The dedicated "editing mode" allows you to design grids quickly. Common tasks -The common tasks bar on the left changes according to what you have selected, so relevant common tasks are available in one click. Mouse and
Keyboard control -Use the mouse to select several cells, drag-and-drop cells and resize cells quickly. Keyboard shortcuts speed up the most common tasks such as copying cells to the clipboard.
Quick cell editing -All the options for each cell can be seen on one screen, making it quick to see the setup for a cell. Quick shortcuts allow you to create vocab cells, keyboard keys, jump cells and other common cells in just a few clicks of the mouse. Powerful commands -The cells themselves are programmed using a visual system of commands. Simply select the commands you want and add them to a cell; those commands will then be performed when then cell is selected. For example, adding a "speak" command will speak out loud, whilst adding a "jump" command will jump to another grid.
You can also download grids made by other Grid 2 users (and Sensory Software) from Online Grids.
Sally Millar and Janet Larcher, authors of CALLtalk, provided this response:
Yes, but... starting from scratch, it can take many months of work. Few of us have that amount of Ôspare` time... and the AAC user has to wait meanwhile...
Also it`s sometimes easier to alter existing pages than to start with a Ôblank slate`. So why not start with a vocabulary that somebody else has created, and then use the time you`ve saved to Ôpersonalise` it - involving the user if possible - and to get on with the important jobs of teaching, parenting, delivering therapy?
NB. It`s easier to alter vocabulary content than scan patterns, structure or layout, so it`s important to get the right starting point... there are a number of vocabularies to choose from.
The core vocabulary on the front page is color coded by type of word:
Selecting a word group, such as days, displays the word group in the cells at the bottom of the page.
Special features -GridTalk also includes grids for email and sms messages, and browsing the internet.
Star Talker includes 10 message lists, so you can have different topics (such as "home", "school", "shopping") if you want to organize your messages.
To find words that are not included in the core vocabulary, you can type (with prediction) or go to one of the vocabulary pages, which are arranged by topic. The Grid 2 versions of WordPower use features such as verb morphology and spelling support.
Seashell was designed for a group of deaf teenagers who have cerebral palsy and learning disabilities. Seashell could also be used by non-signing people to communicate in basic sign language or to learn signs.
Key features of Seashell:
Seashell was developed by Jackie Barker MA BSc. Jackie is a Speech and Language Therapist working for Royal School for the Deaf andCommunication Disorders in Manchester. RSDCD provides residential education for people with sensory impairment and complex learning disabilities.
Word prediction in the eye line is the most useful place for many people. Switch users are also supported by the arrangement of the letter board with vowels on the first column.
For those who would prefer it there is a very large picture supported vocabulary arranged topically rather than grammatically. The scroll feature that is unique to Grid 2 means that words within a topic are not confined to the 48 cells on a page and can be added to by the user to suit their individual needs.
Finally, there is a comprehensive set of subject pages that are arranged to serve the mainstream or special school curriculum. These pages also contain vocabulary that can be useful generally. For example, every major country and all UK counties and cities and English Towns are already available on the geography pages.
The layout suits those who:
Key 6 and Key 48 were developed by Marion Stanton. Marion is a special needs teacher and AAC consultant. She works for Communication and Learning Enterprises (CANDLE) who specialize in curriculum and communication. They are based in Yorkshire but provide advice to families, schools, colleges and education authorities across the UK.
The Grid 2 provides first-class communication (with symbols or text) and control over your computer.
But there's more too! Complementing these 'core' functions are a range of tools designed to make computer functionality available to everyone.
Our provided resources include grids for emailing, and you can tailor these or create your own.
Email grids can be really simple, such as one in which you have a set of pre-written messages and a selection of recipients. They can also be more complex, providing complete control over the inbox. You can also send text written using symbols as an email message.
The Grid 2 includes a web browser, so you can read websites within your grids. Change the font size, read the page aloud and save favorites by simply selecting cells. You can create a web browser that is as simple or as complex as you wish.
The Grid 2 allows you to decide what to listen to - and how loudly! Music player grids display lists of albums, artists and songs saved with Windows Media Player, and you can also play audio CDs.
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