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USING A DYNAVOX 2/2C (TM) AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR COMPLETE ACCESS ON A MACINTOSH COMPUTER THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF THE DYNABEAM (TM)AND CLICKIT! (TM)

Christie Ann Rochester, Sentient Systems Technology
Nancy Ann Booth, Upstate Communication Resource

Web Posted on: December 12, 1997

This presentation will cover how to combine the capabilities of the DynaBeam wireless, infrared computer access device and the ClickIt! Macintosh utility to achieve effective computer interaction for DynaVox 2/2c device users.

In the DynaVox 2/2c by Sentient Systems Technology, an augmentative communication device user can:

  • 1) have a system that enables them to communicate verbally and in written form
  • 2) use the built-in infrared capabilities to complete keyboard and mouse access to a computer.

DynaVox 2/2c augmentative communication devices can be used with CLICKIT!, a computer software utility that provides you with two types of mouseless access to the Macintosh:

  • 1) simple keystrokes provide access to menus, scroll bars and dialogue boxes
  • 2) by pinpointing "Hot Spots" in any software program, simple keystrokes will move the cursor to that spot instantly.

Envision the connection: with the DynaBeam wireless, infrared computer access device as the interface, the DynaVox 2/2c can be easily programmed with the simple keystrokes required by ClickIt! This presentation will show you how to make this vision a reality!

Applications:

  • Millie's Math House from Edmark: From Millie's Math House we chose Little, Middle and Big an early childhood oriented activity, teaching beginning math concepts for size by helping Little, Middle and Big try on shoes.
  • Word Perfect from Novell: A popular word processing software where one can create and edit documents.
  • Blackjack from Varcon Systems: An adult oriented recreational card game in which the object is to accumulate cards with a total count nearer to 21 than that of the dealer.
  • ClickIt! From IntelliTools: A software program that provides two types of mouseless access to the Macintosh. It provides mouseless access to menus, scroll bars and dialog boxes through keystrokes. It allows you to set Hot Spots in any software program and then access these spots by scanning with switches, Intellikeys, a standard keyboard and in this presentation via the DynaVox2/2c augmentative communication device.

System Requirements

Macintosh Computer, system 6.0.7 or higher (except Mac Plus) 1MB RAM
DynaVox2/2c and knowledge of programming
DynaBeam and knowledge of setup and operation
ClickIt! And knowledge of creating "Hot Spots"

Hardware:

DynaBeam:An infrared receiver and cables which allow a DynaVoX2/2c user to access MAC and PC computers(both keyboard and mouse) by pointing the DynaVox 2/2c's transmitter at the DynaBeam receiver.

DynaVox 2/2c:An augmentative communication device that allows its user to more fully express themselves. The device features a color or monochrome display, weighs 6.25 pounds, available in either 8MB or 20MB configuration, selection methods: touch, visual and auditory scanning, multiswitch and joystick scanning and mouse pause using a Microsoft compatible mouse or similar input device. The DynaVox 2/2c uses DECtalk for its speech output and can be contains interface ports for printers, external monitor, multiswitch / joystick and supports Microsoft compatible mouse. Additional features include infrared learning capabilities for environmental control and computer access.

ClickIt! Programming

Open the software where you want your Hot Spots and set those In the options menu you may have auditory feedback but if the user does auditory scanning, we suggest that the audio scan cue option originate from the DynaVox2/2c Make sure you know what mouse action you want to occur when the cursor goes to that spot

DynaVox2/2c Programming

Any auditory feedback needs to be in the verbal cue before the IR commands are done The IR command needs to match the keystroke command for the Hot Spot you would like the mouse to jump to - when setting up these commands you have to imagine how you would physically do the action on the keyboard and then replicate it - a hot spot command would be "control press, shift press, ir out a, control release, shift release" If this hot spot command changes the screen you also need to link this button to a new page with new hot spots If the user is visually impaired you can use auditory scanning through the speak label or audio scan que Dependent on the cognitive level of the user, try to make the DynaVox2/2c screens to match what is on the computer screen when creating custom screens for games and some educational applications Dependent on the physical considerations (vision / access) keep these consistency issues in mind when programming or using pages from the DynaVox2/2c for keyboard and mouse access:

  • Consistency Issues for Programming the DynaVox2/2c
    • Page Layouts: button number and button size consistent from page to page
    • Button size and button color consistent from page to page and consistent for the "operation" they perform
    • Consistent button positions for those buttons performing the same operation across pages (command buttons / quick chat buttons with verbal cues only)
    • Page link button positions (Go backs)
    • Font size and color of text in labels
    • Font size and use of symbols in the message bar
  • Considerations for the User and the Application:
    • Who is the user?
    • Age / Cognitive Level?
    • Physical Abilities?
    • Vision considerations?
    • What is their access method? (Direct select / scanning / joystick /mouse: any of these with auditory feedback)
  • Direct Selection Considerations:
    • Hold and Release time
    • Button Feedback (auditory feedback: click or word cue)
  • Visual Scanning Considerations:
    • Consistent Scanning Pattern across pages
    • Page and Button Colors
    • Order buttons in a Frequency of Use Hierarchy
    • Order buttons alphabetically
  • Auditory Scanning Considerations:
    • Appropriate Auditory Cues
    • Order buttons in a Frequency of Use Hierarchy
    • Order buttons alphabetically
  • Joystick Considerations:
    • Consistent centering across pages
    • Joystick wrapping
    • Joystick selection (fire button or pause)
    • Auditory Feedback
  • Mouse Pause Considerations:
    • Mouse pause time
    • Auditory Feedback
  • What is the computer application and what is the goal of the application? (Game / word processing / educational activity)

    • What actions need to take place to "do" the application? (Keystrokes / mouse movements / clicks / macros)
    • Considering the user , the goals of the application and the steps required to "do" the application; is it realistic for the user to complete all of the steps and if not all of them, what avenues can be created to achieve the goal of the application.

Demonstration #1: Little, Middle and Big

User: child who uses a DynaVox2/2c for some communication
Age / Cognitive Level: child with moderate to mild cognitive level
Physical Abilities: Able to isolate a finger for direct selection with some effort, unable to utilize a mouse
Vision Considerations: moderate vision impairment
Access Method: Direct Selection
Computer Application: Millie's Math House (Activity: Little, Middle and Big)
Goal: increase understanding of size by trying shoes of 3 sizes on characters of 3 sizes, use of important size words to build a foundation for understanding measurement
Actions Needed to "do" application: move mouse to icon and select by "clicking"
Considering the User: In this particular demonstration the user is able to isolate a finger for direct selection with some effort, their inability to move and click a mouse lead us to create alternative avenues through the use of the DynaVox 2/2c to participate in the activity Little, Middle and Big. Their moderate vision impairments prompted us to use large buttons with bold font and place the buttons on the page in the same orientation as the icons are located on the Little, Middle and Big application screen. The actions required to participate in Little, Middle and Big are to move the mouse and click on the desired icon.

Through the use of ClickIt! These desired icon locations were set as Hot Spots and the keystroke commands for the Hot Spots are then replicated in the corresponding buttons on the DynaVox 2/2c screen.

Demonstration #2: Word Perfect

User: Adolescent / Adult who uses a DynaVox 2/2c for some communication
Age / Cognitive Level: Adolescent / Adult with mild to moderate cognitive level
Physical Abilities: Varying:
Access Method: *For this presentation numerous methods will be demonstrated
Vision Considerations: Mild to moderate vision impairment
Computer Application: Word Perfect
Goal: word processing, where one can create and edit documents.
Actions needed to participate in application: Utilize keyboard to create documents, move mouse to icons and click open, move mouse to menu bar and click and drag open and move mouse to desired line in menu and release
Considering the User: In this particular demonstration our users have numerous access methods, we will present various page layouts from the DynaVox 2/2c and discuss their rational in reference to their use. These pages will include various keyboard designs with word prediction buttons and editing buttons for multiple access methods, including direct selection, scanning, pointing device: head mouse and joystick.

Demonstration #3: Blackjack

User: Adult who uses a DynaVox 2/2c for some communication
Age / Cognitive Level: Adult / Adolescent with moderate to mild cognitive level
Physical Abilities: Utilizes a pointing device
Vision Considerations: Mild vision impairment
Access Method: Direct Selection
Computer Application: Blackjack
Goal: recreational card game in which the object is to accumulate cards with a total count nearer to 21 than that of the dealer.
Actions needed to participate in application: move mouse to desired icon and click, utilize numeric keypad to place bets.
Considering the User: In this particular demonstration the user is able to activate the buttons on the screen of their DynaVox 2/2c via a pointing device, their inability to move and click a mouse lead us to create a screen on the DynaVox 2/2c that emulates the Blackjack screen and is programmed with the Hot Spots selected from the ClickIt! Program for this particular application. The keypad issue was addressed with a separate screen linking from the main "play" page.

This presentation and the accompanying graphic handouts were designed to demonstrate how the combined capabilities of the DynaBeam (TM) wireless, infrared computer access device and the ClickIt! (TM) Macintosh utility can provide effective computer interaction for DynaVox 2/2c (TM) device users. The handouts will provide detailed programming information and printouts of the layouts for those interested in replicating any of the presented pages for the DynaVox 2/2c (TM).

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