TapSpeak Apps
Ted Conley has developed a series of three apps designed specifically to address the needs of emerging communicators. They are TapSpeak Button, TapSpeak Choice, and TapSpeak Sequence .
TapSpeak Button will remind many users of the Big Mac switch. It was developed by Ted Conley for his son who has a cortical visual impairment. The app allows you to record single messages that are spoken when pressed. While you can record multiple buttons/messages, only one is available to the user at a time. Beyond single message communication, a variety of other users for this app are discussed in a review by the Family Center on Technology and Disability. The video below gives you an idea of how this app works.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1 or later
TapSpeak Choice is available only for the iPad. If you look at the video below, you will see why. The screen on smaller devices is just not big enough. You can see why in the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI9LKZWIpuA
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later.
TapSpeak Sequence is also an iPad-only app that allows your to record a series of phrases and import photos, providing an opportunity for an endless number of applications. Whereas TapButton brings to mind the BigMac, TapSpeak brings to mind a multi-media version of the Step-By-Step switch. It also comes with some pre-recorded material, including songs. The video below demonstrates its use with several children with disabilities, by The Mommy Review.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-32EeXKb8fU
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 4.2 or later.
Click here to see another great clip of this app being used by a young girl with cerebral palsy.