News from PRC

If you support a learner who uses a Prentch-Romich communication device or if you and your team are considering a PRC device for a student there are two new sites you should know about AAC Language Lab and The Center for AAC and Autism.

AAC Language Lab offers information on language stages, PRC AAC Devices and the Unity Language System and teaching resources.

The Center for AAC and Autism focuses on Language Acquisition through Motor Planning or LAMP. Offering resources for using this technique for teachers, SLPs and parents.

They continue to have their funding assistance, offer their PRC Symbol Set for free download, activities on the Intellitools Exchange and Podcasts.

In other news PRC will soon begin offering the Clarity Symbol Set, formerly called LibSyms in the US (currently already offered in the UK and Australia). Here is my review of the Clarity Symbol set when it was called LibSyms, obviously the pricing and upgrade info no longer apply. Here are the Clarity Symbols for Airport, Be, Blond and Awful.

"This is so cool!"

You must go see Schuyler use her new Vantage Lite. If for no other reason than you will smile for six minutes and twenty seconds.
When you are done you should get the book and read it, which you probably have already done, I am fairly certain I was one of the last people in the field to read it!

PRC introduces new ECOPoint EyeGaze System

PRC's new ECO-14 has an option for their new eye-gaze system called ECOpoint. The ECO-14 is a large screened, touch enabled AAC device running on a Windows XP machine (available closed for those using Medicaid for funding). It comes in a few (4) colors and now has the new ECOpoint eye tracking avaliable in addition to the built in head tracking it has had for some time. All PRC systems use the Unity (Minspeak) language system.

ECOPoint adds $7250.00 to the price of the device, which is pretty standard in the scheme of eye gaze systems these days. The ECO-14 itself costs $7795.00. Once you add in warrenties, mounting systems and other items, like switches and carrying cases, you are looking at $16 to 18,000.00 for a full system. Also fairly typical for cost wise for an individual who needs a device capable of eye gaze.

PRC is also currently hosting a giveaway contest for the new device.

New Box of Words on the Block

PRC has introduced a new AAC device. The Vantage Lite. Like its predecessors the Springboard Lite and the Vantage it takes the features of the larger Vantage Device and puts them into a more manageable, portable option. It runs about $7300.00, comes in five colors and can have Classroom Suite, keyguards and other features added for a cost. The Vantage Lite, of course, "speaks" Unity/Minspeak. It is about 9x8 inches and weighs in at 3 lbs 6 oz. and has the usual features like IR remote, bluetooth, USB ports, media player features, compact flash card port, and two switch ports. No mention of x10 which is usually standard. Also no advanced features as standard or options such as solid state hard drive. All in all, if your student is capable of Unity, this might be the way to go for a new user device.

Dan and his Eco

This is Dan, he is 34 years old and he lives a few towns over from me here in Massachusetts. I met him today at CEC where he was demonstrating his PRC Eco AAC device. It turns out that Dan was a former student of my boss; he had a big grin on his face when I asked him about her.

I wanted to interview Dan for my blog (and he REALLY wanted to be interviewed), but we kept getting interrupted because he needed to demonstrate his device for everyone. The one thing Dan wanted me to be sure I told everyone is that he is a composer. He was a big part of the creation of some of the music software that came out of Massachusetts Hospital School a few years ago.




This is Dan's Eco AAC device. He runs it with head tracking using the headband he is seen wearing above. He is an excellent user, having no problem with the PRC representative changing the types of images (to and from an enhanced set of images) on him. He uses the Unity (Minspeak) system of language compaction in addition to some spelling of words as needed. I even watched him go into the editing pages to change his age, since his birthday was pretty recent. Here are links related to Dan.

• Headbangers Switch Band from Mass Hospital School
• Super Switch Ensemble Software
  
• South Coast today article about MHS and Music
  
• NY Times article about Super Switch Ensemble

More about the Unity software in Dan's Eco AAC device (this slide show was created by PRC - not me):

| View | Upload your own

Springboard Lite from PRC

PRC has released a very cute device called the SpringBoard Lite. Like the Dynavox M3 it is for AAC beginners or emergent communicators. The device is pretty tiny and looks a lot like the OLPC at first glance. It is a dynamic display device using Minspeak Icons or Mayer-Johnson PCS symbols and digitized (groan - that means you record it yourself... i.e. your voice on some kids device) speech. It has all the fancy things like IR environmental controls, visual scenes, and limited bluetooth. It also has a great offer of integrated Intellitools Classroom Suite, which may end up being a real selling point. Of course it may be a Lite device, but it doesn't come at a Lite price at over $2,00o. It means committing to Minspeak for the user, which means committing to training everyone else in Minspeak and hoping the user "gets" it. Lastly I will make the same point I made about the M3, why bother getting an "emergent" user device? The price is not that different so go for the gold, just get a Springboard or a Dynavox V or whatever the non-emergent device is so the child isn't stuck with it until insurance or the district will pay for the "real thing". Plus, digitized speech, ick.


Here is the run down from the PRC website:

SpringBoardTM Lite Smaller. Lighter. Portable. And ready to communicate! PRC is proud to introduce the new SpringBoardTM Lite, a smaller, lighter, and simplified version of our popular SpringBoardTM speech output device. Designed for children and other entry-level AAC communicators, SpringBoard Lite measures just 7.3" square... weighs just 2.5 lbs.... is available in five bold colors... and features a built-in handle for maximum portability. Its simplified operating system makes the dedicated SpringBoard Lite easy-to-use right out of the box. And, with 4-, 8-, 15-, and 32-location display options, its communication capacity can grow along with the user's capabilities.

Vocabulary-Building Features

Five integrated versions of pre-stored vocabulary using 4-, 8-, 15-, and 32-location options with a special emphasis on those core words that power most speech. Pre-stored Activity Row categories and vocabulary plus Pages with expanded word sets. Six User Areas for creating transitional vocabularies, storing vocabularies for multiple individuals on one device, or creating and storing multiple assessment and training protocols. Specially created Visual Scenes for concept and language learning. Optional IntelliTools® Classroom Suite bundle.

Easy Access Methods

Direct selection Single- and dual-switch scanning Joystick 8-, 15-, and 32-location clear keyguards to aid direct selection (plus custom keyguard options). USB connectivity for use with headpointing systems, mouse, and mouse emulation access products. The ease of changing access options makes SpringBoard Lite a valuable training and assessment device at schools and AAC centers.

User-Friendly Design

Widescreen TFT display for brighter, improved picture quality. Built-in media player for playing MP3, WMA, and WAV files in stereo. Infrared environmental control functions to control common IR devices, such as lights and TV/DVD players. USB flash memory port and Secure Digital card slot enable faster, easier memory backup and transfer options. Basic serial output to allow some computer access options. Pre-loaded male and female recorded voices. Optional Integrated Bluetooth® connectivity (for computer access and wireless switch use only).

Customization Aids

Access to over 3,000 Minspeak® icons in the device for customizing vocabulary. Over 8,500 optional PCS symbols for core vocabulary, Activity Rows, and Pages. Simple formats for importing icons or digital photographs to personalize the device and create Visual Scenes. Simple steps to creating Activity Rows and Pages for specialized vocabulary. New PRC Application and Support Software (PASSTM) has numerous special features, including an option to use simple drop-down menus plus tips and information to make it easier to customize and support the device. Pre-loaded or custom-built Visual Scenes pages make learning vocabulary more entertaining.

Special Clinician Tools

Visual Scenes capability allows the creation of special teaching pages with "hot spots." Import a wide range of graphic formats, such as BMP, JPG, GIF, and many others. Introductory set of therapy exercises. "Exploration Wizard" for exploring targeting, picture recognition, associations, and vocabulary options. "Quick Start" print guide that highlights the device's key operations. PRC's Language Activity Monitoring (LAM) software for monitoring communication progress through the recording of each language "event." Vocabulary can be saved and transferred into more advanced PRC devices as skills expand.

Device Specifications

Weight: 2 lbs., 8 oz. Dimensions: 7.3"w x 7.3"h x 1.8"d Display size: 7" WVGA (diagonal measurement) Speech memory: Over 60 minutes of digitized speech capacity Battery life: 6-8 hours (normal operation)

SpringBoard Lite Standard Configuration

(SBL-AEN) $2,195 Includes: Battery charger Complete operator manual on CD-ROM "Quick-Start" operator's guide Unity® vocabulary guide Starter curriculum One-year PRC warranty