Communication Aids – MyVoice
August 11th, 2011
With the explosion of ‘apps’ (web or computer software applications for those less versed in all things techie) come many powerful tools for communication. The type of functionality these apps offer used to be provided by augmentative communication devices which tended to be expensive and more difficult to access. Now, many people with communication challenges such as our clients with Aphasia, Apraxia or Parkinson’s Disease have a smart phone and other personal devices such as an iPod Touch and iPad. Communication aids to target this market combine text, picture support and voice output to give people with communication challenges a voice.
The app we want to let you know about today is called MyVoice. MyVoice allows the user to customize vocabulary so he can express wants and needs (e.g. order a cup of coffee), ask a question or participate in a conversation. MyVoice has various folders with multiple levels that are organized for ease of use and free flow of conversation.
There are a variety of voices to choose from for voice output allowing the client to customize a voice that sounds like his or hers. You can add your own photos and custom phrases. A really nice feature of this app is that it has “location awareness”. This means that you can save a location and relevant language (vocabulary, functional phrases, questions etc.) and then based on your physical location these relevant items can be accessed easily. So for example, if you love your Double Double from Tim Horton’s and you always meet your friend there to talk about sports you can access all these words and phrases just by walking into the Tim Horton’s and choosing the Place Mode option.
We are still exploring uses for this app with our clients. The nice thing is that the basic version is a FREE app. There is a monthly fee option for more custom words, phrases and pictures.
You can find out more information here: myvoiceaac.com
We would love to hear from people who are currently using this app. What is your opinion? What works and does not work for you?
Our best,
Julie & Lee-Ann
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