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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Not Just for Kids--TapToTalk is for Adults, Too

The same TapToTalk that helps thousands of children communicate is also used around the world to help adults with acute or chronic speech loss.

TapToTalk is frequently used for adults suffering from head injuries or stroke. Sudden loss of speech can be particularly disconcerting, and can compound the emotional impact of dealing with the loss of capability from head injury or stroke. Both the inability to communicate and the frustration and depression accompanying it can interfere with participating in treatment and with the speed of recovery.

Many have found that TapToTalk can help. TapToTalk can be put into service quickly and economically. In fact, the most frequent phrase we hear from family members is, "this is a no-brainer." And patients and their loved ones appreciate their ability to quickly customize TapToTalk with pictures of family members, treatment staff, and other personal and favorite items.

The devices we hear about most frequently for adults are the iPad and Nook Color. These devices are great because adults can do so many other things with them besides run TapToTalk, like reading and watching videos.

TapToTalk is, of course, also used by adults with chronic speech conditions, often the same ones that affect children. It can also help with progressive aphasia due to conditions associated with aging. It can be a great memory-jogger for those lost nouns, the ones that start to be replaced by pronouns.

For more information, see TapToTalk AAC for Adults - Blackjack Anyone? We've also created a TapToTalk web page just for adults.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com

Monday, May 16, 2011

How to Boom the Sounds from TapToTalk

Many of you have told us creative ways to broadcast the sound in TapToTalk to really make the voice boom! We want to share some of these great ideas.

Use one of the many available device that transmits through your radio.
  • One parent loves this in the car. The child communicates easily from the back seat.
  • A teacher is using this in her very noisy classroom.
  • This works with for all our platforms, if the device can plug into the headphone jacks.
  • An example is the Griffin iTrip FM Transmitter.
Small Bluetooth speakers are available that you can carry while the child carries his or her device.
  • Works with Nintendo, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.
  • May work with your Android device, but try before you buy.
  • May work with some car built-in BT speakers.
  • An example is the Motorola MOTOROKR EQ5
Apple TV for iPhone, iPod touch and iPads only…
  • Works through the new AirPlay feature in the Second Generation Apple TV.
  • Requires iOS 4.2 or above.
  • You need to enable and disable from another AirPlay-enabled App (like the Music Player or YouTube).
  • Apple TV is available at Apple Stores and other places where Apple products are sold.
We hope you find some of these ideas useful, and we want to thank our users who gave them to us.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
blog@taptotalk.com

Monday, May 9, 2011

Nintendo App Update--Improved Performance for Large Albums

Today we released an update to the TapToTalk Nintendo App. This update improves the Nintendo App's performance for large albums. Now, when you tap a picture in an album that contains a large number of pictures, the response should be prompt.

The problem fixed was slow response to tapping with large albums. If you are having this problem, you can update the Nintendo App software as follows:

1. Log on to TapToTalk Designer
2. Click the Help link
3. Under Topics, scroll down to the "TapToTalk Nintendo App" section, and click "Upgrading Your Nintendo App"
4. Follow the instructions that appear (you can print them if you wish)

This applies to all supported Nintendo devices: DSi, DSi XL, DS Lite and DS.

We want to thank the customers who helped us identify this issue and who tested the update.

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com

Friday, May 6, 2011

Happy Mother's Day to TapToTalk Moms

(Originally posted for Mother's Day 2010. We decided it was as true today as it was then.)

Dear TapToTalk Mom,

It has been a privilege to get to know hundreds of you over the last year. A few face-to-face, more over the phone, and even more in email conversations, mom blogs and on Facebook. Nine out of ten of the parents we have contact with are moms.

You told us that when you found out you had a special needs child, your life changed in ways you'd never imagined. You found the strength and courage to carry on, to figure out how to get your child's needs met in a world that often did not seem to be able to respond, or even want to. Love is indeed a powerful force.

When we designed TapToTalk, you and your child were on our minds. We wanted to give you a tool to help your child communicate that was affordable and that your child would want to use. Now, we hear from you all the time. You tell us what we are doing right and what we need to improve. Your voice is heard in every one of our meetings, as we make decisions. We call it the TapToTalk Mom Test: “How will this work for the moms?”

Some of you told us that "you aren't good at computers," yet you wasted no time figuring out how to use TapToTalk Designer. You added pictures of your family and your child's favorite foods. You learned and worked hard for your child.

You have stunned us with your creativity in the ways you use TapToTalk to meet your child's needs. You bring smiles to our faces, and very often tears to our eyes, when you tell us how TapToTalk has helped you, your child, and your family.

You make what we do feel incredibly worthwhile every day. Please keep your feedback coming. We, and especially your child, could not do it without you.

Sincerely,
Lenny Greenberg and Phil Bookman
CTO and CEO of Assistyx, the TapToTalk Company

If you have a TapToTalk idea or story you'd like us to share with other TapToTalk users, please email us at blog@taptotalk.com.

The TapToTalk Team
www.taptotalk.com
blog@taptotalk.com
 
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