Chapter 4

Question 1

Selection Set

Answer 1

• Includes the visual, auditory, or tactile presentation of all messages, symbols, and codes that are available at one time to a person who relies on AAC
• Most AAC techniques utilize visual displays of items in the selection set

Question 2

Types of Selection Sets

• Fixed (or static) displays

Answer 2

usually low tech

Question 3

Types of Selection Sets

• Dynamic displays

Answer 3

when activated, change screen to show new set of symbols

Question 4

Types of Selection Sets

• Hybrid displays

Answer 4

electronic fixed with dynamic component

Question 5

Types of Selection Sets

• Visual Scene Display

Answer 5

– picture, photo, virtual environment depicting a situation, place, experience
o Can you use a VSD on a 7-level communicator?
• Yes, you can program visual scenes with a low tech device.
o How have companies compensated for the limited number of symbols or images available on a lower-tech device?
• They have created devices with levels. The super talked has 8 levels. 7-level communicator has 7 levels.

Question 6

o Word prediction would fall into which category?

Answer 6

• Hybrid displays

 Questions from content on page 77

Question 7

Process

Answer 7

• You’ve already…
• Chosen messages (based on personal factors)
• Chosen symbolization or encoding strategies
o Now consider physical characteristics of selection set displays
• based on motor abilities

Question 8

Physical Characteristics of Selection Set Displays

Answer 8

• Number of items (some have 6, some have 84)
• Size
o (2x2 or 1x1)
• Spacing and arrangement
o (space and where are words on the page?)
• Orientation of the display
o Which of these does your book say is most important?
• The number items that are shown

Question 9

Number of Items

Answer 9

• Most important factor is the number of messages, symbols, codes, and commands that the individual requires

Question 10

Size for visual displays

Answer 10

2 issues:
1. Individual item size – (for visual) determined by 
o	visual capabilities, 
o	motor access technique employed, 
o	type of symbol, 
o	number of items to be displayed
2. Overall display size – determined by
o	number of items that must be displayed
o	size of individual items
o	spacing of items
o	mounting and portability factors
o	physical capabilities of the person using the AAC

• Will it be carried? Carrying case?
• Does the person use a wheelchair?

Question 11

Size for Auditory and Tactile Displays

Answer 11

• Auditory Displays
o Determined by the individual’s memory and ability to retain the organizational scheme of the display

• Tactile Displays
o Depends on tactile recognition capabilities

Question 12

Spacing and Arrangement of Items

Answer 12

• Determined by
o Visual capabilities
o Motor control capabilities

Question 13

Orientation

Answer 13

•	Position of the display relative to the floor
•	Determined by
o	Postural capabilities
o	Visual capabilities
o	Motor capabilities

• If scanning, determined by
o Visual factors
o Postural factors

Question 14

Selection Techniques

Answer 14

• Direct Selection

* Scanning

Question 15

Direct Selection Options

Answer 15

• Physical contact - touch
• Physical pressure or depression – keyboards, headstick, pencil/stylus
• Pointing (no contact) – eye pointing, tracking, gazing, laser pointer, infrared
• Speech recognition – for those with mild/moderate distortion
o Some AAC systems support access options and others don’t.
o What about keyguards?
• Overlay on keyboard. Funnels motor movement to correct key.

Question 16

Direct Selection Activations Strategies

Answer 16

• Timed activation – dwell time
o have to touch the button a set amount of time to activate it
• Release activation – maintain direct contact
o hand on the wrong button- move to the correct one and then let go to activate the right one
• Filtered or averaged activation

Question 17

Scanning Patterns

Answer 17

• Circular scanning – least complicated
o Dial scanner- circle with 4 options, hit switch when blade gets to the option you want
• Linear scanning – passes over every option
• Group-item scanning – ex. Row-column scanning (can make own groups)
o #1 reason for choosing scanning over direct selection?
• physical abilities or disabilities
• being unable to directly select because of a physical impairment is the main reason why a person has to scan
• it should be easier to do direct selection because it is on their own time versus whether working under a timed environment in scanning
• find the way a person can directly select first→ toes, knuckles, head pointer, etc.…
• If not, then go to scanning

Question 18

Consider

Answer 18

• Scanning timing and speed
• Selection Control techniques
o Directed (inverse) scanning – activate switch until desired selection then quit activation
• let go when hear the desired one
o Automatic (regular or interrupted scanning) – activate switch to start scanning then activate switch to stop scanning
• hit switch to start, hit switch to stop
o Step scanning – only moves through selections if switch is activated, then either pause or use another switch to choose selection
• only goes to next one when you hit switch

Question 19

Feedback

Answer 19

• Provided during message construction
• Purposes:
1. Activation feedback
o Let the individual using AAC know that an item has been selected – click, ding, beep…
2. Message feedback
o Provide the individual with information about the message that has been formulated or selected
• Available through auditory, visual, tactile, or proprioceptive modalities

Question 20

Message Output

Answer 20

•	Refers to the information that users of AAC send to their communication partners
o	Voice (audio) output
o	Synthesized
•	A synthetic voice. Text speech, computer voice. 
o	Digitized
•	A recorded voice played back. 
•	Visual output
o	Hard copy
o	Computer screen messages
o	Unaided symbols
o	Aided symbol displays
•	Voice banking
o	Save voice by recording it saying different things and can use that in a device later. Used commonly with ALS. 
o	There are websites for voice banking

Question 21

Message Input

Answer 21

• Refers to the information that users of AAC receive from others
o Visual input
o Unaided symbols
o Aided symbols
• aided language stimulation
• System for Augmenting Language
 clinician uses AAC device as well as client (both use LAMP, helps in proficiency for client)

Question 22

Synthesized Speech vs Digital Speech

Answer 22

• Synthesized
o Computer generated

• Digitized
o Natural speech that has been recorded

Question 23

Visual Output

Answer 23

• To supplement synthetic speech
• To write letters
• To complete assignments
• To leave notes
• To make lists
• To keep a personal journal

Question 24

Hard Copy

Answer 24

• Printer for output on paper

Question 25

Computer Screen Messages

Answer 25

• For feedback and output

* Manages orthographic and specialized symbols

Question 26

Unaided Symbols

Answer 26

• Gestures
• Manual signs
• Demands on memory
• Intelligibility

Question 27

Aided Symbol Displays

Answer 27

• Communication partners interact with the symbol set itself
• Written translations
• Synthetic speech output

Question 28

Visual Input

Answer 28

•	Appears to facilitate receptive language comprehension for some
•	Unaided Symbols
o	Gestures and signs (pointing)
•	Aided Symbols
o	Draw pictures
o	Write letters/words
o	Aided language stimulation 
o	System for Augmenting Language