Facilitating Assistive Touch Eye gaze!

Default Menu Size

 Hey Tek-ninjas! I'm obviously pretty excited about the TD Pilot, which I blogged about last week. 

The eye-gaze in the Tobii Dynavox AAC software utilizes the Region Based Interaction, which is so very amazing - frankly better than anything else on the market. Don't believe me? Contact your local Solutions Consultant for a demo. You will be blown away. It's as though a magnet pulls your gaze right to the target. 

Large Menu Size

Now, when you go out of the Tobii Dynavox software you then begin using Apple's Assistive Touch eye-gaze. The TD Pilot utilizes the IS5TD Eye Tracking Camera which provides an unparalleled experience, however, in the iOS environment you are not accessing the Region Based Interaction. 

One tip that may facilitate access is to increase the font size. This effectively increases your Assistive Touch menu, making targets easier to hit. The video above shows how to do so.

Happy therapy!

Hi-contrast Snap on iOS!

 Hey Tek-ninjas! So today's blog post comes to me from Tobii Dynavox Solutions Consultant and SLP super-star Jo Taylor. She reached out to me with this amazing tip. Snap, as you may know has an iOS version that is every bit as robust as what sits on the DME SGD offerings. That includes the SC Tablet, and the new TD Pilot with eye-gaze. 

Part of what I love about this solution is that it allows the caregivers to make just the AAC app or any specific app they want into a hi-contrast solution, and it simply requires a few taps and toggle. 

See the video below to set hi-contrast for just the Snap software. It's really easy to do! Thanks Jo!

Accurate AND precise eye-gaze on an iPad!

 Hey Tek-ninjas! Today is a big day for Tobii Dynavox and AAC users. This morning, Tobii Dynavox introduces the TD Pilot.  TD Pilot provides native integration of eye tracking in iPadOS and has been certified to meet Apple performance standards. It enables communication and full use of iPad apps for people with disabilities, via eye control and other access methods. The TD Pilot offers what is currently the only MFi Certified Eye-tracker on the market. 

While there are a few other companies that had dipped there toes into the eye-tracker world with iPads already, none of them (that I know of) have an equivalent offering with Region Base Interaction (RBI), essentially pulling the user's eye to the chosen target with accuracy and precision - indoors OR outdoors. Additionally, TD Pilot uses Smart bright pupil and dark pupil tracking technology which means that the eye tracker is always adjusting to the light conditions and the user to ensure the optimal user experience.

Just like on the proven Windows-based iSeries, TD Pilot has the celebrated Partner Window, and the same powerful speakers. 

TD Pilot when funded, comes with TD Snap, TD Talk, and TD CoPilot. The first many AAC stakeholders are familiar with. TD Talk is a brand new efficient text-to-speech app, and TD CoPilot is the companion app which provides calibration, software updates, and battery status. 

Everyone I've spoken with who has had a chance to test drive the TD Pilot has been very impressed. If you are going to be at ASHA this week, come by, check one out, and say hi to me! If you can't make ASHA, but want to see one for a possible user, reach out to your friendly neighborhood Solutions Consultant. They will be able to help you determine if the TD Pilot is right for you or your client(s)!

Happy therapy!

Welcome to the AAC party Tamira!!

 Hey Tek-ninjas! If you recall, back in March I wrote about Acapela's efforts to produce the first African American voices. On November 4th, Tamira, the first African American adult female voice will be available in TD Snap. Just run your updates and the voice will automatically appear in the voice selection section. 

Here's a sample of the Tamira voice:

If you are on Tobii Dynavox's email list, you should receive an email some time today informing you about the offering. The email will include a link to a Knowledge Base article giving you a little background information on the voice and where to find it in TD Snap. If you aren't on the mailing list, you can get on it by making a free account at www.mytobiidynavox.com. Additionally, there should be social media posts with the link to the Knowledge Base. 

Finally, as noted before, if you are looking for Continuing Education, click here, or your local Tobii Dynavox sales rep, click here. 

Happy therapy!

TD Snap version 1.18.1.2452!!

 Hey Tek-ninjas! A little while back Tobii Dynavox ran a new update in Snap. There are some subtle and not so subtle updates that you might want to be aware of....

First, TD Snap now supports Arabic, including:

        Arabic Core First Page Set

        PCS Countries: Arabic symbol set

Second, Undo and Redo actions are now available in the Message Window. That allows for some really terrific on the fly editing!

Third, Eye Gaze access has been improved with new settings:
        Customize the Eye Gaze dwell time on individual buttons.
        Look away before reselecting.

And fourth, there is a new in-app feedback feature. Send feature requests and error reports in Edit > System > About.

If you'd like to learn more about Snap, be sure to reach out to your local Solution Consultant. If you are a professional, they can help you get a Professional License, and they can offer you training on the software!

Happy therapy!!