2. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First of all we would like to thank of Almighty Allah, Who
give us full courage to work on this presentation with
full devotion. We would like to thank our teacher,
Madam DrShaistaNaz who helped us throughout her
lectures. We would also like to thankful to our
Chairman, DrNasirSuleman for his support during the
Third Semester of Audiology & Speech Pathology.
3. What is Feature?
A distinctive attribute or aspect of something.
A notable property of a device or software application.
A property of linguistic units or forms.
An interesting or important part, quality, ability of any
thing.
4. Why learn about Features??
When you begin to conduct evaluations of individuals,
and you begin to consider different devices or
techniques for them, you will need to think in terms of
features. You cannot (and, in fact must not) conduct
evaluations through trials of device after device after
device. Instead, you must match the needs of the
individual to the features that are possible in a variety
of devices. You can rule out devices as inappropriate
for a given individual on the basis of these features
5. Types of features
Output Features
These are the methods by which a message is
communicated to the partner.
Access Features
On each page there are examples of communication
devices. These are NOT the only devices that have this
feature. They are given as an example only.
These features refer to the way in which the AAC user
makes selections for communication, e.g. pointing, singleswitch scanning, etc. This is sometimes called the
"Selection Method".
6. Selection Set Features
The "Selection Set" refers to the items (e.g. the words, the
phrases, the vocabulary) that are available to AAC users for
communication. Here we examine the features that characterize
different selection sets, including types of symbols, vocabulary
capacity, and the message retrieval method.
Message Composition Features
These are the features that permit the AAC user to compose the
message he wants to communicate in the most efficient manner.
This is where we cover "rate enhancement" features such as
prediction and encoding.
Other Features
There are many more features of devices and strategies. I have
selected a few key features that will be particularly important for
you to know and understand.
7. Other features
. Physical and Electrical Features Specialized or
"Dedicated" AAC devices
Weight:
How much does the device weight?
With extra battery and speakers, as appropriate?
Portability:
Is there a carrying bag, neck strap, shoulder strap, belt
attachment, or carrying handle for the device?
Dimensions of the device: What are its dimensions? With
extra speakers or battery, if appropriate?
Mountability:
Is there a wheelchair or walker mounting kit or a table-top
mount for the device?
Control accessibility:
How does the user turn the device on/off and is there an
accessible control for volume?
8. Backup capability:
Can customized vocabulary/messages be stored on a floppy
disk or tape or on a computer hard drive in case the
memory on the device is destroyed?
Memory:
How much vocabulary and/or how many images (at what
size and image quality) can be stored with the current
memory? Can memory be expanded?
Durability:
Is the case shock-resistant?
Are the internal components shock-mounted?
Is the screen waterproof or splash proof?
Are the plugs, jacks, and ports mounted solidly for
repeated use?
9. Power:
Does the device take both wall power and battery power?
Are the batteries rechargeable, and if so, how long do they take to
charge fully?
How long can the device be operated for normal use on one charge?
Does the adapter or power supply work around the world?
Is there a warning light or alarm when power is low or automatic
switching to a backup source?
Speakers:
Is there an extra speaker? If so, what type of battery does it use?
How long does it last on a charge?
Is the on/off switch accessible to the user?
Software Compatibility: Some AAC devices work with other
computer software programs. Find out if this is possible and what
software will work with the device, as well as memory requirements.
