Text Talker
Last updated: 23/08/2024
Text Talker supports people to say what they want to say in the moment, or prepare and save messages in advance for faster conversations. With built in tools for Message Banking, those who might still have speech can record phrases directly into their device, to save and use at any time. This grid set is designed for iPad and touch access. Included as an optional page set when you purchase Grid 3 or Grid for iPad.
How to access the resource:
Text Talker grid sets are available in Grid software.
General
Languages
Afrikaans, Arabic, Basque, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Faroese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Welsh, English
Does this vocabulary cost to access?
Vocabulary included in software price
Format
Both electronic and paper-based
Translation Method
Other people with help from ‘fluent’ speaker of the language(s) e.g. a monolingual English AAC professional who has created the vocabulary with the help from a Polish interpreter would meet this criteria
Supplier
Smartbox
Software Required
Grid 3 or Grid for iPad
Text To Speech
Are voices available in the same language(s) as the vocabulary?
Yes
What voices are available?
Male adult, Female adult, Male child, Female child
Does the system need internet access for the voice to run?
No
Vocabulary
Is the settings/software menu available in the same language(s) as the vocabulary?
Settings/software menu can be set to match the language of Windows (for Grid3) or iOS (for Grid for iPad) - this means you can have the settings menu in one language at a time if it is a language that is available in Windows/iOS.
Does the package support code switching (speaking two or more languages within one sentence/message bar)?
No
Can the user switch between languages while staying in the vocabulary package? (E.g via a link on the home page or tool bar etc)
Yes
When the vocabulary was created what features of the language were considered?
Modifications to the grid set design to allow for the grammar and sentence structure in each language. Localised and culturally appropriate vocabulary (e.g. food, clothing, jokes, sayings, celebrations, native, animals, money).
Is it a Text-only or Symbol + Text vocabulary?
Text-only
Text Only
What keyboards are available?
Keyboard in the same language(s) as the vocabulary [e.g. a Urdu vocabulary has an Urdu keyboard]
Is there word prediction?
Yes
Is there sentence prediction? (the system will guess which words you are likely to need next)
Yes
Is there a bank of prestored phrases?
Yes
Can the bank of prestored phrases be edited with the users own phrases?
Yes
Is there the option for symbol support on the text?
No
Is there a translation function available?
No
Symbol + Text
Is it possible to add written labels to the cells?
Yes
Is there a keyboard available?
Yes
Can the vocabulary content be personalised for the individual?
Yes
What level of language ability does this package support? (pick the best fit category)
One word or prestored message at a time (this could include a prestored message that says “I need a drink” but would not offer the flexibility to change the message to “I need juice”) Combining sentence starters with endings (this could be e.g. a Food page that has some sentence starters, “I want to eat…” “I don’t like…” and a word bank to complete the sentence) Combining several words together to make sentences, but not necessarily grammatically correct. Combining several words together at sentence level and including the correct grammar, such as using the correct verb form, and noun-verb agreement and other features as expected in the language. (to meet this criteria the functioning of the vocabulary must be able to accommodate the language’s sentence structure and grammar).
What topics of conversation does the system support? (choose the best fit category)
Wide range of topics including school topics (children) work/ daily living related vocabulary (adults) and common hobbies/ interests, cultural/ religious practices
Is there a translation function available?
No
Related Resources
View All >Resources available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Basque, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Faroese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Welsh, and English
FAQs
Answering common queries and concerns.