Voco Chat
Last updated: 23/08/2024
Voco Chat is a pragmatically organised, supportive low-cell count symbol vocabulary in Grid. It has language to communicate for a range of reasons, from telling someone your interests to talking about important topics such as mental health and wellbeing. Cells within Voco Chat generate speech and support users to navigate, to help build messages efficiently. Use a combination of words and phrases to help get your message across quickly and efficiently, from single selections to multi-part messages. There are two vocabularies in Voco Chat to choose from – one for children and one for teenagers and adults to access age-appropriate topics.
How to access the resource:
Voco Chat grid sets are available in Grid software.
General
Languages
Afrikaans, Arabic, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Welsh, English
Does this vocabulary cost to access?
Vocabulary included in software price
Format
Electronic
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?
Symbol + Text
Symbol + Text
Are there written labels on the cells as well as symbols?
Yes
Is it possible to have two labels on the cell with the symbol?
No
Is it possible to have symbol-only page sets? (i.e no written labels)
No
Is there a keyboard available?
Yes
What keyboards are available?
Keyboard in just the language(s) of the vocabulary (e.g. an Urdu vocabulary has only an Urdu keyboard)
Is there a search function/word finder?
Yes
Can you change the skin tone of symbols?
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.
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, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Welsh, and English
FAQs
Answering common queries and concerns.