The following sections describe the messaging
modes:
RANDOM
Randomly plays a message from any of the recorded
sequence of messages. For example, record the
numbers one to six and
SMOOTH TALKER
becomes
SMOOTH TALKER
SMOOTH TALKER
a speaking dice. Or record messages appropriate to
a selection of toys and then use
SMOOTH TALKER
for ‘show and tell’.
CHOICE
Choice mode allows users to exercise a choice
between two messages. The main switch always
plays message 1 (the fi rst one to be recorded) and
the external switch (whether wired or wireless)
plays message 2.
If more than two messages are recorded, the third
and any subsequent ones are ignored in this mode.
For example, you could record ‘Yes’ as the fi rst
message and ‘No’ as the second. Or try ‘Please’ and
‘Thank you’.
CONVERSE (TURN-TAKING)
This unique mode allows a conversation to take
place between two users in a strict to-and-fro
order no matter how the buttons are pressed. It
is very useful in teaching turn-taking. There is
no possibility of the conversation getting out of
sequence.
First, record a number of messages in the
normal way. Odd messages form one half of the
conversation and even messages form the other
half. For example:
Message 1 (James) “Hello, my name is James”
Message 2 (Catherine)
“Hi James, I’m Catherine”
Message 3 (James) “What is your favourite food?”
Message 4 (Catherine)
“I like pizza”.
For added realism you could use different voices
for each half of the conversation.
Once recording is complete, the internal switch (6)
plays odd messages and the external switch (wired
or wireless) plays even messages. In other words
James, in the example above, uses the internal
switch and Catherine uses the external switch.
Because James has the internal switch, he must
initiate the conversation by pressing his switch.
Catherine’s switch does nothing until the fi rst
message is complete. Once the fi rst message has
ended Catherine may press her switch and play the
second message, meanwhile James’s switch does
nothing, and so on.
Once all the messages have been played through,
James can start the conversation again.
As with all other modes, there is no limit to the
number of messages and there is no requirement
for there to be an even number of messages.
The only requirement is that the internal switch
initiates the conversation.
AUDITORY PROMPT
This mode is used to allow a carer to set up the correct
message more easily for a particular situation,
while still allowing the user to communicate.
To select the particular message to be played,
the carer repeatedly presses either an external
switch, or the Record button, to step through
the messages. These are played back at reduced
volume. There is no need to listen to each message
in full- you can step on to the next message at any
time. Note that the toy outputs are disabled while
stepping through messages.
Once the required message is arrived at,
SMOOTH TALKER
plays the message at normal
SMOOTH TALKER
SMOOTH TALKER
volume whenever the internal switch is pressed.
Repeated presses of the internal switch repeat the
same message.
For example, the carer and user are making an
excursion to a fast food restaurant. The carer
pre-records the following messages:
Message 1: “Hamburger”
Message 2: “Pizza”
Message 3: “Ice Cream”
Message 4: “Hot dog”
On arrival at the restaurant, the user decides she
would like a hot dog. The carer steps through to
message 4 and then the user approaches the till
and presses the internal switch. The message “Hot
dog” is played back at normal volume levels.
