All Together We Can » PRC

Schuyler and the new Big Box of Words

Samuel Sennott — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:38:12 +0000

Seeing this video of Schuyler and her family totally made me smile.

It also reminded me of when my very young students got a couple Tango loaners in the mail and they couldn’t get past how very cool all the bubble wrap was that they came packed in! So we talked with the Tangos about bubble wrap.

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A Mix of Sharing, New Stuff, and the Kindle Controversy

Samuel Sennott — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 06:49:14 +0000

There will be much to share in the upcoming weeks and months. The Ph.D. program is going really well and while I feel like Gumby being pulled in all directions, I very much realize it is because I am growing. I just finished a terrific course on assessment and just started a behavior analysis seminar. The Stats and the independent study are going well. I have been visiting area schools with a classmate of mine and it is so exciting to consider the research and teaching that can happen here in Central Pennsylvania. Odd to call that and Penn State home, but I am loving it. I have been getting an occasional pining for Plum Island or my 18 month summer in South Florida. Yet, every day, I wake up thankful for this opportunity to learn what I might not choose to learn on my own, rigorous research methods. CSUN is rapidly approaching and I am excited to be attending my first one. Okay, while the guilt of not posting as frequently started to kick in, I realize that my plate is pretty full right now. Nonetheless, it would be nice to share about a couple things that I thought others would pick up, but haven’t. I miss posting more frequently, but trust me, the stuff I have been working on is worth it.

Eye Gaze Technology

Mid Tech Eye Gaze Communication (ya, you heard it right)

Mega Bee Eye Gaze Frame

You have to check out this eye gaze frame. It is so simple and so powerful. http://www.megabee.net

and here is an online simulation, http://www.e2l.uk.com/megabee/megabee_simulation.html

and a picture of me doing the demo at ATIA

High Tech Eye Gaze Technology

PRC announced the ECOPoint, which utilizes Tobii’s eye gaze technology.

TobiiAti

I loved seeing all the new C-Series devices at ATIA, wow, now a month back. These are the replacements for the popular Mercury Series. They have a nice slick new design. Check them out here.

Don’t Forget All the Classic Lowtech Eye Gaze Frames!

While I totally missed seeing the The knfbReader Mobile at ATIA, I am so excited about it. Basically, using the Nokia Cell phone it runs off, you take pictures of text and it will speak that text.

Last but not least, please check out Adam Bowker’s coverage of the Kindle Controversy. If you have not heard, there has been questions of whether text to speech on the Kindle is breaking copyright.

Text-to-speech under attack and

Amazon caves to buggy whip manufacturers

So, I hope to do some more indepth reviews of the tools described in this post. Right after I finish my homework!

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Wireless Switch from Prentke Romich

Samuel Sennott — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:05:47 +0000

by Samuel Sennott

Prentke Romich Company announces a wireless switch that should be nice to see in action next week at Closing the Gap. How many times have you wished for this? The Jelly Beamer is cool, but common, they definitely got it right going with the pervasive Bluetooth technology. It will be interesting to get user feedback on this innovation. Here is the press release.

Contact: Bob Nemens, Director of Marketing
Phone: (800) 262-1984 X243
rjn@prentrom.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2008

Introducing The PRC Bluetooth^® Wireless Switch,
Allows Wireless Access to PRC Products

Advanced Wireless Computer Access and More for AAC Communicators

Wooster, OH, October 6, 2008 – Prentke Romich Company (PRC), the leading manufacturer of alternative and augmented communication (AAC) devices for individuals with speech disabilities, today announced the release of the PRC Bluetooth Wireless Switch (BTWS), an innovative wireless switch that is comparable to PRC devices with built-in Bluetooth capabilities. The BTWS is compatible with PRC’s ECO™-14, Springboard™ Lite, and another newly released innovation, Vantage™ Lite.

With comparable size to other switches, The Bluetooth Wireless Switch has a rechargeable li-ion battery with over 100 hours of run time on a single charge. Additional features include:

External switch jack allows dual switch input;
·         Non-skid bottom case means the BTWS stays where you want it;
·         LED indicator lights show “pairing” and power status;
·         Bluetooth^® connectivity for computer access and wireless access;
·         Battery level can be viewed in the paired PRC device.

“Wireless switching eliminates traditional problems with tangling or disconnection of cords that can happen with everyday use of a communication device,” says Bob Nemens, PRC Director of Marketing. “PRC designed and developed this innovation with both freedom of access and reliability in mind.”

Adding the PRC Bluetooth Adapter also delivers wireless computer access features in three versatile product modes:

·     Mouse Mode inputs mouse moves and “click” and “double click” into USB-equipped computers;

·      Keyboard 1,2,3 Mode allows the switch to be used to scan in PRC PASS software;

·      Keyboard F-Keys Mode allows the switch to be used to scan WiVik^® software.

For more information on the new PRC Bluetooth Wireless Switch and other PRC innovations, visit PRC online at www.prentrom.com, contact PRC Sales at (800) 262-1933, or contact your PRC Regional Consultant.

About PRC

PRC is a global leader in the development and manufacture of augmentative communication devices, computer access products, and other assistive technology for people with severe disabilities.

An employee-owned company founded in 1966 and headquartered in Wooster, OH, PRC has enabled thousands of children and adults worldwide with severe speech disorders to achieve spontaneous, independent, and interactive communication regardless of their disability, literacy level, or motor skills.

In addition to its powerful communication devices –ECO™-14, Vanguard™ Plus, Vantage™ Plus, Vantage™ Lite, and SpringBoard™ Lite – PRC also provides a wide array of high-quality teaching and implementation ideas, therapy materials, curriculum sequences, funding assistance, and training to speech-language pathologists, special educators, and the families of AAC communicators.

For more information, go to www.prentrom.com or call (800) 262-1984.

###

NOTE: For electronic images of PRC’s Bluetooth Wireless Switch, please contact Cherie Weaver at (800) 262-1984, ext. 240, or e-mail caw@prentrom.com.

If you require further information on this or other PRC products or services, please contact Bob Nemens, Director of Marketing, at (800) 262-1984, ext. 243, or email rjn@prentrom.com.

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Introducing the Vantage Lite from Prentke Romich

Samuel Sennott — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:02:51 +0000

by Samuel Sennott

It is exciting to report the arrival of the Vantage Lite, the newest AAC device from Prentke Romich Company. In my early childhood classroom program we have been greatly appreciating the Springboard Lite. The most important advantages of the Lite series in general is that they are physically lighter, have brighter backlit displays, are far more rugged, and have very useful handles. The bluetooth features of the Vantage Lite is very exciting connecting to computers and other devices. Here is the press release with a more full review to come when I am scheduled to get a chance to trial one next week.

Vantage Lite in Green

Contact: Bob Nemens, Director of Marketing
Phone: (800) 262-1984 X243
rjn@prentrom.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 8, 2008

PRC Introduces Vantage^™Lite,

a Portable AAC Powerhouse

Compact, Rugged, Take-It-Anywhere AAC Device Enables Robust Communication on the Go

Wooster, OH, September 8, 2008 – Prentke Romich Company (PRC), the leading manufacturer of alternative and augmented communication (AAC) devices for individuals with speech disabilities, today announced the release of Vantage™ Lite, a dedicated device designed for AAC beginners and those ready to advance toward fully independent augmented communication.

The second in PRC’s popular new line of “Lite” devices, Vantage Lite offers the same powerful language and communication features of PRC’s classic Vantage™ Plus but adds an array of hardware and software innovations, including:

Compact case with built-in handle for greater portability;

“High brightness” display with LED backlight and wide viewing angle;

Magnesium frame that prevents damage from bumps and drops;

Bluetooth^® connectivity for computer access and wireless access;

Integrated Bluetooth^® phone interface, a PRC exclusive.

Like all AAC devices from PRC, Vantage Lite enables rich, independent communication through PRC’s proven Unity^® language system, which allows users to progress from simple words and phrases to novel and spontaneous communication. The device’s expanded Unity Toolset features make it easy to build vocabulary, while 4-, 8-, 15-, 45-, 60- and 84-location display options allow communication capacity to grow along with the user’s abilities.

“Vantage Lite is a breakthrough in dedicated devices because it combines our critical focus on language development with exciting technological and design innovations,” stated PRC President David L. Moffatt. “The new design is a direct result of requests from SLPs and PRC device users for a durable, powerful, and portable speech device.”

As part of the Vantage Lite launch, PRC is donating a free device to a school or center. Those registering online at www.prentrom.com/VantageLiteGiveaway/ by October 31, 2008 will be entered in a drawing for a free Vantage Lite in their choice of five bold colors. The winner will be announced at the ASHA Convention in November.

PRC will be demonstrating Vantage Lite at the Closing the Gap conference October 16-18 in Minneapolis. Onsite demonstrations can be arranged by calling a PRC Regional Consultant at (800) 848-8008. Details about the new device and PRC’s other AAC aids are also available online at www.prentrom.com.

About PRC

PRC is a global leader in the development and manufacture of augmentative communication devices, computer access products, and other assistive technology for people with severe disabilities.

An employee-owned company founded in 1966 and headquartered in Wooster, OH, PRC has enabled thousands of children and adults worldwide with severe speech disorders to achieve spontaneous, independent, and interactive communication regardless of their disability, literacy level, or motor skills.

In addition to its powerful communication devices –ECO™-14, Vanguard™ Plus, Vantage™ Plus, Vantage™ Lite, and SpringBoard™ Lite – PRC also provides a wide array of high-quality teaching and implementation ideas, therapy materials, curriculum sequences, funding assistance, and training to speech-language pathologists, special educators, and the families of AAC communicators.

For more information, go to www.prentrom.com or call (800) 262-1984.

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PRC Pictures (3,385 of them) Wow!

Samuel Sennott — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:12:04 +0000

By Samuel Sennott

PRC

Did you know that you can freely download the Prentke Romich Company’s Picture set? Wow! That is a powerful tool to use and a powerful tool to share with parents and teachers.

Here is the info and links from the Prentke Romich Downloads section of their website. http://www.prentrom.com/downloads

PRC Pictures Hot!

Download the current PRC icons. These icons are the same for all PRC devices. They are available in BMP, GIF, and JPEG format and contained within a single ZIP file. If you need an icon for a device or for use in a PC, then use the bitmap (bmp) file. MAC users will need to use the gif or jpeg files. The files include a page of instructions for using the PRC icons.

-These icons are used in their terrific line up of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices that include:

Springboard Lite, Vantage, Vanguard, Pathfinder, Eco-14

You can import all 3,385 pictures into your iPhoto library. Give them a keyword tag of PRC and then make an album. Now in MS Word 2008, they can be used easily by just linking to the iPhoto folder. Plus that way the set can be searched by title for the desired icon. When you download the zipped file you get the BMP, GIF, and JPEG formatted icons organized mostly by letters A to Z. Once they are in one folder in iPhoto, dumping them back into one folder on your desktop or a flash drive may be helpful to have them in one searchable folder for varying applications/ operating systems that do not connect as easily to iPhoto as MS Word 2008 for Mac does. That being said, two posts I have created previously relate to this resource:

PRC Pictures in iPhoto

This is a Talking Visual Scene Display in PowerPoint with the PRC Picture Set in the Object Palette

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