PowerPointAn

Alternative/Augmentative Communication

System

Amy Garrett

ISHA Tech ConferenceSeptember 18, 2009

PowerPoint for AAC

Why use PowerPoint• Emulates high end AAC devices

• Dynamic display

• Cost effective• Customizable for

individual needs• Tech support readily available

for a commonly used program• Free Viewer for access on

multiple computers• Transfer images & recorded

speech to• ACC devices

• Other applications

PowerPoint for AAC• Introduce dynamic display• Assess student skills• Skill building

• Instruction

• Practice

Dynamic DisplayLine Grid

Grid Created with Lines• Blank Slide, white

background• Horizontal & vertical lines

• Graphic• Copy/paste from Boardmaker

• Size to fit within grid space

• Text included with symbol• Speech, Action Settings…

• Associated with each picture

• Link, Action Settings…• Associated with selected

pictures

Dynamic DisplayFunctions of Language

Grid- Functions of Language• Blank Slide, white

background• Horizontal & vertical lines

• Colored rectangle shapes layered

• Graphic• Copy/paste from Boardmaker

• Size to fit within grid space

• Text included with symbol• Speech, Action Settings…

• Associated with each picture

• Link, Action Settings…• Associated with selected

pictures

Dynamic Display3-D Buttons

Array of Action Buttons• Blank slide, black background• Rows & columns of Action Buttons• Graphic

• Insert picture

• Size to fit on button

• Layered on button

• Text entered on Action Buttons• Speech, Action Settings…

• Associated with Action Button and picture

• Link, Action Settings…• Associated with selected buttons and

pictures

Dynamic DisplayTab Navigation

Tab Navigation• Grid created with lines• Action Buttons (with text)

added layered for tab navigation• Graphic

• Copy/paste from Boardmaker

• Size to fit within grid space

• Text included with symbol• Speech, Action Settings…

• Associated with symbol

• Link, Action Settings…• Associated with Action Buttons

Visual ScenesTransparent Buttons

Transparent Action Buttons • Blank slide

• Background Picture

• Text• Entered on Action Buttons

• Action Buttons• Transparent, no line

• Speech, Action Settings…• Associated with

Action Buttons

• Link, Action Settings…• Associated with selected

Action Buttons

AAC vs. PowerPoint

AAC

• Layout• Based on an array of cells,

which are also called buttons• Cells contain multiple

elements• Cells perform multiple actions• Cells are independent• Cells are fixed

• Voice• Text-to-speech, recorded speech

• Graphics• Integrated symbol library• Imported

PowerPoint• Layout

• Based on objects• Objects contain a single element• Objects perform limited actions• Different types of objects

perform actions differently• Objects can be layered• Objects float

• Voice• Recorded speech, from a sound

editor or within PowerPoint

• Graphics• Imported

PowerPoint Features for AAC

Vocabulary is the Key to Successful AAC• Interactive• Offer a variety of

functions of language• Functional for user’s needs• Enable user to influence

his/her environment

Clickable Objects• Kiosk mode to point & click

to a specific target

Action Settings…• Link slides for a

dynamic display• Play sound (recorded

speech) for speech output

Layout• Action Buttons• Pictures• Text boxes• Shapes

Getting Started

User Considerations• Determine communication

needs• Select vocabulary• Develop a layout to

facilitate user’s communication needs• Number of cells

• Size of cells

• Graphics & text

• Navigation system

PowerPoint Set-Up Sequence• Gather & organize images• Open a template or design a

grid• Save as…• Set up show in kiosk mode• Fill buttons that are

consistent on each slide

• Duplicate slide• Add graphic & text to all

buttons• Record, save & organize

speech• Set Action Settings

• Play sound (speech) and link slides

Clickable Objects

Set up a PowerPoint Show with Clickable Objects• Slide Show (menu bar)• Set Up Show…

• Browsed at kiosk

• Clickable objects• Action buttons

• Pictures

• Shapes

• Text boxes

• Text is highlighted & underlined

Mac 2008 Tools

Where are the tools? • Standard toolbar

• View/Toolbars

• Formatting Palette• View/Toolbox

or

• Standard toolbar icon

Fill a Line Grid

Copy/Paste Picture & Text from Boardmaker

• Symbol & text paste onto the center of the slide

• Resize to fit in the grid space

Text• Included with Boardmaker

symbol• Use alternate names

Action Settings…• Play sound and/or hyperlink

• Associated with the picture

Picture selected

Resize a Picture

Formatting Palette• Select the picture• Size, Rotation, and

Ordering

Dialogue box• Double click on the picture

Align Objects

How to line-up objects• Ordering

• Align• Left, center, right, top,

middle, bottom

• Distribute• Horizontally, vertically

• Arrange• Bring to front, send to back

• Grouping• Group objects to move, resize,

or rotate them as a unit

• Grouped objects do not play sounds

Size, Rotation, and Ordering

Boardmaker Settings

Link to PowerPoint• To copy a Boardmaker

symbol to another application

• Option-Click on the linked application button

• Browse, select PowerPoint application icon

Add Symbol Names• Click change symbol names

icon• Enter text (word, phrase or

sentence)• Click Add Name• Click OK

Action Settings

Where are Action Settings?• Menu bar/Slide Show or• Right click on the object

• Mouse click• Action initiated by a click

• Hyperlink to• Select Slide… from the

drop down menu

• Choose slide by its number, title and graphic

• Play sound• Select Other Sound…

from the drop down menu

• Browse the computer to locate and select a sound

• Highlight click optional

Fill an Action Button Template

Insert Picture (from file or clipart)

• Inserts onto the center of slide

• Crop to fit the button shape• Resize to fit the button size

Text• Edit text on button

Action Settings….• Play sound and/or hyperlink

• Associate with the picture

and• Associate with the Action Button

Picture selected Action button selected

Create a Visual SceneBackground Picture

Add a Background Picture

• New presentation• Slide layout, blank slide• Add a background picture

• Menu bar-Format/Slide Background

• Formatting Palette-Slide Background

• Select Fill in left-hand column• Select the Picture tab • Choose a Picture

• Browse computer to locate and select a background picture

• Click Apply

Create a Visual SceneTransparent Action

ButtonsAdd Action Buttons

• Menu bar-Slide Show/Action Buttons/Custom

• Draw with the crosshair cursor• Cancel the Action Settings

Make the Button Transparent• Colors, Weights, and Fills

• Fill Transparency 100%

• No Line

• Choose no line from the Color drop down menu

• No Shadow

Create a Visual SceneTransparent Action

ButtonsText, optional• Font settings

• Color

• Size

• Alignment & Spacing

• Wrap text

• Shrink to fit

• Enter on the Action Buttons

Action Settings….• Play sound and/or hyperlink

• Associate with the Action Button

Why Record Speech

Use a Digital Sound Editor• Improved speech quality• Consistent volume

between recorded speech and computer generated sounds

• Messages start and stop immediately

• Easier to organize and locate files

• Use messages in multiple applications

Audacity®• Free, open source software

for recording and editing sounds• Mac OS X

• Microsoft Windows

• GNU/Linux

• other operating systems

• Multilingual• Save in variety of sound

formats• http://audacity.sourceforge.

net/

Record Speech

Record Message• File/New

• Click the round red record button

• Record• Click the square yellow

stop button• Highlight the message

Save Message• File/Export Selection as

WAV• Name.wav• Save in folder

Pla

y

Rec

ord

Sto

p

Selection Highlighted

Create a Template Tips

New presentation• Slide layout/blank slide• Save as…

Objects• Draw one shape

• Line or Action Button

• Set parameters • Color, size, weight (thickness), 3-D effects

• Copy, paste the object multiple times• Use formatting tools to

• Align edges• Distribute horizontally • Distribute vertically

• Insert Duplicate Slide(s)

Use PowerPoint to Communicate

Environment • Enable the user to make eye contact with the

conversational partner(s)• Provide computer speakers that produce clear speech

User Access• Provide alternative computer access, if needed, so the user

can focus on communication rather than motor skills

Update Vocabulary• Change or add vocabulary frequently to maintain user and

partner interest in conversing

Mouse Alternatives

Joystick & Trackball• Speed settings for for

disabled• Accessible mouse buttons

Headpointing• Click or dwell on target

MouseKeys• System accessibility

feature• Mac

• System preferences• Universal access

• Win• Control panel• Accessibility

N-ABLER joystick

smartNAV

Kid track

Touch Input

Touch input• Options & controls

• Finger and/or stylus• Touch enter/exit• Acceptance time

Touch monitor• Stability

Add-on touch screen• Secure attachment• Fit monitor size & shape• Refraction

Magic Touch Screen

Planar

Touch Input

Interactive Whiteboard• SmartBoard• Check accessibly for all

students

Tablet Computer• Options & controls

• Finger and/or stylus• Touch enter/exit• Acceptance time

HP CompaqBrite Computers

Hand Held Devices

Smart Phone• Office Mobile

• PowerPoint Mobile

• Full screen view• Functions vary by phone &

version of Windows Mobile operating system

• Considerations• Touch input• Speakers

Resources

Carson, Eric; Kennedy, M. From evaluation to innovation: How to emulate dynamic display using PowerPoint. Closing The Gap, February/March 2006, Vol. 24 No. 6. http://www.closingthegap.com/solutions/articles

Garrett, Amy, powerpointaac. ISHA Technology Conference September 18,2009. http://powerpointaac.pbworks.com/

Luther, Jim; Adapted Computer Access Materials for Windows.

http://www22.brinkster.com/jimluther/access.htm