Smartbox Assistive Technology http://www.smartboxat.com Communication aids and computer access Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:44:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 FutureAid update – Haiti http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/02/futureaid-update-haiti/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/02/futureaid-update-haiti/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:21:55 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=2020 more]]> For the past few years we have been sending refurbished Futurepads to South Africa, India and most recently Haiti, where they are used in local communities that have no access to high tech AAC equipment.

Gail Horner and Nash College have been the most recent supporters of our scheme, working at Maison de Benediction in Haiti. As you can see from the photos, the staff have been trained and the device is being used by the children that attend the centre. Several of the children were originally abandoned at the local government hospital – probably due to their disability and their parents’ inability to care for them and because of the stigma attached to disability in Haiti. When they are brought to the Maison de Benediction, they are found a foster family to look after them, who are given financial help and support from the project.

The appeal website www.haitihospitalappeal.org has a section on the Children’s Home and lots of other information about what they are trying to do to change attitudes about disability in Haiti.

If you are working on a similar project in the developing world then please contact us and we will see if we can help.

FutureAid Haiti FutureAid Haiti FutureAid Haiti ]]> http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/02/futureaid-update-haiti/feed/ 0 Speedy Keys grid set released http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/02/speedy-keys-grid-set-released/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/02/speedy-keys-grid-set-released/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:41:07 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=2012 more]]> Speedy Keys provides computer control and text communication for switch users. It has been designed to take up a small amount of space on the screen whilst providing all the functions you need for computer control (including keyboard, mouse and window controls).

There are also larger grids for communication with saved phrases and for creating and saving documents.

Download Speedy Keys

(free!)

]]> http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/02/speedy-keys-grid-set-released/feed/ 0 Download new grid sets guide http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/download-new-grid-sets-guide/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/download-new-grid-sets-guide/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:18:07 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=2001 more]]> One of the great strengths of The Grid 2 communication software is the wide range of resources available. We are constantly developing our range of grid sets based on experiences of using the software with a wide range of people.

Our new grid sets guide maps out the vocabularies to help you choose the best one for you or your client.

Download grid sets brochure

Remember – you can download all of our grid sets from the Online Grids website.

]]> http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/download-new-grid-sets-guide/feed/ 0 Symbol requests taken! http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/symbol-requests-taken/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/symbol-requests-taken/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:05:49 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1995 more]]> To help celebrate the inclusion of SymbolStix with The Grid 2 we are also launching a symbol request service. If you require a particular symbol/s that aren’t currently in the library, then all you need to do is ask us and we will add them to the next update.

* Every new copy of The Grid 2 now comes with Widgit and SymbolStix symbol libraries included. Existing users can receive the whole SymbolStix library by running Sensory Update.

Start > All programs > Utilities > Sensory Update

]]> http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/symbol-requests-taken/feed/ 0 Olympic pricing on Tobii S32 http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/olympic-pricing-on-tobii-s32/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/olympic-pricing-on-tobii-s32/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:34:03 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1981 more]]> To celebrate the run up to the Paralympics in August, Tobii are offering a huge reduction on the S32 Communication Aid. From 1st January 2012 to 29th August (when the Paralympics begin) the Tobii S32 is just £673 for the touch version and £725 for the scanning version.

The price includes the Symbol Mate software needed to create overlays. Click here to read more.

]]> http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/olympic-pricing-on-tobii-s32/feed/ 0 iPad 2 packages on price list http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/ipad-2-packages-on-price-list/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/ipad-2-packages-on-price-list/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:05:43 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1954 more]]> We have updated our price list to include our iPad 2 packages. They include:

  • iPad 2
  • Grid Player app
  • The Grid 2
  • Portfolio case
  • Mini amplifier



    The total cost of our package is £995 and includes hardware and software support.

    ]]> http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/ipad-2-packages-on-price-list/feed/ 0 Sign up for Tobii study days http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/sign-up-for-tobii-study-day/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/sign-up-for-tobii-study-day/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:24:53 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1944 more]]> Smartbox will be attending a series of Tobii study days taking place across the UK in 2012. Each day will look at the use of eye gaze technology for children and adults in the following areas:

  • AAC (Communication)
  • Computer Access
  • Sensory room practice
  • Cause and Effect assessment
  • Eyegaze analysis



    • The study days are free to attend and include lunch and refreshments. They run from 9:15 to 3:15 and include the opportunity to try out the technology on show.

    Craighalbert Centre, Cumbernauld 1st February
    Oldham 3rd February
    Dame Hannah Rogers School, Devon 8th February

    Please contact hector.minto@tobii.com to book your place.

    ]]>     http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/sign-up-for-tobii-study-day/feed/ 0     Grid Player manual http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/grid-player-manual/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/grid-player-manual/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:14:00 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1936 Anyone who has downloaded the new Grid Player app may be interested in reading the manual!

    Download manual

    ]]>     http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/grid-player-manual/feed/ 0     Grid Player launched http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/grid-player-launched/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/grid-player-launched/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:54:58 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1907 more]]> Grid Player is the new, free augmentative and alternative communication app from Sensory Software. Grid Player includes male and female Acapela voices, Widgit and SymbolStix symbols, and three complete communication grid sets: Symbol Talker A, Symbol Talker B and Text Talker.

    Grid Player is now available as a free download for iPad from the App Store. You need a free Online Grids account to use Grid Player.

    Grid Player allows you to use your grids from The Grid 2 on the iPad. Read more about Grid Player here.

    Download Grid Player app

    iPad 2 packages
    Smartbox are now selling complete iPad packages for £995. This includes everything you need to use the iPad as an AAC device:

  • iPad 2
  • Grid Player app
  • The Grid 2 for Windows
  • Protective case
  • Mini amplifier

    • Read more about our iPad 2 packages here.

    ]]>     http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/grid-player-launched/feed/ 0     SymbolStix to be bundled with The Grid 2 http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/symbolstix-to-be-bundled-with-the-grid-2/ http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/symbolstix-to-be-bundled-with-the-grid-2/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:23:27 +0000 Dougal http://www.smartboxat.com/?p=1863 more]]> From 2012 we will be including the SymbolStix symbol library with all copies of The Grid 2. The popular symbol library has over 12,000 symbols that are regularly updated to include famous people and brands.

    SymbolStix were designed and developed by N2Y who also publish a weekly online newspaper (English and Spanish only) which may also be of interest.
    SymbolStix will be included with all standard copies of The Grid 2 and will not affect the price to our resellers.

    Both SymbolStix and Widgit libraries are updated regularly and will be announced via this website. Updates will be made by running Sensory Update.
    We are working on SymbolStix versions of some of our grid sets including Symbol Talker A & B and Grid Talk.

    ]]>     http://www.smartboxat.com/2012/01/symbolstix-to-be-bundled-with-the-grid-2/feed/ 0