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New AAC device, the Logan ProxTalker

Posted by 14 on the 28th July, 2009

Today CALL was pleased to receive a demonstration and short term loan of voice output communication aid that is new on the UK market, the Logan ProxTalker.

This is a VERY simple-to-use system that is basically a PECS or communication book that can talk.  The user's pictures are on little cards with a Velcro backing, stored on Velcro-friendly pages. These can be photos, PCS symbols Widgit, Pics for PECS, plain words, or anything. The user selects the symbol card he wants and places it on the Velcro tag on one of 5 buttons on the device. As he/she presses the button, the card will speak (recorded/digitised speech).

How does it work? The symbol cards are 'smart' tags that are ID coded with unique radio frequencies (like swipe cards for security doors etc.) and the speech message is linked to the code. Messages can be between 2 and 8 seconds each, and the device will hold thousands of messages (on an SD card).

It is really quick and simple to change the recording, increase or decrease volume, check battery function. You can buy it with a core vocabulary of 80 symbols (and 20 blanks) or 100 blanks and make your own set of picture/symbol cards. Extra pages, tags etc can be purchased separately later. The ProxTalker uses 4 ordinary  'C'  Duracell batteries that last about 6 months. It comes in grey, blue or pink and can be carried in a neat little backpack, weighing overall about 2.25 Kgs.

We liked the innovative design and the extreme simplicity and robustness of the ProxTalker and can imagine that there will be lots of potential users out there - particularly children with autistic spectrum disorders but maybe others too.

For more information, check it out on proxtalker.com A Proxtalker web site (www.proxtalker.co.uk) is coming soon.

If you would like to see or try this device, get in touch with CALL Scotland, we should have the demonstrator loan machine here until late September and will be keen to find potential users and to get feedback that we can relay to the developers/supplier.

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