Grid Player is a free-of-charge Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) application developed by Smartbox Assistive Technology. It is designed to give a voice to individuals who cannot speak or have unclear speech, making it a crucial tool in the field of assistive technology and healthcare. The app functions primarily as a 'player' for communication grids. Users can download and use four complete, pre-made grid sets for free, or they can sync and use custom grids created in the full, paid Grid 3 software for Windows or Grid for iPad.
Key Features and Capabilities
- Free, Robust Vocabulary: The app comes pre-loaded with four complete communication grid sets: Symbol Talker A, Symbol Talker B, Talking Photographs, and Text Talker Phrasebook. These are not 'lite' versions but robust starting points for communication.
- Dynamic Screen AAC: The grid sets feature dynamic displays with linking boards, allowing users to navigate between categories and pages for a more comprehensive and efficient vocabulary.
- Extensive Symbol Support: Includes access to over 12,000 Widgit Symbols and 12,000 SymbolStix Symbols for symbol-based communication.
- Text and Symbol Communication: Supports both symbol-based and text-based communication, catering to users of all literacy levels.
- High-Quality Speech: Features high-quality male and female voices for text-to-speech output.
- Prediction Tools: Includes "TouchType" word prediction and symbol-supported prediction suggestions to speed up text-based communication.
- Online Grids Integration: Requires a free Online Grids account to sync custom grids created on the full Grid software.
Target Users and Use Cases
Grid Player is designed for individuals with a wide range of communication difficulties and physical disabilities, including:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Motor-Neuron Disease (ALS)
- Autism and Apraxia
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Stroke
- Deafness and other speech-related conditions
- Educational settings for people with learning difficulties or special needs.