From 0ca848dd82021f0039b7b5b5280484f10a0881a1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Lisa Seeman
-This draft is out of date, an update that addresses new research and new technologies is being worked on at Symbol users with Speech, Language and Literacy Difficulties. Symbol users with Speech, Language and Literacy Difficulties
Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs) are devices that have been developed to allow pictures, symbols or words to be used with speech synthesis. The devices may be specialist items with built in systems carrying the symbols. They may also be a generic computer, tablet or mobile with specialist software or apps. The symbols are activated by single or multiple touches, eyes dwelling on a chosen image or manual use of a keyboard or switches. An external input device usually allows for step by step scanning up and down rows and columns of symbols on a grid. Symbols and word choices are personalised to suit the user, representing known objects, actions and happenings.