Switch Access Training vs CViConnect Pro

"Switch Access Training with Music" is the app version of a switch-accessible cd or cassette tape player with a latch timer (that can be randomized). Such preferred reward systems can help to familiarize a student with cause-and-effect relationships, perhaps on the way to their using switch access for an augmentative and alternative communication device (AAC); in fact, that AAC might even be provided on the same sort of device on which the switch-access training occurred. SATwM uses a playlist of audio files that you collect from your Media Library (which might include preferred songs, sound effects, conversations, and the like). Each file then plays back as a sequence of switch-activated clips (with a prominent count-up display). You choose the clip length that will play out before the switch needs to be triggered again, including any random variation in that timing. The Play/Pause switch can be the Play button, the entire Switchscreen, a switch installed with a wired or wireless interface (sending a 'space' or '1'), or a keyboard (similarly). Skip to the beginning of the next song with 'enter' or '2'. Onscreen sliders control the volume, the position in the song (i.e., rewind and fast forward), and the playback rate (up to 3 times normal － without pitch bending － just for fun). You can select themes (color sets) to more closely match a trainee's individual access profile, including a choice of the OpenDyslexic font. For the main screen, themes are restricted to those color sets that provide the best chance of optimizing perception, while the Switchscreen maximizes a whole range of complementary color and brightness contrasts. Setup and other instructions are included. Known Issues: Sometimes the media picker takes a few seconds to return you to the main screen after the "Done" button is tapped. (But not often.) Sometimes the "next song" dropdown selector does not cause the next song to change. (But not often.) And sometimes just the first installation or run of the app behaves strangely. (But not often.) Still trying to figure out why.

Who is the app for? CViConnect Pro is an iPad application intended to support teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) who are working with students who have Cortical Visual Impairment. The app can be used by teachers to prepare and run visual activities with their students. The goal is to aid in the process of improving the visual impairment with this iPad application, and grow the awareness of CVI as a whole and provide educational content related to CVI. What does it do? The application guides the TVI through the process of working with students who have Cortical Visual Impairment. It allows the TVI to present visually stimulating activities to the student and captures data that can be used by the TVI to better help their students with their impairment. How does it work? Using the front-facing camera in the iPad the application can measure facts about how the child is responding to the exercises. All of these expertly-determined facts can then be graphed and analyzed by the educator, in whole or in part, across all training sessions. For example, it is possible to graph the time spent, on average, on training sessions combined with the number of times a sprite is touched, showing ways of measuring improvement in visual acuity as well as allowing a teacher to tailor future lesson plans to better match the needs of the student. In addition to analyzing favorite and least favorite lessons, the CVI system has the ability to use information from the training sessions to automatically generate new training sessions that are best for the student. As an example, the system can detect highly touched areas of the iPad and where sprites are commonly touched. Using this information, the system can automatically generate new lesson plans that focus the attention specifically on these areas as well as specifically AWAY from these areas to improve acuity. The system can use facts about the lengths of time spent on average by the user on training sessions to tailor the length of time a typical training session should take place. Where can I get help if I need it? CViConnect Pro maintains a support forum where users of the app (parents, TVI's and CVI professionals) are supported by leading CVI professionals and CVi Connect technical staff. Users can asks questions and provide feedback in this forum, which adds to the CVi community as a whole by serving as a place where CVI discussions can take place.