App+of+the+Month

=Sounding Board is an awesome AAC app. It is now available free!!!!= =I have used this app for sometime now to make communication boards to use with students. It's really easy to create new boards to use with your students.= = Here are some features of the app: = = Who is this an appropriate app for? = __ =SoundingBoard™ AAC app for= =iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad - FREE Download=
 * easily make communication boards using photos from your photo library or using the Ablenet symbols
 * create boards with up to 9 symbols/messages (1,2,3,4,6,9 cell layouts)
 * some preloaded boards in various categories available in the app
 * can link boards together!!!!
 * record your own messages
 * can do single or two switch scanning with Ablenet Bluetooth Switch
 * auditory scanning as well
 * data collection capabilities as well
 * a student who understands or is learning to use photos or symbols for communcation
 * indicates preferences
 * makes or is learning to make choices and requests
 * beginning to or learning to make some simple sequences (e.g. "I want" + "cookie")
 * is motivated by voice output

Transforming the Learning Experience for Students with Disabilities
Click here to download SoundingBoard for FREE.SoundingBoard™ is ONLY available for download at iTunes stores. AbleNet transforms your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad into the latest in communication technology. In just minutes, you can create custom boards using AbleNet symbols or your own photos. //*Function not available on previous generation iPod Touch or iPad 1.// SoundingBoard may be transferred from one iDevice to another but customized boards do not transfer. They must be recreated on the new iDevice.
 * Create boards with up to 9 message locations
 * Virtually unlimited capacity; create boards for any situation
 * Use the built-in AbleNet symbol library for instant access to hundreds of symbols
 * Record messages of virtually any length for each symbol
 * Use your own photo library for even greater flexibility and options
 * Take your own photos using your iPhone and use them in a board immediately*
 * Increase the physical size of the boards by using iPad
 * SoundingBoard™ Version 3.1 provides these great features!** • Auditory Scanning: SoundingBoard now allows auditory scanning in addition to single and dual switch scanning. Auditory scanning works by playing a short "prompt message" during single or dual scanning actions. When the user selects the appropriate cell, the full message plays. • In-App Purchased Boards: In addition to pre-loaded boards, and the ability to create your own boards, you can now purchase professionally-created boards directly within SoundingBoard. Those boards can then be edited as you see fit for your own child, student, or patient. • Data Collection: SoundingBoard now offers basic data collection regarding app usage including: boards accessed, symbols accessed, scanning method used, and a time stamp for each activity. • Edit Lock: In the Settings menu, you can disable editing functions throughout the app, ensuring users will not accidentally access those functions during use.Other minor improvements: - Board lists now show a representative symbol for each board. - Improved external speaker performance - selected "external speakers" is no longer required. SoundingBoard™ will automatically detect your speaker preference. - Database and performance enhancements. Important Note: Because hardware specifications frequently change, and it is our intent to take advantage of the latest features, SoundingBoard™ is designed to work **only** with current and previous versions of Apple hardware including: iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, iPod Touch 3rd and 4th Generation, and iPad 1, 2 and 3

[|1.0 About SoundingBoard™][|2.0 Using SoundingBoard™ - The Basics][|3.0 Using an Existing Board][|4.0 Using a Board with Switch Access][|5.0 Using a Board with Auditory Scanning][|6.0 Creating a New Board - Part 1: Setting up the Board][|7.0 Creating a New Board - Part 2: Adding Messages][|8.0 Purchasing Boards][|9.0 Configuring Settings][|10.0 Data Collection][|11.0 Troubleshooting / iPod Touch and iPhone Differences][|12.0 Device Compatability]
 * SoundingBoard Operating Instructions**

Download SoundingBoard™ Data Sheet [|Visit our Knowledge Base for additional product information]

**1.0 About SoundingBoard** SoundingBoard allows educators, caregivers, and parents of persons with disabilities to easily create customized communication boards of up to nine messages per screen. SoundingBoard is also the first AAC app to incorporate scanning switch access, opening up the "app world" to hundreds of thousands of new people who cannot "touch" a screen. Communication boards are used for peer interaction, learning, evaluation, day-to-day activities, games, and many more purposes inside and outside of the classroom. **2.0 Using SoundingBoard - The Basics** If you are new to SoundingBoard, you can get started right away by using one of the pre-loaded boards installed with the application. You may also choose to edit any of those boards to fit your specific situation. The power of SoundingBoard, however, is how easy it is to create new boards of your own design. you will need to create a new board. Once you have created your board, select it from the list of available boards stored on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Make sure to have the sound turned on and the volume turned up, otherwise you won't be able to hear message sounds when you touch the images. Note: If you are using external speakers, make sure you visit the "Settings" screen to activate them for use with SoundingBoard.

**3.0 Using an Existing Board** After you have selected an existing board, it will appear - full screen - and is ready for use. Touch the image to play the associated sound/message. Messages that are "links" to other boards will show an orange border with an arrow icon in the top right corner. When you touch that message, the sound will play and then display the board you've linked to. To return to the previous screen (and select a different board), touch the far upper left corner of the screen to reveal the navigation bar, then select "Back" to go back. The navigation bar will disappear after a few moments if you do not use it.

**4.0 Using a Board with Switch Access** Using AbleNet's access switch, you can use a switch to simulate the "touch" on the "Boards List" and board display screens. Single switch access works on a time interval. To begin scanning, press the switch. To select a message, press the switch again when the desired message is highlighted. Press the switch again to continue scanning. For two-switch access, press switch 1 to advance to the next message location, and press switch 2 to activate it. Press switch 1 again to continue scanning. To configure switch access, visit the "Settings" screen (section 8.0). Visit [|www.ablenetinc.com/soundingboard] for purchasing information for the switch access device specifically designed to work with SoundingBoard. **5.0 Using a Board with Auditory Scanning** When in switch access mode, you can activate auditory scanning for SoundingBaord™ users with low vision. Simply activate this mode in the Settings screen along with your preferred switch access method (single or dual). During scanning, SoundingBoard™ will play a short "prompt" message during scanning of each message. A few important notes to remember when using Auditory Scanning: **6.0 Creating a New Board - Part 1: Setting up the Board** Select the "Create a New Board" option to begin the process. You may complete the following tasks in any order, but we recommend beginning by giving the board a name to differentiate it from other boards you'll create later. Next, choose the visual layout for the board. You may choose a 1x1, 1x2, 1x3, 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3 grid for a total of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 9 message locations respectively. Note: You do not need to fill every location on the grid. For example, if you want an "8-message" grid, simply select the 3x3 grid and do not add a message to the ninth location. You can use this technique to create a number of additional configurations to suit the communication needs of the user. Part 7.0 describes the steps to add messages to your new board. **7.0 Creating a New Board - Part 2: Adding Messages** Adding messages to your board is a three-step process (with an optional fourth step to link the message to another board). When you select the "messages" option, you will see available locations on the grid. Click on any message location to begin. **1. Give the message a name.** That name will appear on the board under the image, so name it whatever makes sense for your communication outcome. You may choose not to name the message if you do not want that name to appear on the board when it displays for the user.
 * For each symbol, you must record a prompt message in addition to the full message in order to take advantage of this feature.
 * Be careful not to set a single switch scanning rate that is faster than the prompt message you record (i.e. less than 2 seconds) otherwise the next prompt will begin playing too quickly.
 * Do not use auditory scanning with Apple's "VoiceOver" feature, as the VoiceOver command will override the prompt message and read the name of the cell using a synthesized voice.

**2. Select an image for the message.** You may choose (and search for) an image from the included AbleNet symbol library, use a photo from your iPhone or iPod Touch photo library, or take a new photo using your iPhone camera (the last option is not available for the iPod Touch). For each selection, you will need to confirm your choice. Repeat steps 1 through 3 (and optional #4) with each additional message. **8.0 Purchasing Boards** Through AbleNet and it's network of professional Speech Language Pathologists, SoundingBoard™ now offers pre-made communication boards available for individual purchase at reasonable prices. Of course, you can still create your on boards, as well as use the boards that come pre-loaded with the app, but these boards offer additional quick-ready content for a growing number of common situations. Once you purchase a board, it's yours, meaning you can edit it in any way that suits your needs.To purchase a board, select that option from the main screen. You'll be taken to a screen showing available boards for purchase, a short description, and each board's price. Simply select the board you want and complete the purchase as you would any other in-app purchase (you will need to provide your Apple iTunes username and password and approve the purchase). **9.0 Configuring Settings****Switch Access Options:** Activate switch access by sliding the toggle to "on". SoundingBoard™ is now ready to be used with AbleNet's iDevice switch access products. If you select "Single" switch access, you will need to set a rate interval (in 0.5 second increments from 0.5 seconds to 9.0 seconds). Use the "-0.5s" and "+0.5s" icons to decrease or increase the interval. If you select "Two" switch access, you are ready. No other configuration is needed. **Auditory Scanning Option:** Switch scanning (see above) must be activated in order to use auditory scanning. Also remember, you must record a prompt message for each cell in each board to take advantage of this feature. **Edit Lock:** Activate Edit Lock to disable editing functions throughout the app, preventing users from accidentally accessing these features during use. **External Speaker Options** To use external, plug-in speakers (through the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad audio jack), slide the toggle switch to "on". In the "off" position, SoundingBoard™ will use the built in device speaker (i.e. the speakerphone function built into the iPhone). **10.0 Data Collection** SoundingBoard offers two levels of data collection and export. The first "Summary" mode collects information on the most popular boards and symbols, tracking the number of uses/activations of each. The second "Detail" mode collects that information plus the scanning method used and time stamp for all usage activity. Both sets of information are tracked by default - you don't need to activate them. To view the data, simply select the link to "Email the information as a CSV file". This file is compatible with common spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel®. **11.0 Troubleshooting / iPod Touch and iPhone Differences**
 * 3. Record a message to be played when the image is touched.** Simply touch the "Record Message" button to begin recording, and "Stop" when you are finished. Remember to speak clearly and close to the microphone to ensure a clear sound.[[image:http://www.ablenetinc.com/Portals/0/images/13_RecordSoundTHUMB.jpg width="80" height="120" caption="Record Sound"]]4. **(Optional) To link a message to another board:** Select the "Link Message to Another Board" option. The "Boards List" screen will appear. Select any existing board. When you finish your board, this message location will play its message and link to the board you specify. Click "Done" to finish.
 * Use must have your sound turned on and your volume turned up in order to hear messages. If you need a louder volume than the device can produce, you may plug in external speakers.
 * When using an iPod Touch, you must use an external microphone to record sounds.
 * When using an iPod Touch, the "Take a Photo" option is disabled. You may still use existing photos stored on your device.
 * When using an iPhone, an incoming call or text message will interrupt the use experience. We recommend setting the phone to "Airplane Mode" to avoid confusion for the user.

**12.0 Device Compatability**SoundingBoard is compatible with the following Apple devices:
 * iPod Touch 4th Generation
 * iPod Touch 3rd Generation (32GB and 64GB only)
 * iPhone 3Gs
 * iPhone 4
 * iPad 1 and 2