iAutism

iAssist Communicator is another application designed by parents of children with autism. It allows them to communicate by selecting pictures, something usually known as PECS. Within this kind of applications, iAssist Communicator is one that comes with “only a few” images loaded (240 to be exact), relying in the users for adding all the pictures that they want.

At the same time, the application stands out for a very simple design, intended more for the end users that do not want or, due to their cognitive capacity, cannot use many categories, sequence construction tools, etc.

Groups of four

That very simple design, and an application designed for the “small” screen of the iPhone / iPod touch, results in a model of “groups of four”. So, when started, iAssist Communicator displays a screen with four images.

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The user can select one of them, such as “Answers” and access to the four images that make up this group and represent typical response pictures and text. Each time you touch a picture, you hear an audio clip associated with it. Usually, that audio clip will be the pronunciation of the word or words corresponding to the picture.

The “Home” button takes you back to the first screen. This model, therefore, allows you to access a total of 16 pictures. To see the rest, you can go to the “Files” tab, which shows the remaining preloaded groups of four (there are 48) in a list, select one, hear the audio clip and visualize the four images of that group.

The predefined pictures and groups cover a little of everything: colors, sports, animals, entertainment, bathing, clothing, typical messages, food, moods, body parts, numbers, etc.

As a third option, the users can go to “Images” tab, where they can see all the pictures in the form of two lists (predefined and added), but due to their high number, at least in the case of the predefined, this is not the usual option.

Editing

Edit options are the ones that the parents, therapists or educators will use more. The pictures, the groups of four and which groups appear on the “home” screen are completely customizable.

Thus, to add a picture, you just click the “+” button in the “Images” tab and access a screen where you can add a picture (from the photo library of the device or by taking a photo if the device has camera), enter a text and record an audio clip. You can also scale and cut the picture with simple touch gestures.

Once added, the new picture will appear in the list as any other. A curious limitation, once added, the picture cannot be modified or deleted.

After adding the pictures, you can go to “Files” tab and, for example, modify one of the groups of four to change one of its preset pictures for one that you have added.

Or, if you want, you create a new group. You have to assign a cover image, text and audio clip and define the four pictures that will appear when you select that group from the pictures lists.

To finish the editing features, you can change the four groups to be displayed on the “Home” screen. So, that first screen actually acts as a shortcut to the most common groups.

iAssist Communicator is that simple. As happened in the review of Grace, published a week ago, it is an application designed above all looking for easy of use and simplicity, and that is designed for users with special needs who do not want or cannot build picture sequences, rely on symbolic pictograms or use other advanced features.

The application includes, in the “Info” tab, the same information available on iTunes and a shoer graphical user manual of the application that is enough to master its use in a matter of minutes. There is not a true website but a support email is available.

Rating

When rating iAssist Communicator, and in fact, any implementation of PECS, I think there are some preliminary decisions you must consider. Do you want an application with few preloaded pictures? That generally means a lower price. You will have to add them yourself, but in exchange that pictures will represent real objects and the environment of the person with special needs. Moreover, you will have to record the associated audio clips, but at least they will be saved in a known voice and also in your language. So you want an easy to use application? That typically is associated with a more limited set of features.

iAssist Communicator follows a clear and deterministic model. There are no options to configure. The application uses always this “paradigm” of groups of four, while similar applications tend to opt for “categories”, each of which may have dozens of images. That implies a certain limitation, but on the other hand, to show always four pictures on an iPod touch or iPhone means that they have a reasonable size, and that certainly is a visual aid and a simple model that can very useful for some people.

-Francesc Sistach

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iAssist Communicator 1.0

Web: www.iassistcompany.com

Developer: The iAssist Company

Languages: English.

Functions: PECS based on a model of groups of four pictures with associated audio.

iPhone/iPod touch version: Yes.

iPad version: No.

Price: $29,99  / €23,99.

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This post is also available in: Spanish