PCA

It is a communication help software(Alternative Communication Platform)

Two versions of this software exist :  the langage ACP and the pictural ACP.  They are for two different uses and can be bought together or separately.

System requirements : 

Windows 98 to Windows XP (2000 recommended). 

Pentium 500 MHz

128 Mo  RAM

Sound Card

Functions :

Input device : physical keyboard, mouse, joystick, switch. You can also use these different features at the same time and give different functions each of them.

Typing mode : stroke, click, self click, scanning. The scanning mode goes in any ACP menu. When you choose the scanning mode, it starts automatically in the "typing"  zone (actually a elementary virtual keyboard)  and in the "work"  menu which is the main menu of ACP. Consequently, you can entirely control the software when using the scanning mode. 

Word Prediction : In the langage ACP, when typing the first letter of a word, it shows a list of 9 words in a window. The predicted words can be shown as most frequently used words in the French language and in the user’s language, complying with the grammatical rules. Unfortunately, when using  the scanning  mode, you have to select this window before you can choose the right word. When no words are being typed, ACP shows a list of words that could follow knowing the user’s habits. Any new word can be added to the dictionary when unknown thank to the function “add to the dictionary”.

In the pictural ACP, with the same principle, the likely next pictures are shown.  

Text edition (langage ACP) : ACP do not allow to type in Windows applications : the typed text directly appears in an text area. But there is a basic text processing function (when using it, a large windows opens, with a menu including basic functions such as cut and paste).

Creating and using folders : the pictural ACP includes a grid editor.This editor  contains folders with icons grouped by thems. An icon is a picture and a short text to explain it, and if you want a text to read when this icon is selected. You can adjust the number of icons by grid (the basic number is 15). ACP library has 750 icons to which the user can add its own.

When you use these sheets, the grid appears on the screen with a browser to surf on this grid and between the grids, and with a window in which the selected pictures are printed. ACP makes a sentence, complying with the grammatical rules, to explain what the pictures mean. Therefore, ACP has also a pedagogical use.

Speech system. It is an option.  Man or woman's voice in french.

Advantages :

Adapted to many disabilities.

The scanning goes up to the menus.

There is a "send an e-mail"  function

The word prediction complies with the grammar rules.

Disadvantages  :

No access to the control of the computer : the user is “trapped” in a quite complete software.

The virtual keyboard of the langage ACP cannot be personnalized.

Constructor  :

http://www.aegys.com

  You can download a free 30 days demo version.

Suppliers :

Vocalisis : 550 € for the complete version

            250 € for the langage ACP

            350 € for the picture ACP          www.vocalisis.com

           Speech system : 100 €

Cimis : the prices are the same.     www.cimis.fr