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I. Vocabulary
& Symbols

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AAC Glossary

AAC Vendors

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AAC Home

I. Vocabulary
& Symbols

II. Features

III. Funding

AAC Glossary

AAC Vendors

AAC References

AAC Links

Output Features in AAC

Introduction
The term "output" refers to the way the message is conveyed to the listener or communication partner. (There is also electronic output to control a computer or environmental control device, but we won't cover that at this time) There are two types of output for the listener:

1) Speech output (for devices only)
2) Visual output (for devices and low tech strategies)

1. Speech Output: There are two types of speech output: digitized and text-to-speech. You can hear samples by clicking on the links below:

Digitized Speech Output: This is natural speech that has been pre-recorded and stored on a computer. When played back, it is a close replica of the original speech. Here is a sample of Digitized Speech Output.

Text-to-Speech Output: This is speech that is produced when the computer converts text into sounds based on elaborate rules of pronunciation. The output sounds somewhat robotic to us. Here is a sample of Text-to-Speech Output.

AAC devices come in three varieties: a) digitized output only, b) text-to-speech output only or c) a combination of both.

a. Devices with digitized speech output only: This is speech that is produced from messages that have been recorded digitally as whole words, phrases or sentences. (Sample: Digitized Speech Output)

This output is generally clearer to the listener than text-to-speech (described below.) It is not possible to spell unique messages with pre-recorded digitized output. This type of speech is typical of many of the smallest devices but is also used in some of the mid-range devices, for example:

     Attainment 15 from Attainment Company, Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge.)

     Holly.com from Communication Devices, Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge.)

     AlphaTalker from Prentke Romich Co.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge.)

b. Devices with text-to-speech output only: This is the speech produced when a computer translates the letters of the text into sounds, using complex pronunciation rules. (Sample: Text-to-Speech Output) This speech output is generally less clear to the listener than digitized speech (above.) Spelling is possible with text-to-speech, for example:

     LightWriter from Zygo Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge)

c. Devices with both types of speech output: These are devices that can produce pre-recorded utterances with digitized output, but also permit the user to spell unique messages with text-to-speech. These are typically the larger devices, for example:

     DynaVox 3100 from DynaVox Systems, Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge.)

     Optimist II from Zygo Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge.)

2. Visual Output: Books and boards usually provide visual output for the partner. Devices can have either temporary visual output or a hard copy printout for the partner.

a. Devices/strategies with a temporary display: These transient displays may be either text or symbols (or both) for the partner to read/recognize, for example:

     LightWriter from Zygo Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge)

     Alphabet Board from Interactive Therapeutics, Inc.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge)

b. Devices with hard copy printout: Some devices, particularly the older ones, have a printout for the partner to tear off and read, for example:

     Liberator from Prentke Romich Co.:

                  
           (Click picture to enlarge.)

Back to Understanding AAC Features

University of Washington, Dept. of Speech & Hearing Sciences, Tele-Collaboration Project. © 1999-2002, UW-SPHSC, including all photographs and images unless otherwise noted. Comments: tcollab@u.washington.edu. URL: http://depts.washington.edu/augcomm