AAC: Group Presentation One Kristen Eklund & Jolene Hyppa Martin

Selection Methods Step Scan

Selection Methods  enable a switch user to ‘scan’ and ‘select’ from a set of items using one or more switches

Step scan  highlighter moves (steps) along just one item when you press the switch - holding down the switch has no effect.  to move to the next item you must release the switch and then press it again  the highlighted item can be selected in one of two ways depending on how many switches you are using

Step Scan  1-Switch Step Scan  dwell selection is used - the item is selected by releasing the switch for a pre-defined time.  2-Switch Step Scan  one switch is used to scan to the required item  the second switch is used to select it.

2-Switch Step Scan  often used to introduce someone to the principles of scanning:  no need to worry about pressing or releasing the switch within a certain time  the highlighter only moves once for every switch press, even if the user keeps the switch pressed.  simple to understand because one switch always moves the highlighter and the other always selects the highlighted item

1-Switch Step Scan is recommended when:  User can repeatedly press and release the switch  quick repeats may be needed to avoid dwelling on an item and selecting it by mistake  User becomes anxious waiting to press the switch for Autoscan

2-Switch Step Scan is recommended when:  User can control two switches  User cannot hold or release the switch with good timing (so Userscan is not suitable) Userscan  User has difficulty waiting and pressing the switch with good timing (so Autoscan is not suitable) Autoscan  User has learning difficulties

Demonstrations:  1-Switch Scan Step 1-Switch Scan Step 1-Switch Scan Step  2-Switch Scan Step 2-Switch Scan Step 2-Switch Scan Step

Our Comments on Step Scan  Easy to use  Good demos  Functional  Relatively easy to determine which is better for client

Scan Movements Nested Scan

Scan Movements  the way that the highlighter moves as items are scanned on the screen

Nested Scan Movement Nested Scan Movement  means that a group may contain one or more sub-groups, and in turn each of these sub-groups can contain more groups  the selection set is scanned in smaller and smaller groups until the desired item is reached  nesting is very useful for sub-dividing a large number of items into several small groups of related items  it is faster than other types of scanning because fewer irrelevant items are highlighted so less selections are made

Demonstration:  Nested Scan Nested Scan Nested Scan

Our Comments on Nested Scan  Ineffective and confusing demo  Would be helpful in many cases to decrease number of selections required  Our example:  Yard, Garage, House  Cleaning products, Rooms, Furnishings…  Lysol, Comet, Mop, Broom, Duster, Furniture Polish…  This way the user has access to many specific items, and doesn’t have to page through numerous items to get there  Reduces selections  Saves time  Needs to understand semantic relationships

Simtech Switch Programs  Relating to step scanning & nested scan movement

Step Scanning Programs  “Scan & Match Series”  Description: Picture matching  Function: Used to establish cause & effect with users

Step Scanning Programs  “Picasso Series”  Description: Drawing and painting pictures  Function: Also used to establish cause and effect

Step Scanning Programs  “Switch Wars”  Description: Arcade- style game featuring spaceships and aliens  Function: Teach cause and effect

Nested Scan Movement Programs  Nothing specific for nested scan  Any category game would be great