iOS 4.2 features

I recently returned from my honeymoon on the gorgeous island of St. Lucia. After a rocky start that involved a hotel change due to a hurricane in October, my wife and I had a wonderful time. I forgot about technology for a brief period of time, but now it’s back to business.

During my honeymoon, iOS 4.2 was released for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. The new iOS brings great features to iPad, some that are new and others that were previously available for iPhone 4 and iPod touch (3rd and 4th generations). Among the previously available features are multi-tasking and folders.

I want to illustrate two other iOS 4.2 features for iPad, and relate them to working with children. The first is an update for the orientation lock, which has gone from an external switch (now the mute switch) to a button in multi-tasking. When using my iPad with children, I frequently lock the orientation so the screen doesn’t turn unintentionally. The second is a brand new feature for restricting access to deleting apps. This is particularly exciting for me and others who’ve had children accidentally delete apps. See below for enabling the features:

Locking orientation
1. Double click the home
button for multitasking.
2. Flick from left to right
until you see iPod controls.
3. Tap the button for
locking screen rotation.

Restricting access to deleting apps
1. Open the Settings app on the home screen.
2. Tap General, then Restrictions
3. Enable Restrictions by entering a passcode
4. Turn Deleting Apps OFF.
5. Click the home button, then tap and hold on a 3rd party app (e.g., BrainPOP) until your apps pulse. You can now move the apps, but not delete them.

To update the iOS, sync your device to iTunes and check for update on the summary screen. Click to download and install the 4.2.1 update.

2010 ASHA Convention

I will be getting married in San Diego, CA during the week of this year’s ASHA Convention. Needless to say, I will not be attending ASHA. However, our ArtikPix app will still have a presence at the convention. The nice folks at AssistiveWare (creators of Proloquo2Go and Pictello) will be demonstrating ArtikPix at their booth (no. 652). You can get hands-on time using the app on an iPod touch and iPad.  If you’re attending ASHA, stop by the AssistiveWare booth to try ArtikPix in addition to Proloquo2Go and Pictello.

ArtikPix and ArtikPix – Full updates

11/8/10 Update: The free version of ArtikPix 1.2.1 was updated today on the App Store. Identical to ArtikPix – Full, the audio was restored on the 2nd generation iPod touch, and increased in loudness across all other iOS devices. I highly urge all ArtikPix users to update to 1.2.1 for improved audio.

10/31/10 Update: Apple expedited their review of ArtikPix – Full 1.2.1, which fixes the audio problems particularly on the 2nd generation iPod touch. It also makes the audio louder across all other iOS devices. Once Apple approves ArtikPix 1.2.1 update, then the same fix will apply to the free version with In App purchases.

ArtikPix and ArtikPix – Full 1.2 (universal apps for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad) updates were approved yesterday by Apple. If you previously downloaded the free or full versions of ArtikPix, you can get 1.2 for free in the updates section of the App Store. Here’s a look at the new features:

• Sound group title added to the top of flashcards and matching cards to clarify scoring
• Sentence level added to flashcards, which is accessed by tapping the around arrow
• Ability to collect scores for the word and sentence levels
• Only the sound groups containing collected scores are shown on Nice Job and Save(d) Scores screens
• Fixed sound issues that occurred during simultaneous action of pre-recorded audio and voice recording
• For ArtikPix only: Restore purchase feature added for transferring In App Purchases to other iOS devices

iPod touch app tutorials

For the Closing the Gap Conference, I created iPod touch app tutorials. They were made for participants to learn apps during hands-on portions of lab sessions. The tutorials include the following apps: Percentally, TapSpeak Button, StoryKit, iReward, iWriteWords, and ArtikPix. I have to say thanks to Assistiveware for making the really cool templates that I used.

View this document on Scribd

2010 Closing the Gap Conference

The 2010 Closing the Gap Conference will be held in Minneapolis, MN October 21-23 at the Hotel Sofitel and the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel. It marks the 28th annual event with over 200 presentations and hands-on labs.  This will be my 2nd year attending and presenting at CTG. In addition to a Preconference workshop, I’ll be co-presenting the following sessions:

• Lab: In-depth hands-on with iPod touch Assistive Technology Apps. Thursday, October 21, 12:30 – 3:00 PM. Presenters: Mark Coppin, David Niemeijer, Eric Sailers.
• Presentation: iPod touch and iPad for Children with Special Needs: AAC, AT, and More. Saturday, October 23, 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Presenters: Mark Coppin, Eric Sailers.

iPad Apps and Accessories for Special Needs

For upcoming presentations, I created a handout titled iPad Apps and Accessories for Special Needs. The first page has lists of my favorite apps for various categories such as reading, writing, and communication. Since it’s October, I included a couple apps with seasonal content for Halloween: Cookie Doodle and 123 Sticker HD. On the second page of the handout, I listed iPad accessories with links.

View this document on Scribd

iPad apps are for use on the iPad only. Universal apps (+), on the other hand, are optimized for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. A plus sign is indicated in the App Store listing for the app. You buy a universal app once, then you install it on all your iOS devices, resulting in a great looking app on your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

*One of the apps, ArtikPix, was co-created by me.
**Although I have used many of the accessories listed, I have not tried all of them. However, I have heard/read good reviews about the ones I haven’t tried.
***Pictello is an app that will soon be released on the App Store.

ArtikPix – Full was updated

Jason Rinn and I updated ArtikPix – Full (iTunes link). I also created the video demo above. Here’s what’s new in the app:

• Universal app optimized for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
• 7 new decks of cards (p, b, m, n, t, d, j)
• Converts old data for new version’s features
• Fixed timestamp issues
• Combine multiple card decks
• Practice speech by specific sound groups (e.g., middle ch, end l, ar)
• Choice of shuffling cards in flashcards activity
• Scores/data collected per sound group (e.g., middle ch, end l, ar) and displayed after completing an activity
• More save and copy features
• Better timing of sounds
• Option for 3 second delay in matching activity
• Tap feature optimized in matching activity
• Individualized border colors of matching cards on bottom and default blue border on top
• Bug fixes
• Visual enhancements

How I became the speech guy with an iPad

Image by Eric Sailers

As a kindergartner in the mid 1980’s, I saw a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for speech delays. I don’t recall the experience with much detail, but I have been reminded by those closest to me. Once I became an SLP, my mom informed me that I said “Dada Da” for “Santa Claus,” and my SLP (who continues to work in the same district that I attended as a student and now work in) told me that I called myself “airwit.” Evidently I had errors of stopping, cluster reduction, vocalic r, and t/k substitution. I was also told that I did drill work with traditional flashcards to practice sounds. Although I graduated from speech-language therapy, I wonder how my experience would have been different with the wonderful technologies available today.

Back in the winter of 2008, I purchased my first iPhone and started beta testing for Proloquo2Go, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app. I was so impressed with how a cool, mobile technology could be very sophisticated at a reasonable cost. I started looking at other applications that could be used in speech-language therapy. One of the first apps I discovered was Wheels on the Bus, an interactive music book that plays the song. My students loved the interactions like moving the bus and popping bubbles with the touch of their finger. I loved how my students were so engaged by the interactions that didn’t require a computer mouse (which is challenging for many of my students); plus, they sang to repetitive lyrics and heard their voice recording in the app.

In 2009, I thought about developing an app. I didn’t have a background in software engineering, so I began a conversation with my friend Jason Rinn who did. After several discussions and time spent learning the iPhone programming language, Jason was on board. Jason and I decided to create solutions that involved a strong component of tracking progress. We created a data collection app (Percentally) and an articulation app (ArtikPix) with integrated data collection. ArtikPix is an app that allowed me to include modern technology in a tool for speech articulation difficulties that I personally experienced some 25 years ago. It means a lot to me that I can share such a personalized solution with children who I now serve.

I currently use iOS devices (iPod touch and iPad) in speech-language therapy sessions. I have five iPods that are primarily for individual use, and one iPad I incorporate in group activities. There are apps my students use individually such as iColoringBook and Sentence Builder. For both apps, my students show their screen to the group as they produce sentences. Optimized iPad apps for my groups include a book app called Zoo You Later – Monkey Business and BrainPop Featured Movie. During Monkey Business and BrainPop, the students take turns listening, touching, and talking about the content. A book app like Monkey Business is very enjoyable and beneficial for children because of the features including interactive text and illustrations, painting, recorded audio, voice recording, and highlighted text. I imagine I would have enjoyed using apps like interactive books and games to practice my sounds.

My students are drawn to the iOS devices, and general education peers are interested in how they use the technologies for communication. My students favorite part about iOS devices is the touching aspect. Even if they are not skilled with a computer mouse, most of my students can tap, flick, and drag elements on the screen. I see this as a great source of initiating and maintaining their engagement during activities.

I think that apps offer great features for visual cues and auditory feedback that aid children with special needs in the learning process. I also am very pleased to have my students using mobile technologies that they might not otherwise use because of various factors. Finally, it brings me great joy to hear students asking, “Hey speech guy, can we use the iPad today?”

Free version of ArtikPix is available

Check out the ArtikPix YouTube channel.

*On 9/25/10, ArtikPix was updated as a universal app optimized for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Now, you can try the free version on all your iOS devices, then decide what decks you want to buy.

ArtikPix (iTunes link) is an engaging articulation app with flashcard and matching activities for children with speech sound delays. Since the app includes child friendly language, you don’t have to be a speech-language pathologist to facilitate practice. Children use ArtikPix to practice sounds independently, with a speech-language pathologist or their parents.

Utilizing fun and modern graphics, ArtikPix has a deck of “th” cards with features such as recorded audio, voice recording, and data collection. In app purchases enable all features with a total possible 21 decks with 40 cards each (840 total cards) for the following sounds: th, f, v, ch, sh, k, g, s, z, l, r, s-blends, r-blends, l-blends, p, b, m, n, t, d, j. The decks are combined, selected for sound group (e.g., beginning th, er), then practiced in full-featured flashcard and matching activities.

In the flashcard activity, the sound groups are ordered and configured for shuffling to individualize practice for children. The flashcards are then practiced in an easy-to-use flick album. In the matching activity, the words are randomized in easy (3 pairs), medium (6 pairs), and hard (10 pairs) levels. The matching activity is a fun way for children to practice their speech sounds while data is still collected.

The flashcard and matching activities include the following features:
• combine card decks and specify ordering
• choose sounds groups (e.g., beginning th, er) to practice
• color coded cards
• auto-play of audio recordings
• tap-to-play audio
• record your voice and play the voice recording
• collect data by tallying for specified sound groups (e.g., beginning th, er)
• tallied data is automatically converted to percentage based data
• save data in the app with timestamp
• copy data to clipboard, email, and Google Spreadsheet
• configurable options for app sounds (e.g., audio recordings) and visuals (e.g., hide matched cards, unmatched card delay)

*I co-created ArtikPix (iTunes link) with my friend, Jason Rinn.

Back to school

Going back to work brought new changes for me. I went from a speech pathologist position at a middle school and the district’s AT Specialist to a speech pathologist position at an elementary school. This year, I was assigned to 5 days/week with a Pre-K – 5 caseload at the elementary school.

Since I previously worked at the middle school for 5 years, I forgot what it was like to work with a new caseload. A new set of children who are younger and display a wider range of disabilities. There was a good amount of prep work involved before seeing them for therapy. And, even after working with the children for a week, I find myself prepping a fair amount.

Since I service several children with autism at my new school, I have spent a sizeable portion of my prepping to create and find materials for them. The materials include Boardmaker supports (schedules, reinforcement charts, communication boards), social narratives, and iPad apps. My students are definitely engaged by the iPad. The size of the device is great for my small groups, and the interactivity of the apps really captivate their interest.

Here are my new favorite iPad apps that I started using this school year:

• Talking Tom Cat for iPad (free): TalkingTom, the cat, repeats what you say in a higher pitch
• Wood Puzzle ($.99): 14 puzzles for younger children to shake apart, then put back together
• Zoo You Later – Monkey Business ($4.99): an interactive book about monkeys who take their zoo keepers on a chase around and outside the zoo
• Interactive Alphabet for iPad* ($2.99): learn the alphabet with interactive flashcards

*I received a promo code for the Interactive Alphabet app.