Newly-launched AAC software to offer individuals with communication difficulties a suitable solution as their needs change

Assistive technology company Smartbox has recently launched its Alpha Core software, which is a text-based AAC vocabulary designed to help disabled people with changing needs to communicate.

The innovative software was built with the input of adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), their families and therapists, and can be used to help people with a range of conditions, such as motor neurone disease.

Alpha Core contains seven different keyboards for users to choose from, depending on their needs, which offer prediction, built-in apps and a variety of useful topics and phrases. Topics include comfort and positioning, diet and eating strategies, greeting and household requests.

Aimed at literate adults, the assistive software has been designed to support people’s physical needs and access methods as they change over time. For instance, a user might start out using touch access but then switch to the eye-gaze method over time.

The vocabulary also offers simple personalisation, allowing users to add their own words and relevant phrases, as well as remove any that aren’t relevant to them. Users also have the option to change the keyboard layout whenever desired, without losing any personalised phrases they’ve added to the system.

Alongside the seven different keyboards, Alpha Core comes with a range of accessible apps for sending emails, text messages, browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos, message banking, computer control for Windows applications and taking photos.

Users can also interact with Alpha Core via voice command through Amazon’s Alexa technology.

Alpha Core was developed by Speech and Language Pathologist Amy Roman, and is based on over 20 years of clinical experience in the field of ALS. She has spent many years adapting communication solutions for people with conditions that impact speech.