SwitchIt! At Home
by Gerry Kennedy
For PC Compatible and Apple Macintosh Computers
Early Learning with Switches
SwitchIt! At Home is part of a series of software that has been cleverly designed by Inclusive Technology (in the UK). This delightfully simple yet entertaining package provides opportunities for both learning concepts and developing switch skills for clients of all ages. The clear brightly coloured graphics are generic in design. The actions and switch prompts cater to a large age range, including adults who have an intellectual disability. The objects are stimulating with animated visual and sound effects.
The software is packed on a CD-ROM. It can be purchased as a single licensed version, a 5-user pack or as a site licence. Reasonably priced, it is ideal for pre-school, early intervention centres and special school settings where a number of groups or classes could use it on a daily basis. Users may elect to use one or two switches, an IntelliKeys membrane board, mouse, ‘switched’ mouse, keyboard or touch window.
There are ten motivating activities. The user may elect to be rewarded with just one ‘press’ or touch/click of the mouse (i.e. instant reward and gratification), or three or five presses of their preferred device. The sound effects, visual and auditory prompts are clear and unambiguous. The figure ground (i.e. visual complexity of the screen) is excellent. These uncluttered screens can be altered at any time with choice of background colour options. This provides colour differentiation and activities that accommodate children or users who are vision impaired.
The activities include animated objects that are typically found in the home. These images can be set up to appear sequentially or at random. Sequential order assists those users who require consistency, or familiarity. It also provides for “what’s next” type questions to promote short term memory, attention and recognition of objects and shapes. The Random mode alleviates boredom and predictability for other users. This flexibility is important and is a great feature. Scenes can be printed as well.
Each ‘scene’ or activity starts with a blank screen. A picture of a switch appears, prompting the user to ‘press’. If the user does not respond in a given time frame (which can be set by the teacher, aide, parent or therapist) then an auditory and/or visual prompt alerts them to participate and therefore engage in the activity. A beep, ‘swoop’ or siren sound effect is played, with the image of the switch appropriately animated. The ten scenes include:
| a washing machine | ironing board | vacuum cleaner | coffee maker | oven |
| food processor | dishwasher | microwave oven | mixer | kettle |
User Preferences
As stated, the software has various input options. “Menu” has two choices, Preferences and New Scene. The option, New Scene, progresses to the next sequential or randomly generated scene. The Preferences option has two parts. The first provides options to turn scenes on or off. You can turn sound effects on and off as well. Here you load and save preferences. This innovative feature allows you to set up the program settings, input and scene options as well as sound effects for a user and then save it as a ‘profile’. Each time the user begins using the program, you can load his or her preferences.
Access Options
In the Access area you choose one switch, two-switch mouse, touch screen, or two-switch alternate (i.e. for taking turns or introducing left/right concepts). You can use mouse switches, or auto-run the serial switch program (it looks for an attached switch interface). Similarly, auto-load IntelliKeys will send an overlay immediately to the IntelliKeys keyboard (if it is attached). ‘Steps to Build’ include 1, 3 and 5 steps. The background colour can be set to one of ten (10) different colours. The left switch and right switches can be set to one of seven (7) colours. Pauses ranging from 5, 10, 15 and 20 seconds can be chosen with visual and aural reminders turned on or off. A ‘time to remember’ setting provides for users who take time to respond or attend, especially young children or for those who need to lift their head, look, think, then respond with their device. Yet another great program from Inclusive!
NOTE: SwitchIt! Titles may be purchased as single, 5 user or 10 user licence copies. The prices represent significant savings for multiple copies. This is ideal for schools, pre-school as well as early intervention centres. There is also a Network licence (Windows only).