UKanDu Switches, Too!
by Gerry Kennedy
Switch Software for Children
For PC Compatible and Apple Macintosh ComputersUKanDu Switches, Too from Don Johnston
There are three programs in the series. They include:
- Eensy and Friends
- Forgetful and Friends
- Humpty and Friends
These cause-and-effect programs cater to children who use a switch, or Touch Window. They are simple, yet highly motivating. They have been designed to cater to young children and to those with special needs, particularly children who have a physical disability and require single switch access. The two stories in this series, Eensy and Friends and Forgetful and Friends, are simple stories. They contain colourful animation accompanied with high quality speech and sound effects. The music and introductory screens engage the child straightaway.
Installation is easily performed using 3.5" floppy disk install files, for either Apple Macintosh or PC Compatibles running MS Windows. After launching the programs, you are greeted by a welcome screen with an animated sequence. A title page displays the three stories with images of the various characters. A simple menu invites play. Elements of the menu include:
A: About the program displays the version number, the user's name and the program's serial number.
T: Teacher options lets you set up the software in a number of different ways:
- Interaction Cause-and-Effect, Opposites or Story Completion modes
- Speech On or off
- Scanning Off or On with Scan Speed settings Extra Slow, Slow, Medium or Fast.
Zero: The Zero ( 0 ) key returns you at any time to this Menu screen
Q: Quit option, available on this screen or Command -Q (Mac).
Direct selection provides the user with mouse or Touch Window input. Scanning (at 4 speed settings) turns on the in-built scanning mode. All directions are clearly voiced. An auditory "ding" sound indicates that a mouse click (or switch press) is required. Animations and a graphic of a switch being pressed by an impatient hand (bottom right corner of the screen) reminds children that they must press their button or switch in order for something to happen. The cause-and-effect rewards are simple yet motivating. The actions are well designed with target areas large enough for users who are visually impaired. Activities will cycle automatically, therefore children can play indefinitely. This independence invites children to practice and become proficient and confident users of their switch and their computer. The building of self-esteem in successfully negotiating the task, gives students a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.
The characters in this program are from the popular Circletime Tales program. The early learning concepts of up/down, off/on, in/out and right/left, provide young children with important cause-and-effect activities. The nursery rhyme invites users to manipulate Eensy the spider, with Five Little Ducks teaching counting skills and number identification from 1-5. In Mary Wore Her Red Dress, children learn colour identification as children dress her for her busy day.
Forgetful and Friends
This program also features characters from another Don Johnston program, Storytime Tales. Forgetful Bear provides some fun and trial and error as he tries to make porridge, with some amusing results! Molly's Day introduces concepts such as hot/cold, and hard/soft as Molly plays the part of Goldilocks in a deserted cottage in the woods. Bobby as the main character in Bobby's Bear Hunt swings from a rope, swims across the a lake sand climbs a mountain, in search of a bear. The graphics and animations are very descriptive and quite "busy". Some children may find them a little too involved, especially if they have a vision problem. Otherwise, children will love the characters and their situations as children interact with the colourful screens.
Humpty and Friends
Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle and the Mouse that Ran Up the Clock are included in this title. The stories will amuse and delight young children. Colourful animation, sound and music are included in this appealing package. This is the third title in this wonderful series of switch software.