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A comprehensive AAC software package that is truly assistive with online communication, environmental control and entertainment at your fingertips!

Shelf Stock Clearance - Existing stock now available at this reduced price while stocks last!

Spectronics no longer supplies the technologies from Tobii including the Tobii (VS) Communicator 4. These are now available for purchase across Australia and New Zealand from Link-AT. For more details, please contact Bas Tijdhof, Managing Director of Link-AT in Adelaide on bas@linkassistive.com. Of course, all customers who have previously purchased Tobii technologies from Spectronics will, as always, be supported for the life of the product. We are here to support you on should you need assistance.

However, we have a limited number of new Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Standard Edition available now at a 50% discount! Please “jump to prices“ for more details, to create a quote or place an online order for these items while they last.

What is it?

Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium is a software package that allows the user to “talk” using their computer. It also allows the user to send emails and text messages and to control other Windows software, as well as having the option of providing environmental control.

Tobii Communicator 4 Premium also offers e-mail, text messaging, environmental control and entertainment. By not being limited to direct communication, Tobii (VS) Communicator can truly be your AAC software throughout life.

Who would use it?

Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium can be used by people of all ages and abilities who need an alternative communication option to speech and who want to be able to use the same program to do email and SMS and possibly also environmental control. This version also offers full control of the computer through onscreen keyboard and mouse displays for those users who are unable to control a computer through a standard keyboard and mouse.

How does it work?

Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium lets you design a range of communication pages which can be used in many situations to get your message across, such as the classroom, at work, at home, at a social gathering. These pages then talk either using the computer’s speech or using recordings that you do yourself.

Each custom page can have a varying number of buttons. These buttons can have pictures or writing on them. Alternatively, the user can have a keyboard on the screen or use their computer keyboard to type what they want to say. If the user is still developing literacy skills or needs assistance to type faster, word prediction can be set up.

Special pages are also provided to allow the user to send emails. These pages can use pictures, whole words or can be a keyboard. This means that people who need picture support to write can still send emails. Text messages can also be sent through the software as long as the user has a supported mobile phone.

Pages can also be created within Boardmaker, Boardmaker Plus or Speaking Dynamically Pro and imported into Tobii (VS) Communicator to function as communication pages.

The user can also operate a range of devices in their house which have remote controls by plugging a GEWA Control PROG or PROG III into their computer and controlling them directly by choosing buttons on a custom designed page.

And finally, onscreen keyboards and mouse displays are provided to give the user control of their computer using a single switch.

How can I use it?

Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium can be used through your computer keyboard or mouse. It can also be used through a touch screen monitor or by using one or more switches, which need to be plugged into a switch interface such as the Crick USB Switch Interface or the JoyCable 2 USB Switch Adapter.

There are a whole range of ways to use Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium which can be used to give people with even the most severe physical disabilities voice output, computer control, email access, text messaging and environmental control all from within the one program.

The Nuance Australian voices can also be used to produce speech with an Australian accent. These currently need to be purchased through another program, such as Word Read Plus.

Is there anything else I want to know?

• Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium lets you create custom user dictionaries for word prediction which can be a great support for people developing literacy.
• Graphics are extremely easily imported into the software, allowing you to add digital photos and other pictures such as clipart, or communication symbols.
• Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium provides complete and customised communication and access solutions for users with a variety of disabilities. With Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium, the user can have one solution that meets a variety of needs.
• Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium is unique in having built-in support for text messaging and email, enabling even users with cognitive disability to take advantage of modern technology through a simplified user interface. Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium also features built-in support for the GEWA Control PROG (formerly PROG III) environmental control unit (not included). This means that people with physical disabilities can control the environment directly from the Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium’s simple and scan accessible user interface.
• Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 has been designed for the therapist as well as the user in mind. Many features are designed to simplify the task of creating, customising and distributing communication page sets for therapists, assistants as well as the users.
• If you know how to use a word processor and a presentation program, you know enough about computers to use Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 efficiently and effectively. It is easier for the user to master and even easier for the assistant to program.

Overview of Features

Benefits

• Symbol library for all generations
  A complete and highly current symbol library of over 15,000 symbols (including black/white versions) is integrated into Tobii (VS) Communicator 4. The SymbolStix symbols are developed by SymbolStix, and News-2-You, a leading distributor of educational newspapers. Many people have been helped to engage in daily news and discussions and to extend their vocabulary with these symbols. Clear and depictive symbols, an exceptional ability to decode words, and great prediction possibilities are cornerstones in symbol-based communication for all generations.

• Ready-made communication page sets
  Tobii (VS) Communicator comes with a set of ready-made communication page sets that meet the communication needs of various users of different ages and abilities. Both text and symbol-based page sets are included.

  The ready-made page sets can help the user to increase speed and efficiency and to interact more efficiently with others, even non-AAC users. Supporting features include built-in grammar and intuitive navigation and structure.

  The ready-made page sets support all access methods such as scanning, eye control, joystick, head-tracking device/head mouse, touch screen and keyboard, and cover all built-in functionality adding to basic communication.

• Standardised onscreen keyboards
  Speed and accuracy are key benefits of the standardised onscreen keyboard in Tobii (VS) Communicator. It offers frequency-based word prediction and built-in grammar features with word conjugation for literate and cognitively high-functioning users. It gives the user access to the Windows desktop and applications, and the keyboards can easily be personalised.

• Easy to edit and easy to use
  With Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 it’s very easy to create your own pages. There are visual and intuitive tools for all actions and no script coding is necessary. The quick and simple workflow makes editing very easy even for people with very little experience with computers and software.

  Customised pop-up windows improve the overview and navigation. Even actions that are not triggered by the user are shown in customisable pop-up pages. This includes events such as incoming e-mail, text messaging, etc. This functionality is also applicable within a page set.

• For scan users
  Geometric scanning helps you to create different structure for scanning in your communication pages. You can easily copy a geometric scan template for implementation on each page set.

  Mouse emulation enables scan users to reach beyond customized groups of buttons. You can scan any view, even the standard Windows environment, and in this way, get in control of the mouse pointer. This increases the ability of scan users to use functionality that they have not had access to before.

  A sophisticated audible cue feature gives you auditory feedback indicating what button you are about to choose. This is a feature for scan users with impaired vision.

• For eye-control users
  Most ready-made communication pages can be directly used by people with eye control on systems such as the MyTobii P10 or D10 as the access method. However, you can easily adjust the size and position of the buttons and pages if necessary.

Features that enhance users’ independence

• Built-in E-Mail and SMS Text Messaging Technology
  In Tobii (VS) Communicator, e-mail and text messaging can be generated through text or symbols, and can be sent directly from the communication page. Chat/instant messaging has been added to Tobii (VS) Communicator 4. No extra applications or user interfaces are needed.

  The capability of reaching beyond face-to-face communication is increasingly important today and providing access to e-mail and text messaging increases the independence and integrity of many AAC users. They can engage in personal conversations without the assistance of their carers/assistants.

  Note: In order to send SMS text messages with Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium a mobile/cellular phone must be connected to the PC through a cable (serial or USB), or via IR or Bluetooth connection. Click here for a list of currently supported mobile phones.

• Integrated media player and games
  Audiovisual stimuli are essential to many users, both in their learning process and for basic communication. An integrated media player and games presented in a familiar user interface are built into Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 and facilitate entertainment and learning for all users. Tobii (VS) Communicator also includes a calculator page.

• Environmental control
  For people with mobility constraints, environmental control further adds to their independence and self-sufficiency. Tobii (VS) Communicator supports environmental control through IR from leading vendors such as GEWA and Tira. Just add an IR transmitter such as the GEWA Control PROG and you can send commands quickly and easily from within Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium.

• Support for existing third-party communication pages
  Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Premium is developed on an open platform and you can also import communication pages created in another environment, such as Speaking Dynamically Pro. Speaking Dynamically Pro Add-Ons can be imported and easily customised.

• Import/Export
  This feature makes it easy to move data and settings from one computer to another. Can also be used for synchronisation between two computers, or even for creating backups of user profiles.

Related Products

Requirements and ResourcesexpandClick to collapse

Prices

	Code	Media	Platform	$NZ Price	$NZ GST
	Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 Standard - Single User Licence	Price reduced by 50% - available at this reduced price while stocks last! Supports US word prediction. Does not include E-mail, SMS/texting, Chat/Instant Messaging, Env Control or Calendar funcs.
	TB430103	CD-ROM	Win XP, Win Vista, Windows 7	$680.00	$102.00
Prices below are grouped into categories - click an item to expand its prices - or expand all
ToggleAccessories Click to expand
	Code	Media	Platform	$NZ Price	$NZ GST
	WordRead V3 Australian - Single User Licence	Includes two Australian RealSpeak Solo voices "Karen" and "Lee". The Australian voices will work with VS Communicator and Version 6 of Boardmaker Plus or SDPro and Clicker from Version 5.2 onwards.
	CLWR3-ENAUS	CD-ROM	Win XP, Win Vista, Windows 7	$230.00	$34.50
	WordPower SymbolStix/text US (from Nancy Inman) for Tobii (VS) Communicator 4 - Single User Licence	Price reduced by 50% - available at this reduced price while stocks last!
	TB430466	CD-ROM	Win XP, Win Vista	$420.00	$63.00
	Crick USB Switch Box Interface
	CSH-SWBOXUSB		Mac, Win	$350.00	$52.50
	JoyCable 2 USB Switch Adapter
	SNJOYCABLE2	CD-ROM	Win 98, Win ME, Win NT, Win 2000, Win XP, Win Vista, Windows 7	$150.00	$22.50