EXPLORING THE NOVA CHAT

A PERSONAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Cecilia Barhoum, M. Ed. Special EducationAssistive Technology ConsultantSaltillo CorporationCecilia@saltillo.com

Agenda

• Specifications of Nova Chat • Nova Chat hardware• Vocabulary review and demonstration• Nova Chat menus

• Android• Nova Chat program

• Customization • Purchasing a Nova Chat• Nova Chat vs. TouchChat• Loaner and rental options• Questions/Comments

Introducing…..

NovaChat Specifications

• Based on Android Operating System• 4 screen sizeso 5 inch/8 inch/10 inch/12inch

• Lightweight o .55 lbs,1.35 lbs, 1.95 lbs, 2.85 lbs

• Front and Rear facing Cameras• External Bluetooth Amplifier• Interchangeable color shells

– Blue– Purple– Gray– Green

• Built-in Handle & Stand• Amplification• Connects to device via bluetooth• Re-connect by pressing/holding “back” arrow• Ports

• Scanning• Charging

External Amplifier

• Power Button:• Press and hold: menu of options• Tap: sleep mode

• Do not need to power off completely. Simply put to sleep and charge both components

• Volume Control• Other Ports

• Headphone jack• Charging

Volume control

Tablet Hardware

• Battery life• Tablet: 6.5 hours, continued on time• Amplifier: 24 hours, continuous drain

• Recommended to charge device every night• Put to sleep (don’t need to power down)• Plug in both ports (tablet and amp)

Charging

Access Options

• Direct Selection• Keyguards • Stylus

• Scanning • 1 or 2 switch configuration plugged in to Bluetooth amplifier • Tablet can also be used as a switch, alone or in conjunction with

external switch• Auditory Prompts• Patterns: Row/Column & Linear• Options for customizing scanning are in

Menu > Settings > Input > Scanning

NovaChat Specifications

• Ivona synthesized speech• a child's voice• a teenage voice• two adult female US English voices• one adult male US English voice• two adult female British voices  • one adult male British English voice option

• Acapela voices available for $195

NovaChat Specifications

• Symbols – SymbolStix, PCS (additional cost of $375)

NovaChat Software

Backup Software for Computer – Chat Editor Chat software for Windows Allows you to:

Customize without taking the device from user

Backup customized files Create materials Learn vocabulary

Compatible with Smart Board

NovaChat Specifications• Writing Enhancement Features

• For users with existing or emerging literacy skills• Designed to assist individuals who use spelling for

communication• Only available on our plus and dedicated plus models

• Word Prediction (60,000 words)

• Abbreviation Expansion

NovaChat Specifications• Many pre-stored customizable vocabulary files

• 4 Basic• VocabPC• AACelerate with myVoice suite (MyCore, MyQuickChats)

• MultiChat 15 Student, Adolescent & Adult• Essence• Spelling• ChatPower vocabulary (20 Simply, 24, 24 with phrases, 30, 42, 42 Basic, 48, 60, 80, 108)

Vocabulary Organizations

• Sentence• Phrase• Word• Spelling• Visual Scenes• Combination

Vocabulary OrganizationsSentence Phrase Combination Spelling Word

Vocab PC 4 Basic MultiChat 15 Spelling ChatPower

myQuickChat 4, 8, 12

Student Essence(also phrase and sentence)

20,24, 30, 42,48,60, 80,108

Adolescent 24 w phrases

Adult 42 Basic

myCore

Vocabulary Options

• 4-Basic• Used for beginning communicators• Used for evaluations

Vocabulary Options•VocabPC Adolescent/Adult

• Designed by Gail Van Tatenhove, PA, MS, CCC-SLP, for adults and adolescents with developmental disabilities

• Vocabulary in VocabPC is arranged as carrier phrases, interactive sentences, activity vocabulary and naming words

• VocabPC uses a 12 location page layout

Vocabulary Options

My QuickChats

• 4 location child, 8 location child, 8 location adult, 12 location child, 12 location adult

• Contains sentence based vocabulary for quick communication

• Main page stays consistent through 4, 8, and 12 locations

• Accelerate with MyVoice Suite

Vocabulary Options

• Spelling• QWERTY keyboard page set with four word prediction

buttons and a few pre-stored phrases

Vocabulary Options• MultiChat 15 Student

• Created for individuals with emerging language skills• There are multiple forms of communication available in this

program: sentences, phrases, individual words, recordings for story-telling and visual scenes, as well as a Qwerty keyboard

• Also included are interactive play and reading pages, and social pages

• There are symbols on every button with the exception of several core words

Vocabulary Options• MultiChat 15 Adolescent

• Created for individuals with emerging language skills• There are multiple forms of communication available in this

program: sentences, phrases, individual words, recordings for story-telling, as well as a Qwerty keyboard

• Also included are adolescent related communication pages for work and shopping and a Special Olympics page

Vocabulary Options• MultiChat 15 Adult

• Created for individuals with emerging language skills• There are multiple forms of communication available in this

program: sentences, phrases, individual words, and a Qwerty keyboard

• Also included are adult related communication pages for work and socialization

Vocabulary Options• Essence

• Designed for Adults with Acquired Speech Disorders• Consists of a spelling keyboard with word prediction that also

allows quick access to hundreds of commonly used phrases and sentences

Vocabulary Options• ChatPower Suite

• ChatPower 20 Simply, ChatPower 24 w/ phrases, 24, 30, 42, 42 Basic, 48, 60, 80 &108

• Developed by Nancy L. Inman, M.A.T., CCC-SLP • Used to create sentences "on the fly“• Uses high-frequency core words to facilitate quick and

easy sentence generation

Nova Chat- Features

• SocialChat–Copy/Paste Text from Nova Chat to other apps

(Facebook, Twitter, Email)–Share Text from Nova Chat with Social Networks• Switch scanning available• Camera available with all versions• Take a picture and add to a button while editing• Gestures have been added• Choose to add icons to the Speech Display Bar• Speech Display at the top or bottom of screen

Nova Chat MenusThese icons will vary depending on which model of the Nova Chat

you are using. You will not have all of the icons listed below:

– Search: stops speech or press and hold to re-connect Bluetooth Amplifier

– Back: navigates to previous page or previous menu

– Home: navigates out of Chat software to Android home

screen–Recent Apps: shows recent apps.–Screen Capture: captures a picture of the current screen and saves it in the /Root/Screen Capture folder.–Menu: allows you to determine which vocabulary file will be used, which augmentative options are enabled, how and when to speak messages, and how a wide variety of other options are configured.

Chat Menus• Tap Menu

• Edit mode• Settings• Library• Help

Turn Editing On or Off

Settings are found here

Find a listing of Vocabulary Files here

System Information & Registration

Vocabulary libraryScrollable list. Note this device contains both PCS and SS symbol sets.

Vocabulary• A vocabulary choice must be copied before it can be

edited.• Tap the selected vocabulary:

• Options to:• Open• Duplicate

• Select Duplicate• Backspace over copy-leave vocabulary description add

personalization (name)• Tap save• It’s now in your list• Tap copied file

• Select Open

Customizing• Fully customizable • Ability to modify on computer and/or device• Many SymbolStix symbols are included for customizing

buttons or ability to use your own images or take photos with the built-in camera (PCS also if added)

Customizing• Tap on the Android tool menu.• Tap Edit Mode

Editing• In edit mode:

Edit mode will appear in red. Other information listed is the name of the file and what page you are on.

Editing• Select button for editing• Tap and hold slightly: pop up

menu will appear• Select edit button

Editing a button• General tab

• The label is what appears on the screen.• The message is what will be spoken.• Image: find an image in the image library, remove the current image or

import from the camera roll.• Visible: can uncheck this box and hide the button.

Customize this button: tap area to edit, type, tap save

Editing a button cont’d• Style tab

• Font-type and size for this button can be changed as well as bold, italic or underline. This will be what appears in the button.

• Color: change body color, font color, border color• Border width• Transparent: may use this in a visual scene• Label on top..uncheck to put at bottom of button

Customized button

Editing a button cont’d• Actions Tab

• Buttons can perform various actions, for example, speech message, navigate or visit a page.

• If we create a new page we will need to tell the button to navigate to it or visit it.

Hide/Show Buttons• Enter Edit Mode• Choose Menu• More• Hide Mode, you now have three options:oWhile in Hide Mode, choosing buttons one by one will

hide or show themoChoose Menu> Hide All, this will hide all buttons on the

current pageoChoose Menu>Show all, this will show all buttons that

had previously been hidden on the current pageTo Exit Hide Mode, choose Menu> Hide Mode

Wordfinder• Choose Menu• Settings• Wordfinder• Check on Show Menu Item• Select the Back Arrow (twice)• Choose Menu• Wordfinder will now be a menu option.

Three Versions of Nova Chat Models

• Standard $2995/$3495/$3895/$3995– Kiosk App for locking out menu: can function as dedicated– One Year Warranty

• Plus $3495/$3995/$4395/$4495– Word Prediction– Abbreviation Expansion– One Year Warranty

• Dedicated $4495/$4995/$5395/$5495– Word Prediction– Abbreviation Expansion– No access to Android– Shoulder Strap & Carrying Case– Additional 2 year of warranty

What’s Included• NOVA chat 5/8/10/12 • Battery charger • Stylus• USB cable• Cases or boots in 4 colors: blue, green, purple and grey• Extra hardware• Manual• Nova Chat editor CD • Recovery disc-use with Tech support only!

Care and Maintenance• Your NOVA chat device is intended for use in normal

communication situations. Your device is not waterproof, so use extreme caution when using it around water. As with most electronic devices, you should never use NOVA chat when you are actually in the water (for example, a pool or bath).

• If you wish to clean the plastic and glass portions of your device, use a cloth dampened with water or diluted window cleaning fluid. Do not spray or splash liquid directly on the device. For additional cleaning power, moisten a clean cloth in a mixture of one part water and one part vinegar.

• When charging NOVA chat , use only the AC charger that came with the device.

 • The batteries for the NOVA chat are not field replaceable and the

system will need to be returned to Saltillo Corporation (USA) for servicing.

TOUCHCHAT:A COMMUNICATION SOLUTION FOR

IPAD/IPOD/IPHONE

Who Might be Candidate for TouchChat?

• Someone who needs a temporary solution• Someone who may need a secondary AAC device• Someone without alternative access needs• Those who do not have funding available• Individuals who do not need as much technical

support and/or training

Vocabulary Options

• Included with basic purchase ($149.99)• VocabPC Landscape• VocabPC Portrait• 4 Basic• My QuickChat (4,8,12)• Spelling• MultiChat 15 –student, adolescent, adult

Vocabulary Options

• Can be purchased “In-App”• WordPower ($149.99)

• WordPower 24, 24 with phrases, 30, 42 , 42 Basic, 48 , 60, 80, 108

• Note: if using WP on more than one device, must purchase separate licenses for each device. Basic TouchChat will load on multiple devices

• iEssence ($99)• Talk About AAC ($49)

Device vs App• Support• Durability• Funding• www.saltillo.com• www.touchchatapp.com

Loaners and Rentals• Private 10 day rentals

• Evaluation Loaner Program

• Rentals

Product Monthly Rental Fee

Nova Chat 12 $395

Nova Chat 10 $395

Nova Chat 8 $350

Nova Chat 5 $350

Questions?

Thank you!

Saltillo Support www.saltillo.com www.silver-kite.com

Local RepresentationCecilia Barhoum, M. Ed. Special EducationAssistive Technology Consultant(216)534-9820 cecilia@saltillo.com

Saltillo Operational or Technical Support• 1-800-382-8622 • support@saltillo.com or service@saltillo.com

Insurance Billing support thru PRCSaltillo manufactured products onlyhttps://funding.prentrom.com/

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