Other leveled devices with unique features are those with “window frames”/keyguards. The 7-Level Communication Builder has 7 levels and plastic window frames for 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 messages. A student with emerging communication skills could start using the device with either the 1 or 2 message frame and move up to a frame with more messages as their skills advance. It also has the unique capability of using the 1 message frame for a visual scene display but programming more messages (8 or 16) on the display. The SuperTalker and L*E*O also have the capability to be programmed in different message formats and have similar window frames as the 7-Level Communication Builder. The L*E*O recognizes each overlay according to a bar code affixed to the back.

A few other examples (not an inclusive list) of SGDs with levels include:

AdVOCAte

Boardmaker® Activity Pad

ChatBox

DigiCom 2000

FL4SH™

Go Talk

Hummingbird

L*E*O

Macaw

Message Mate™

SuperHawk

Tech™ series

Speech Generating Devices with Icon Sequencing

In a category by themselves are speech generating devices that use icon sequencing as a language base for communication. SGDs from the Prentke Romich Company use semantic compaction, a language method that sequences a small number of multi-meaning icons to form words, phrases or sentences. Devices range from those that are designed for emerging communicators to word-based complex communication systems. Common characteristics of systems which use semantic compaction are:

Icons have multiple meanings. Beginning communicators start with one meaning per icon, but more complex concepts and meanings are added to the icons as the student’s linguistic competence increases. For instance the icon “elephant” may be associated with concepts of big, strong and gray.

The core vocabulary does not change location which increases motor planning and automaticity for students with physical challenges.

Language “rules” are built in and taught using icon sequencing and icon prediction that students use when learning new vocabulary.

A small symbol set is used. Rather than adding new symbols, pages and navigation to the communication system, new concepts and meanings are added to the existing icons.

oFor example the yellow, smiley-faced sun icon is used for a beginning communicator for just the word "like" (everyone “likes” a nice sunny day!). Next the concepts of fun, yellow, and smile are added by combining the sun icon with other icons.

Unity® symbol

Student may press two or three keys in sequence to produce a message.

oUsing the Unity language system, the student presses a button with a picture of a dog with a newspaper in its mouth followed by pushing a button with a picture of a question mark. The device speaks the message, “What’s new with you?”

The student (and communication partner if supporting an early user) must be able to remember the message code sequences.