Features List for Dynamic Display Devices
Rough Draft
Linda J. Burkhart
*Please feel free to contact me with any additions or corrections. Thanks! Linda

Questions related to Dedicated devices: (Integrated hardware and software)

Programming may be done directly on the device?

Can a page be saved and then used as a template for creating another page?

Can individual pages be backed up and shared using a computer?

Can an entire user set of pages be backed up and shared using a computer?

Can individual pages be edited on a computer and then transferred to the device?

Can an entire user set of pages be edited on a computer and then transferred to the device?

Built in Access:

Integrated touch screen?

Touch screen activated by a finger touch or is a stylus or finger nail needed?

Adjustable touch screen features to allow user to drag hand across touch screen without false activations?

Active Matrix display?

Color or Monochrome display?

Back lit screen?

Adjustable view angle and brightness?

Glare guard?

Screen size?

Screen pixels?

Screen colors?

Optical head pointer of some type? Please specify.

Built in switch jacks? how many?

Switch access for turning the device on and off?

Volume controlled through hardware?

Volume controlled through software?

Joystick or multiple switch access port for directional control?

Direct output to a printer?

Input/output to computer? Specify type of connection.

Other ports? Please specify.

Strategic placement of connectors and ports that could be damage by weather?

Size, Weight, Capacity, Price and Battery Life:

Dimensions?

Weight?

Price?

Capacity: Recording time?

Capacity: Number of pages/boards or symbols?

Capacity: Upgradable? Please explain.

Battery life at rest?

Battery life with continual use?

Full battery charge time if applicable?

Type of battery?

Able to be connected to wheelchair battery?

Mounting and Case Options:

Briefly describe carrying case and mounting options for this device.

Questions about Software: please specify platform: Dedicated Device

Macintosh, Windows, Windows CE, Palm OS, other?

Is there specific hardware recommended or is there bundled pricing with a particular piece of Hardware? please specify.

Software price?

Bundled with hardware price?

Access Options:

Touch screen and mouse access option?

Optical head pointer with delayed activation?

Adjustable touch screen features to allow user to drag hand across touch screen without false activations?

Single switch automatic scanning?

Single switch inverse scanning?

Single switch step scanning with time delay?

Two switch step scanning?

Row column scanning?

Group item scanning?

Joystick or multiple switch access for directional control.

Auditory scan?

Auditory scan with option for a different prompt than the message?

Option to have separate speakers for auditory scan and main voice?

Auditory touch or auditory label without activation until second touch for individual's with visual impairment to search the display?

Zoom or enlargement feature upon search or activation?

Switch control for turning device on and off.

Touch or mouse access also active during switch access?

Can multiple access methods be combined on one page? For example switches for next and back and scanning for vocabulary items.

Environmental control from display?

Transparent computer access? (works with any computer software)

Wireless computer access option?

Software Design:

Message bar for text?

Message bar for text and pictures?

Option for no message bar?

Individual buttons hold only text?

Individual buttons hold text and graphic on the same button?

Individual buttons can hold text, graphic and commands on the same button?

Individual buttons may contain a message and a command function such as branching?

When graphics are used, what are text options: #characters, font size and # of lines?

Is text size determined on each button or globally for all buttons?

What are options for graphic size: variable or pre-set - such as small medium and large?

Are graphic size options determined on each button or globally for all buttons?

Buttons are arranged on a selected grid - all buttons are the same size? Please specify grid options.

May buttons be of varying sizes on the same page?

May button information be copied and pasted or swapped with another button on the same page?

Can buttons be easily re-sized and rearranged on the page?

May buttons may be arranged in scanning groups?

Do buttons that branch have a visual difference that indicates it will Branch (Is this changeable or set?)

With the function: Go to Previous page, does the software remember sequence of at least the last 5 pages so the user doesn't get stuck in a loop when there is more than one next page to branch to on a topic?

A single button or series of buttons can be copied from one page with all attributes and pasted onto another page. This is a valuable tool for updating multiple pages.

Is there a "chat mode" or some way for user to activate speech to talk with someone without placing that text into the display message that the user is working on, but then continue working after the chat

Price?

Symbol set options:

Ability to create and add your own symbols ( please note if this may be done on the dedicated device or only on the computer and downloaded to the device.)

Ability to use black and white symbols with colored background that leaves the symbol white?

Ability to use colored symbols?

Ability to add digitized photos?

Standard symbols included? Please specify type:

Symbol sets available for additional cost? Please specify options: PCS, Imaginart, Pictograms:

Pre-designed sets of vocabulary available? Please Specify:

Icon prediction for two symbol sequencing?

Ability to mark symbols to be retrieved in a search by the user?

Word prediction?

User defined dictionaries?

Grammar prediction?

Picture / Word Prediction?

Speech:

Synthesized text to speech? (for spelling and sounding out words) Please specify type:

Digitized (recorded) speech?

Option for buttons to speak upon activation?

Option for buttons not to speak when activated, but wait for speak display function to activate speech?

Can sounds be recorded within the program as needed or do they need to be saved and imported?

May separate voices be used for auditory scan and main voice?

General information about manufacturer:

Do they have a network of trainers?

Cost and availability of training?

How much training is usually needed/recommended to get up and running with the device?

What is average repair time?

Are loaners or rentals available?

What tech support is available?

Ease of programming? (I'm not sure how to ask this!)

Other:

Age appropriateness look?

 

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Linda J. Burkhart / linda@Lindaburkhart.com
http://www.Lburkhart.com