Features List: Optimist II by ZYGO Industries, Inc.

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

The Optimist II is an integrated system, Windows ‘98 platform

Programming may be done directly on the device? Yes

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

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

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

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

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

Built in Access:

Integrated touch screen? Yes

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

Adjustable touch screen features to allow user to drag hand across touch screen without false activations? Screen is not adjustable but does allow user to drag hand across without false activations.

Active Matrix display? Yes

Color or Monochrome display? Color

Back lit screen? Active matrix SVGA Color Display touch screen

Adjustable view angle and brightness? yes

Glare guard? no

Screen size? 8.5" diagonal

Screen pixels? 800 X 600 SVGA resolution

Screen colors? 8.5" diagonal color TFT Active Matrix LCD

Optical head pointer of some type? Please specify. Yes, the "ion" by ZYGO — it’s a head controlled cursor

Built in switch jacks? how many? Yes, two

Switch access for turning the device on and off? No

Volume controlled through hardware? yes

Volume controlled through software? no

Joystick or multiple switch access port for directional control? yes

Direct output to a printer? yes

Input/output to computer? Specify type of connection. It is a computer.

Other ports? Please specify. 3.5" floppy drive, CD ROM, modem, USB serial port, parallel printer cable, keyboard port, mouse port, monitor port, PCMCIA card slot, RS232C serial port, infrared port

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

Size, Weight, Capacity, Price and Battery Life:

Dimensions? Size: 10.3 x 7.1 x 2.0 inches, (262 x 180 x 51 mm)

Weight? Weight: 3.7 pounds (1.7 Kg) with both battery packs installed

Price? $5995.00

Capacity: Recording time? 32 MB S-DRAM upgradeable to 64 MB, 1.6 GB hard drive. You can get approximately 25 hours of digitized speech per gigabyte!

Capacity: Number of pages/boards or symbols? See above

Capacity: Upgradable? Please explain. 32 MB S-DRAM upgradeable to 64 MB

Battery life at rest? Up to 4 hours

Battery life with continual use? Up to 4 hours

Full battery charge time if applicable? 3 hours

Type of battery? 2 hot swappable Lithium ion battery packs

Able to be connected to wheelchair battery? Yes

Mounting and Case Options:

Briefly describe carrying case and mounting options for this device. Soft carry pouch and standard wheelchair mounting systems are available

Questions about Software: please specify platform: Dedicated Device

Macintosh, Windows, Windows CE, Palm OS, other? Windows ’98 platform therefore runs any compatible software program. ZYGO sells the following software: Sensory Software Suite (Winspeak, Windbag, HandsOff, InGrid, Pictocom). These may be purchased separately or bundled.

Is there specific hardware recommended or is there bundled pricing with a particular piece of Hardware? please specify. Software is included price with the Purchase of the Optimist II.

Software price? HandsOff, $425; InGrid, $90; Pictocom, $200; Windbag, $275; Winspeak, $395. These prices do not reflect the _ off!

Also, DECtalk is $195 and the symbol sets are: PCS, $165; Imaginart, $260, Pictograms, $155

Bundled with hardware price? ZYGO will bundle any of the above but not for a reduced price. Software is 1/2 off when purchased with an Optimist II.

Access Options:

Touch screen and mouse access option? Yes, both

Optical head pointer with delayed activation? Yes, the "ion" by ZYGO — it’s a head controlled cursor

Adjustable touch screen features to allow user to drag hand across touch screen without false activations? Yes, but not adjustable.

Single switch automatic scanning? yes

Single switch inverse scanning? yes

Single switch step scanning with time delay? yes

Two switch step scanning? yes

Row column scanning? yes

Group item scanning? no

Joystick or multiple switch access for directional control. yes

Auditory scan? yes

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

Option to have separate speakers for auditory scan and main voice? no

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

Zoom or enlargement feature upon search or activation? no

Switch control for turning device on and off. no

Touch or mouse access also active during switch access? yes

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

Environmental control from display? yes

Transparent computer access? (works with any computer software) no

Wireless computer access option? yes

Software Design:

Message bar for text? Winspeak, yes Windbag, N/A

Message bar for text and pictures? Winspeak, No Windbag, N/A

Option for no message bar? No

Individual buttons hold only text? Winspeak, Yes Windbag, N/A

Individual buttons hold text and graphic on the same button? Winspeak, yes Windbag, N/A

Individual buttons can hold text, graphic and commands on the same button? Winspeak, yes Windbag, N/A

Individual buttons may contain a message and a command function such as branching? Winspeak, yes Windbag, N/A

When graphics are used, what are text options: #characters, font size and # of lines? Winspeak-Variable depending upon size of graphic and cell, Windbag N/A

Is text size determined on each button or globally for all buttons? Winspeak, Globally Windbag is global from chat box to phrase bank

What are options for graphic size: variable or pre-set - such as small medium and large? Winspeak, Pre-set small, medium, and large Windbag N/A

Are graphic size options determined on each button or globally for all buttons? Winspeak, Globally Windbag N/A

Buttons are arranged on a selected grid - all buttons are the same size? Please specify grid options. Winspeak - same size..2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 35, 48, 63, 96, Windbag N/A

May buttons be of varying sizes on the same page? Winspeak - No, Windbag N/A

May button information be copied and pasted or swapped with another button on the same page? Winspeak, Yes Windbag N/A

Can buttons be easily re-sized and rearranged on the page? Rearranged Yes, re-sized No, Windbag N/A

May buttons may be arranged in scanning groups? Winspeak - Yes, Windbag N/A

Do buttons that branch have a visual difference that indicates it will Branch (Is this changeable or set?) Yes, changeable Windbag N/A

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? Winspeak, There is only one previous page and yes the software takes you to that page Windbag N/A

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. Winspeak, Yes Windbag N/A

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. Winspeak, Winspeak - No Windbag, Yes

Price? $5995.00

Symbol set options: Winspeak only, Windbag is text based

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.) Yes, done on the Optimist II

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

Ability to use colored symbols? Yes

Ability to add digitized photos? Yes

Standard symbols included? Please specify type: Samples of PCS, Imaginart, Alphabet and numbers, wigits, Bliss, Pictograms

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

Pre-designed sets of vocabulary available? Please Specify: Over two hundred pages of sample vocabulary in a variety of topics

Icon prediction for two symbol sequencing? No

Ability to mark symbols to be retrieved in a search by the user? No

Word prediction? Windbag, yes

User defined dictionaries? Windbag, yes

Grammar prediction? No

Picture / Word Prediction? No

Speech:

Synthesized text to speech? (for spelling and sounding out words) Please specify type: DECtalk, Windows speech, limited foreign language synthesizers, Text Assist

Digitized (recorded) speech? Yes

Option for buttons to speak upon activation? Yes, Winspeak

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

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

May separate voices be used for auditory scan and main voice? No

General information about manufacturer:

ZYGO has been in business for 26 years and is one of the leading manufacturers of Augmentative Communication Technology.

Do they have a network of trainers? Yes

Cost and availability of training? Free training, availability based on scheduling

How much training is usually needed/recommended to get up and running with the device? Winspeak about 2 hours, Windbag about 1 hour

What is average repair time? Two weeks

Are loaners or rentals available? Yes

What tech support is available? 8:00-4:30 Pacific time, regional support times are based on individual schedules

Ease of programming? (I'm not sure how to ask this!) Feedback on Winspeak and Windbag is that they are easy to program. Needed training time is relatively short.

Other:

Age appropriateness look? Looks very professional and adult like

 

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