Ipod Touch Project: Why AT Advocates cannot afford not to have one.

Today, we are going to take a break from reviewing A T software for Windows PC and gear up just a little, as my new toy had just arrived from a jungle forest in Brazil. Now I don't remember purchasing a P D A device, but I distinctively remember telling Rachel (yes, I Christian my computer Rachel.) I want an Apple from Amazon.


It took me a little more than an hour to familiarize myself with the Apple Ipod Touch, and its implications, and another hour to fall completely and helplessly in love with it. My only regret was that I bought the 8GB model instead of the 32GB model, but the folly can be justified by economic necessity and I hope Rachel can find it in her heart to forgive me.

Seriously, in my 20+ years experience using personal computers, I have never once advocate for Apple products. I think they are overpriced status symbols that one can live comfortably without; However, as an assistive technology specialist, I really have to make an exception for Apple P D A.

Simply put, there are limitless potentials in what you can do with an Apple Ipod Touch; They can be turned into a A A C device, Oxford English Dictionary/Thesaurus, Portable Bible, Calendars, and voice notes. This means people with autism, cerebral palsy, truamatic brain injury, and dyslexia, can now have a powerful as well as relatively cheap high tech device at their beckons and calls. There are literally thousands of applications for technophiles like me to swim in. Since not all applications are created equal, it will take some time to test each A T software on Apple Store. This is a labour of love for me.

Take A A C devices for instance, the most comprehensive (and expensive) software on the market is reportedly Proloquo2go, which costs $189.00, but there is also something called I-converse for $9.99 as well as Talk Assist, which is for free. This is why I say, as A T specialists, we cannot afford to ignore Touchscreen devices from Apple, so go to your executive directors and start begging.

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