Many people are aware of the big name high-end Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps. In this chapter, you will find a number of options that will help you solve different problems. At least, you will get to see that Augmentative and Alternative Communication is more than just buying one app. There are a number of very good options to choose from.
People see Augmentative and Alternative Communication apps as assistive technology. You can fairly call it that. However, most people that use iPads are not using the device as assistive technology. People that use a calculator on an iPad do not consider it to be assistive technology. If your smartphone beeps and reminds you where to go odds are you are not going to describe it as assistive technology. When you communicate via text message, I bet you don’t call it assistive technology as well. A communication device is something a person that has a severe communication disability would use. A tablet with an Augmentative and Alternative Communication app is assistive technology. However, it does not look like assistive technology until you see a person use it. People are making voices that sound more and more human. I know of at least one company that is making a specific sounding voice for each client it serves. This way you could recognize the voice of the user. It might take decades but at some point, people will be able to communicate, and the voice will sound very human.