The user manual for the iPad app - Avaz for Autism 2.0

1. The Avaz User Manual
10 minute introduction to all of Avaz’s features

2. Avaz Picture mode

3. Avaz Picture mode
This is the starting screen of the Avaz picture mode. Avaz has age-appropriate
picture sets, arranged in three grades. You can set any of these categories as
your “Starting screen”.

4. Categories and messages
The picture screen contains categories (green folders) and messages (beige
boxes). Tap a category to view the items it contains (messages and further sub
categories).

5. Framing sentences
Tap words and string them together to form phrases or sentences. Tap the
message box to speak the sentence formed.

6. Language development
Avaz’s system of organizing categories and messages makes language
development easy. On the path to an operative word (‘orange juice’ here), the
child also encounters the other words needed to make a complete sentence.

7. Exhaustive vocabulary
Avaz now has a vocabulary of 5000+ words. Context-specific
vocabulary is present under “My topics”.

8. Color coding
Avaz color coding provides the visual cues for vocabulary identification,
and facilitates the learning process.

9. Navigation buttons
Tap the ‘Go Back’ button to go to the higher-level category, and the
‘Home’ button to go the Home screen.

10. Quick button
The Quick category contains useful messages for quick communication. The
Quick button redirects to the Quick category on the root screen, which contains
ready-to-use templates and stock sentences.

11. Navigation buttons
If you mis-spoke a sentence, tap the Mistake button and make a correction.
Tap the alert button to call for attention. The breadcrumbs bar shows the
path to the current screen

12. Top row buttons
Tap the delete button once to delete the last picture in the message box, and
twice to clear message box. Tap the Keyboard button to switch to Keyboard
mode.

13. Help screen
Tap the Help button on the top right corner, for context-sensitive help .
This is present for every screen of Avaz, with each button explained.

14. Search vocabulary
Tap Search button to find any word in the vocabulary, and access that
page with a single touch.

15. Avaz Keyboard mode

16. Avaz Keyboard mode
This is the Avaz Keyboard mode. Use the QWERTY keypad to type what you
want to say. QWE layout is easy for people who have experience with
computers and keyboards.

17. Buttons
Tap the Pictures button to switch to Picture mode. Tap the message box to
speak its contents. Single tap the Delete button to delete the last word and
double tap to clear the message box.

18. Quick Response bar
For the most frequently used words and phrases in a conversation, you don’t
even have to type: you can pick them straight off Avaz’s Quick Response bar.
The Response bar is completely customizable, using Save.

19. Prediction
Typing can take time – which is why prediction takes the delay out of
working with text. Avaz can predict the word you’re trying to use, based
on what you’ve typed so far. You can choose to use pictures with prediction.

20. Alert and Undo
The Alert button sounds a bell. Use it to call for attention. Tap the Undo
button to undo the last action on the message box.

21. Save
You can use the Save and Load functionalities to create shortcuts for commonly
used messages. Tap Save and then tap any of keys to store the sentence as a
keyboard shortcut. Keys already assigned as shortcuts are highlighted in red.

22. Load
You can use the Load button to load keyboard shortcuts into the Message box.
Tap the Load button and the assigned key to restore the message that you
have saved in that key.

23. Load from history
You can load a previously spoken sentence from history, by selecting
the message from the prediction bar in Load mode.

24. Customize Avaz

25. Customize Avaz
Tap the pencil icon to enter “Edit mode”. The icon turns red when
in edit mode. Tap the pencil again to exit edit mode.

26. Actions in Edit mode
You can copy-paste, delete, enable-disable messages and categories.
Disabling an item hides it from the user’s view without deleting it.
Tap an action first and then the picture to perform that action.

27. Rearrange items
To rearrange pictures in “Edit mode”, you can drag and drop them to a different
location. Start dragging by holding an item for a couple of seconds.

28. Add new message/category
Tap the Add new button to add a new message or category.
To modify any existing item, tap the Change button and then the message or category.

29. Add/edit item – caption and image
Set the caption, image and audio properties of the item.
Change the color coding of any word by choosing from the color palette.

30. Edit item - audio
Use the ‘Speak as’ field to customize the way a word is pronounced. You can
also record your own voice.

31. Find a symbol
Browse through 15,000+ symbols by specifying the word to be searched, in the
“Find symbol” field. Use the left and right arrows near the image to scroll
through the search results and find the most suitable image.

32. Take photo
Tap the Take photo button to take a photo of the item that you want to add or
edit.

33. Choose photo
Tap the Choose Photo icon to choose a photo from the collection of photos in
your device’s photo gallery.

34. Avaz Settings

35. Avaz settings
Use the Settings menu to adapt Avaz to your needs.

36. Share from Avaz
Use the “Share on social media” option, to share messages through the
social media via email, Facebook and Twitter.

37. Backup and Restore your data
Use “Backup & Restore” option to create periodic backups of your Avaz
data. You can restore from your previous backups as well.

38. Access your backups
You can access your backups from iTunes also. You can sign in with
Dropbox to save your backups to Dropbox.

39. Synchronize your Avaz content
Use Dropbox to synchronize your Avaz content over
multiple iPads.

40. Restore default vocabulary
You can undo all your customizations and revert back to the default
vocabulary.

41. Track your therapy session
Use “Track session” to start automated tracking of the users’ activities
during a therapy session.

42. Picture mode settings
You can customize the appearance and behavior of the Picture mode by
changing the settings to make it most appropriate for a child.

43. Album mode
Turn the Message box off to see the screen in Album mode. This keeps the
screen distraction-free and is useful for beginners.

44. Picture sizes
You can select the number of pictures on screen using the “Pictures per screen”
setting. The picture sizes become progressively smaller as the number of
pictures per screen increases.

45. Caption sizes
You can use Avaz to promote sight-reading, by gradually decreasing the size of
an image, relative to its caption. Use the “Caption Size” setting for this.

46. High contrast mode
You can use the high-contrast setting for children who prefer a darker
background.

47. Zoom on select
Avaz supports multi-sensory reinforcement through zooming animations and
audio prompts. Set the “Zoom on Select” option to have the picture
zoom-in on selection. The zoom-in speed can be varied.

48. Starting screen
Select any category on the first page as the starting screen for Avaz
Picture mode. Use the “Starting Screen” setting for this.

49. Rearrange on disable
Switch the “Rearrange on disable” option to OFF to retain the position of
pictures on the screen after disabling.

50. Page up & down keys
You can set “Page up & down keys” to ON, for users having problems with fine
motor control. They can use Up & Down arrow keys to through scroll pages.

51. Keyboard mode settings
You can modify Keyboard specific settings in Settings menu

52. ABC layout
Children who find it difficult to work with multiple orderings of the alphabet
can switch to a simpler ABC layout. This is also useful for beginners.

53. Audio settings
You can customize the voice, accent and speed of the audio. Choose whether to speak
as you type, or speak only after the message is completed. You can also speak or mute
action keys like “Keyboard”, “Home”, “Go Back” etc.

54. Voice options
Avaz uses natural, high quality Acapela voices. Choose a voice that suits
the childs’ gender, age and accent.

55. Password protection
Restrict access to the Settings and Edit mode with a password, to
prevent accidental access.

56. More questions? Feedback? Suggestions?
Contact us:
support@avazapp.com
Join us:
www.facebook.com/avazapp
www.twitter.com/avazapp