Picture Master Language Software and Picture Master Board Designer are major breakthroughs for professionals who work with students who need augmentative communication resources. Although software programs are available for use in creating communication boards, Picture Master Language Software offers a variety of features that other programs do not offer. It, for example, allows you to create activities with animation that you can present on your computer..

Both Picture Master Language Software and Picture Master Board Designer contain almost 18,000 picture images and both programs allow you to create communication boards of the same quality. If you also wish to present learning activities on your computer screen, however, you will need the full Picture Master Language Software program.

Simple line art, realistic line art, and photographs are included in the image database. The "simple line art" drawings are often used with individuals who have difficulty identifying more complex visual images. An effort, however, has been made to avoid the use of "stick figures" and to give the drawings a look that is visually appealing.

Real speech is another feature of the program that distinguishes it from other "picture board"  programs. Board creation programs generally require an "add-on" synthesized speech program. Individuals with disabilities, however, often have difficulty recognizing synthesized speech.  Moreover the "robot" voice can be quite annoying. Picture Master Language Software includes real speech in English, Spanish, French, and German. Other languages are available separately. All speech was obtained from native speakers.

When students click on a picture in the Picture Master Language Software program, they hear speech. The animation feature can also be activated by clicking on pictures. It is easy to switch back and forth between languages when more than one language is used in the instructional program.

Although other communication board programs are available, users of Picture Master Language Software will rarely need to purchase supplemental picture libraries from other companies.

The animation feature in Picture Master Language Software brings the program to life! Users can link pages to create activities that consist of more than one page.  No programming skills are required to do this. You can also create learning activities that progress from one page to the next each time that the student clicks on a "right answer." With Picture Master Language Software, you can create a wide range of activity types!

If you only need to create and print out communication boards, Picture Master Board Designer is all you need. Text can be added to pictures in English, Spanish, French, or German. If you wish to present learning activities on the computer screen, the complete Picture Master Language Software is your best choice. Picture Master Language Software comes with the real speech, page-linking, and animation functions, so there is no need to purchase additional modules.

Symbols from the Library of International Picture Symbols (LIPS) are featured in the "simple symbol" component of the picture library. The simple symbols are already being used widely in programs for children with augmentative communication needs in various parts of the world. Drawings and photographs showing foods and other vocabulary items from a variety of cultures are included.

Using the Picture Master Language Software program, you can download speech for use with the Unlimiter Bluebird AAC device. Speech can be downloaded for each of the communication boards that you create.  The program also includes features that make it possible to download picture boards to a hand-held device such as a PDA.

Picture Master Language Software is priced at $295.00 as a special introductory offer. Picture Master Board Designer is only $159.00.  It is expected that these special prices will remain in effect for the remainder of this year. The product is published and distributed by Academic Communication Associates, P.O. Box 4279, Oceanside, CA 92052-4279.

Website: http://www.acadcom.com

Article Source: ACA Special Education News (2006) Article 63-02B. Published by Academic Communication Associates, P.O. Box 4279, Oceanside, CA: Academic Communication Associates