Once in a while, I see new technology that really excites me. TAP-it is one of those technologies. A product of SmartEd Services™, it comes close to being a universally designed product that can be used by individuals with visual, cognitive, mobility, physical, hearing, speech and a combination of disabilities.
TAP-it is an acronym for Touch Accessible Platform for Interactive Technology. It is an interactive learning center using “intended touch” to serve individual students’ special needs. Its touch technology enables students of varying abilities to interact with the screen.
Students can operate the screen using a finger, assistive devices, including a head pointer, eye gaze technology, foot pedals and remote control units. Larger icons help them select the correct target to make their choices. This helps to accommodate their lack of precision and accuracy in directing the mouse pointer, also aiding students with involuntary arm movements. The work area is designed to ensure that the majority of students are able to reach the entire surface.
TAP•it works with any software on your computer allowing teachers, students and parents to resize text and graphics, adjust brightness or contrast controls, and enlarge images or change background colors within seconds. The low-glare, matte finish display is shadow-free, providing optimal viewing for low-vision users.
Finger touch input keeps hands free of pen tools that interfere with signing. Interactive media keeps students engaged. They can read from the board and sign at the same time, increasing opportunities for communication between teachers and students. Easily save lessons and notes for distribution to students and parents can be achieved through SMART Notebook™ Software.
TAP•it offers ongoing visual reinforcement to complement lessons and improve functional capabilities. While their eye movement increases, students with ASD, ADD, etc, can track content with greater ease. The physical interaction and visual stimulus offers an additional sensory channel to help process information.
TAP∙it can be used with a wide variety of educational and assistive software programs. The large, touch-sensitive screen supports the use of on-screen keyboards or voice recognition for typing; switch/scanning for mouse control or cause/effect programs; screen readers for text-to-speech capability; as well as screen magnification programs.
Special education teachers and occupational therapists who regularly use programs including Mayer-Johnson’s Boardmaker®, IntelliTools™ Classroom Suite, Edmark’s House Series®, Kurzweil 3000™, WYNN™, Co:Writer® and Write:Outloud®, and VizZle®, will find TAP·it an accommodating interactive platform for independent or group work.
Younger students and those with developmental disabilities will respond to Tool Factory’s special education bundle which includes Memory Skills, Sorting Skills, Fizzy’s Number Skills, Leaps and Bounds Switch, Eye Track, as well as Inspiration and Kidspiration.
With the touch of a button, the TAP·it platform can move up or down and the 42" interactive LCD panel can be tilted from 0 - 90 degrees. These adjustments make TAP·it infinitely more accessible to physically challenged students and their instructors than stationary wall-mounted boards.
TAP-it has a wider range for usage other than education. Adults can benefit from it. It can be used in rehabilitation programs, for training purposes at Centers for Independent Living, to retrain wounded veterans, for entertainment and in other areas. It enhances a person’s pride and increases their independence.
John M. Williams can be reached at jwilliams@atechnews.com.
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