SwitchIt! Patterns, Pictures, Scenes, At Home, Diggers, and Gadgets- all 6 included in the bundle.
SwitchIt Patterns
After launching SwitchIt! Patterns, you are greeted with an introductory screen with up-tempo music. You click the mouse once, and then can immediately begin work with the default settings. If you move the mouse to the top of the screen display, a ‘menu bar’ appears. From this menu bar, you choose from 10 different pattern types. You scroll the menu bar horizontally from left to right and click on the desired pattern.
Game Options:
- Complexity - a sliding scale (from 1-4) indicates how busy the pattern will appear onscreen.
- Colors- choose a pattern color (from nine choices) and background color (from nine choices).
- Debounce -how quickly the pattern will respond to the input, then appear and move
- Pre-acceptance Delay - the time between hitting the switch or clicking the mouse, and the software’s reaction to your input
- Serial Switches - choose this option if you have switches connected via an interface box in your switch port (usually connected into COM2)
- IntelliKeys - when you choose this option, an automated process sends an overlay to the IntelliKeys with the two switch ports on the board programmed, ready to accept switch input.
- Patterns - choose 1 of 10 patterns; select either random or sequential order of appearance.
- Reward - the reward can be an animated sequence or be a color cycle, with visual appearance options including vivid, metallic, pastel or one color.
- Speed - there are 9 speed settings. The fastest is quite mesmerizing!
- Activities - you can set up the program so that the user receives an instant response with 1 step, or a response with a pause, or promote more interaction with three or five steps to encourage greater effort. The 1 step is ideal for switch training where you want the child to achieve every time.
- Sound - you can elect to have the sound on or off.
- OK - you have set all of the conditions and are ready to play again.
- Exit - this is where you quit and leave the program.
- Open/Save you can save a setup by name (for individual users) and then open them at any time.
SwitchIt! Pictures
Build objects on the screen and see them animate. Designed to provide visual stimulation and develop visual attention and tracking skills (skills associated with location, fixing, and following).
There are 10 basic images (car, flower pot, yacht, dog, smiling face, telephone, fish, house, person, and teapot) which range in complexity from simple block images to detailed line drawings.
SwitchIt! Pictures has various levels of complexity in the outline image of the graphic. At the simplest level, the image is a silhouette; very dark and clear. As you increase the complexity, the lines of the drawings become thinner with increased detail. The graphics can be set to appear randomly or in a sequence, very useful if you are introducing these images and comparing them to or matching them to pictographs (e.g. Picture Communication Symbols or COMPICS).
After the quick and fuss free installation, you launch the package to discover an inviting first screen. Moving your pointer towards the top of the screen, a menu bar is revealed. From the items displayed, you select the Game Options screen or change the activity selection. The Menu Bar has 2 navigation arrows, left and right. You press on either to move the bar horizontally. The target areas are large and clearly illustrated, with teachers or parents setting up the program's defaults.
Almost all cause and effect programs feature switch building levels. These usually involve the child creating a picture or scene, ‘building’ it step-by-step with repeated switch presses or mouse clicks, or by touching the touch monitor. For many learners, switch building can serve as a useful next stage in the progression from cause and effect to making independent choices.
SwitchIt! Scenes
Use a switch to build the elements of an action scene. A final press results in an animated reward. SwitchIt! Scenes makes wide use of sound and animation to promote interest and motivation.
When you start SwitchIt! Scenes , you’re greeted with an animated screen with music playing. You can begin straight away using the default settings. You move your mouse to the top of the screen to display, a ‘menu bar’.
From this menu bar, you can select 1 of 12 differentanimated concepts. You scroll the menu bar horizontally from left to right and click on the desired concept. The menu icon takes you to a screen where you customize the program.
SwitchIt! At Home
Designed to develop and demonstrate understanding of cause and effect through pressing a switch (or other input device) to build a scene from 10 different household items: vacuum cleaner, washing machine, dishwasher, food processor, coffee maker, kettle, food mixer, ironing board, oven, microwave oven. Motivation is provided with delightful graphics, animation and sound effects, suitable for all ages, and animated rewards with sound effects. Suitable for all ages.
Choose from 9 different background colors for the scenes.
Choose how many steps it will take for each scene to be completed.
Set the length of pause between each scene.
Visual, aural or time reminder.
SwitchIt! At Home can be configured for those who use 1 or 2 switches; a touchscreen or mouse; an IntelliKeys keyboard or; a Concept Keyboard. Settings, or Preferences, can be saved and loaded at any time for use by a particular user.
SwitchIt! Diggers
- Motivated by large vehicles and earth moving equipment?
- Then the next in the award winning SwitchIt! series is for you. Delightful graphics, animation and sound effects.
- 10 different vehicles, including fork-lift, cranes, backhoes, & dump trucks.
- SwitchIt! Diggers can be configured for 1 or 2 switches, mouse, touch monitor, or Intellikeys.
- Settings or Preferences can be saved and loaded at any time for use by a particular user.
- Designed to develop and demonstrate understanding of cause and effect through pressing a switch (or other input device) to build a scene.
SwitchIt! Gadgets
- Another great cause and effect switch program for students of all ages.
- Build up electronic gadgets, then see and hear them working. Computer, stereo, radio, camera, digital alarm clock, cassette player, video, stopwatch, fax machine, cell phone.
- Fully configurable - decide which images to show, turn sound effects on or off, choose the background color for better contrast, etc.
- Use mouse, keyboard, Intellikeys keyboard, Concept keyboard, touchscreen, or 1 or 2 switches.
All switch building programs allow you to choose the number of steps the child will have to complete before receiving a reward. Initially you should start at one step where a single switch press will build up the scene and play the animation in much the same way as programs like Big Bang. When you feel the learner is ready you can change the settings to three presses.
Platform
Win 95-XP Mac Classic (not OSX)
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