Dynamic Display

Dynamic display communication devices are designed for individuals with communication or speech disabilities. Devices typically resemble or are built in to PDAs, smartphones, or touchscreen tablets.  The user generates speech by spelling out words using an onscreen keyboard or by selecting symbols or pictures that represent words or phrases, which are then spoken out loud by recorded or synthesized speech. The devices have "dynamic" displays, which lets the user scroll through numerous built-in pages to find different word/phrase options. Many devices allow user to select words/phrases by directly touching the device, visual or auditory scanning of the word/phrase options, voice commands, switches, and mouse/head tracker.  Devices typically include customizable displays and vocabulary, as well as features such as word prediction and abbreviation expansion that let the user type in shorthand to save time.  The device may be "dedicated," meaning that it may only be used as a communication device, or user may have access to other software, such as phone calls, word processors, e-readers, built-in camera, internet (Bluetooth/WiFi) connectivity, and environmental control infrared sensors to control other appliances. Devices vary according to size, screen size and clarity, speech software, display organization, memory/storage capacity, and additional features.