Select, purchase, set-up and customize system. This involves integrating the system and related technologies into the individual's environment or environments. Train and develop skills for the individual, family members, and other communication partners. Typically, manual communication boards are used as an introduction to AAC and electronic devices, although they are not always a precursor to the use of high-tech devices. These systems are fairly inexpensive and relatively easy to create.
Dedicated devices are stand-alone systems designed for communication.
However, they incorporate voice and can include printers and other features. For the majority of high-tech AAC devices, language is generated through pictures, symbols, traditional writing, or a combination of these. Pictures or symbols may be used to represent a word, phrase, sentence or concept. These may be sequenced together, meaning two or more pictures are selected to create a phrase or sentence. Language is then spoken using either synthesized speech, digitized speech, or a combination.