Unity Vantage Lite User manual

Vantage Lite Unity Manual
14762
Vantage Lite™ Unity®

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Vantage Lite, ECO, Vantage, Vanguard II, Vanguard, Pathfinder, SpringBoard, Language Activity Monitor
(LAM), and Memory Transfer Interface (MTI) are trademarks of Prentke Romich Company.
DECtalk is a product of the Digital Electronics Corporation.
Minspeak is a registered trademark of Semantic Compaction Systems.
Minspeak Application Programs (MAPs) are trademarks for products manufactured by the Prentke Romich
Company.
Unity is a registered trademark in the USA of Semantic Compaction Systems.
Windows, Windows XP, Windows Explorer, Windows Media Player, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word,
Windows WordPad and Microsoft PowerPoint are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
IntelliTools is a registered trademark of IntelliTools, Inc.
Natural speech supplied by: Fonix-DECtalk Text-to-Speech software, a copyright of Fonix Corporation, all
rights reserved; and RealSpeak Text-to-Speech, a product of Nuance Communications, Inc.
Non-English text-to-speech supplied by the Acapela Group and RealSpeak Text-to-Speech, a product of
Nuance Communications, Inc.
Computer access pages for Kurzweil, WYNN, TestTalker, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Outlook created by
Brian Simms, M.A. CCC-SLP, Augmentative Communication Specialist, Colorado Therapy Associates
WYNN and TestTalker are trademarks of Freedom Scientific, Inc. Kurzweil 3000 is a trademark of Kurzweil
Educational Systems, Inc.
Bluetooth Wireless Technology is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. The Bluetooth word mark
and logos are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
October, 2008
PRENTKE ROMICH COMPANY
1022 Heyl Rd. • Wooster, Ohio 44691
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail Address: [e-mail]
Web Site Address: www.prentrom.com
Prentke Romich International
PRC House, Minerva Business Park
Lynch Wood, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
PE2, 6FT UK
Fax: [phone]
E-Mail Address: [e-mail]
[]
©2008

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Vantage Lite Unity Table of Contents
Introduction to Unity.................................................................................... 5
Unity Definitions/ Organization ..................................................................................... 6
Navigation and Tools.................................................................................................. 7
Unity Basic Patterns........................................................................................................ 8
Unity Pattern 1 – Category Icon + Grammar Ending ................................................. 9
Unity Pattern 2 – Pronouns ....................................................................................... 10
Unity Pattern 3 – Pronoun/ Verb Phrases ................................................................. 10
Unity Pattern 3 – Pronoun/ Verb Phrases ................................................................. 11
Unity Pattern 4 – Nouns............................................................................................ 12
Unity Pattern 5 – Grammar Icon + Icon = Interjections, Determiners, Conjunctions,
Preposition, Question Words, and Adverbs not ending in –ly................................. 13
Unity Pattern 5 (continued)....................................................................................... 14
Unity Pattern 5 (continued)....................................................................................... 15
Single Hit Words....................................................................................................... 16
Indefinite Pronouns................................................................................................... 16
Whole sentences........................................................................................................ 16
Sentences in the Activity Row.................................................................................. 17
Jokes and Songs ........................................................................................................ 17
Numbers.................................................................................................................... 17
Unity Tools for Getting Started .................................................................................... 18
Exploration Wizard................................................................................................... 18
Teaching Pages ......................................................................................................... 19
Context Scenes.......................................................................................................... 19
Icon Tutor.................................................................................................................. 20
Vocabulary Builder................................................................................................... 20
Unity Programs in Vantage Lite ................................................................................... 21
45 Locations.............................................................................................................. 21
60 Locations.............................................................................................................. 22
84 Locations.............................................................................................................. 23
Unity Progression – or “Where do I start?” .............................................................. 23
Implementing the Unity Language System.............................................. 24
Hide and Show Keys................................................................................................. 25
Customize with the Setup Key.................................................................................. 25
Practice Talking ........................................................................................................ 26
Activity Rows ........................................................................................................... 27
Pages in Unity 60 1-Hit............................................................................................. 28
Pages in Unity 60 1-Hit (continued) ......................................................................... 29
Icon Rationales.......................................................................................................... 30
Directory of Features in Unity 60 1-Hit.................................................................... 35
Special Instructions..................................................................................... 36
Vocabulary Builder in Vantage Lite ............................................................................. 36
Basic Principles......................................................................................................... 36
Using Vocabulary Builder ........................................................................................ 37

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Select Vocabulary to Hide/Show… .......................................................................... 37
Show/ Show All ........................................................................................................ 37
Hide/ Hide All........................................................................................................... 37
Use Word Lists. ........................................................................................................ 38
Load List ................................................................................................................... 38
Merge List................................................................................................................. 38
Delete List................................................................................................................. 38
Backup List ............................................................................................................... 38
Use Sequence Lists ................................................................................................... 39
Save Mask Info ......................................................................................................... 40
Import New Lists ...................................................................................................... 40
Turn Builder Off ....................................................................................................... 40
Missing Words in Unity............................................................................................ 40
A Final Comment on Text Files................................................................................ 41
Computer Access Activity Rows and Pages................................................................. 42
Set up computer access in the Output Menu............................................................. 42
Education software pages: Set-up instructions ............................................................. 48
Outlook Express........................................................................................................ 48
Microsoft Word......................................................................................................... 49
TestTalker ................................................................................................................. 49
WYNN ...................................................................................................................... 50
Kurzweil 3000........................................................................................................... 50
Education Software Tech Notes by Brian Simms......................................................... 51
Outlook Express........................................................................................................ 51
TestTalker ................................................................................................................. 51
WYNN ...................................................................................................................... 51
Kurzweil.................................................................................................................... 51
Vantage Lite Smart Chart ......................................................................... 52

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Introduction to Unity
Unity is a language representation system created to both follow and enable the typical
language development process. From single words and short phrases to longer,
grammatically correct sentences, people can progress through the stages of language
development using Unity to achieve their full communication potential.
•The Unity system uses a small set of easy-to-recognize icons combined in short
sequences to produce words, phrases, and sentences.
•With a Unity system, children can begin to communicate before they can read.
•In a Unity system, the locations of the icons remain fixed, allowing motor
patterns to develop for frequently used words and phrases.
•Unity is the only language system in AAC that takes advantage of motor
learning to increase rate of communication and reduce cognitive effort.
•Unity systems focus on frequently used words. Research has shown that about
400 frequently used words make up more than 75% of our speech (regardless of
age, gender, or background).
•Unity programs take advantage of this set of core words, providing short
sequences of two or three icons to produce them.
•With the Unity language system, people can choose to say their own thoughts in
their own words, and do not have to depend on the messages that other people
store for them.
•The Unity programs in Vantage Lite combine all three language access methods:
single-meaning pictures, spelling with word prediction, and semantic
compaction (Unity icon sequences).

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Unity Definitions/ Organization
To start understanding Unity, we will begin by looking at Unity 60 1-hit. The same
principles can be applied to 45 1-hit or 84 1-hit.
Row 1 is the main activity row.
•Activity rows contain vocabulary specific to certain situations.
•Some keys in the main activity row do not open other activities. These keys are tools.
There are two tools in row 1—the choose ACTIVITY key at the beginning, and the
PAGES key at the end. The rest of the top row keys open activities.
Rows 2 through 5 contain core words.
•Core words are words that people of all ages use frequently across situations and
environments.
•Each core word in the 1-hit Unity versions requires only one keystroke.
Tools in core:
•The second Mother Hubbard key is a plural tool and adds “s” to any word on the
display.
•The NUMBERS key opens a page of numbers
•The CLEAR key at the bottom left is for clearing your display.
Color coding
•Yellow = pronouns
•Green = verbs
•Light Green outline = verb endings
•Orange = category nouns
•Blue = adjectives
•Light Blue outline = a link to a page or activity row

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Navigation and Tools
Keys in core are linked to a dynamic activity row. Each dynamic activity has a blue “GO
BACK” arrow at the left. This key closes the row so you go back to the activity that was
open before.
ÂNote: The blue GO BACK arrow works with Dynamic Activities set on Temporary
(This is done via the Dynamic Activities Menu in the Toolbox). If you set your Dynamic
Activities on permanent, you will use CHOOSE ACTIVITY (#1 user defined key or OBJ
+ OBJ to return to the main Activity Row).
If you select the apple , you see:
Select the Go Back arrow to return to the main Activity Row.
When you open the YES/NO row , you see tools for spelling, punctuation, and delete
word.
When you select the Pages key , you open the Pages page. This page contains links to
selected pages in Unity 60 1-hit.
The key that is hidden is a link to the notebooks page. To show the notebook key, follow
the instructions for hiding/ showing keys later in this manual.

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Unity Basic Patterns
While 1-hit Unity can be simple for caregivers, many device users find that the
vocabulary in these areas is too limiting. In 1-hit versions, you can say “eat” but not
“food.” You can say “sleep” but not “tired.” Additionally, the dynamic activity rows are
purposefully set up with a limited amount of vocabulary, as it is geared towards early
communicators. If you find that you are adding a great deal of vocabulary to the 1-hit
versions, you probably need to use a sequenced version.
The following section will describe some of the basic patterns in sequenced versions of
Unity. Although the examples are taken from Unity 60 Sequenced, after you learn the
patterns, they are easily applied to the other versions of Unity. Memorizing a pattern
helps you learn new words without memorizing individual sequences.
ÂNote: For suggestions on decreasing the amount of vocabulary in 1-hit versions, and
for adding specialized vocabulary, please see the section titled “Implementing the Unity
Language System.”
If you are using Unity 45 Sequenced, you will notice some alterations from previous
Unity versions (e.g., Unity 45 Full in Vantage Plus). This was done to conserve space,
save keystrokes, and to simplify the word choices.

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Unity Pattern 1 – Category Icon + Grammar Ending
Embellished icons OFF** Embellished icons ON**
eat
eat
food
food
hungrily hungrily
hungry hungry
Verbs are action words. They end with Mr. Action Man. He is working,
whistling, carrying a bucket, and walking. He shows many actions.
Category nouns end with Mother Hubbard. She is a person, her cupboard is a
place, and there is a thing in the cupboard.
Adverbs that end in –ly use the Adverb icon as an ending. The airplane is
carrying a banner with the –ly ending.
Adjectives end with the paintbrush because a painting describes something.
** If you have Embellished Icons turned on in the Feedback Menu, you will see a
concrete picture of the word at the ending icon instead of the grammar icons described.

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Unity Pattern 2 – Pronouns
Pronouns are color coded yellow. They are always on the left two columns.
Subject Pronouns = Two hits on the same pronoun key
I, you, it, she, he, we, they
Object Pronouns = Pronoun + Object icon
me, you, it, her, him, us, them
Possessive Adjectives = Pronoun + Possessive icon
my, your, its, her, his, our, them
Possessive Pronouns = Possessive icon + Pronoun
mine, your, its, hers, his, ours, theirs
Reflexive Pronouns = Object icon + Pronoun
myself, yourself, itself, herself, himself, ourselves, themselves
Unity Pattern 3 – Pronoun/ Verb Phrases
(a) A pronoun + category icon = Declarative Phrase
I hope I did
I had I do
I wish I’m going
I was I could
I love I think
I like I am
I have I know
I feel I need
I will I can
I would
I want