3x3 Grid Size
Also referred to as field size. It’s an important feature in AAC devices and apps, and one that holds a lot of interest and discussion.
We chose our fixed 3×3 grid intentionally. We beta tested over 100 users with their caregivers and support team and unanimously, the 3×3 grid was chosen. We do have a HIDE/SHOW feature in the Settings Menu of our app in which you can decrease the field size with a 3 second hold on any item, group, or navigation button if field size limitations and/or navigation limitations are preferred. Video featured below. However, you cannot increase our field size. And our intention is to keep it that way.
Why? In a world of more, and in a world where very large field sizes are often the gold standard in AAC, why is our company going against that?
Because it works.
We watched our users. Trust me, I wanted the 10×10 field size. I have been in AAC for 21 years and boy was I really wanting a lot on a page. But our people flat out didn’t like it. They walked away from $85,000 of other devices we had because they flat out didn’t like it. We watched for rate of response, negation behaviors, emotional dysregulation, pushing systems and devices away. We watched for interaction with others, calming states, emotional ease without labor. We watched for smiles. We watched for stims. We watched for percetage of language learning opportunities. We watched for accuracy. We watched for ability to intake new information. And when we found the right match, the 3×3 grid size, our users refused to give our devices back to us at the end of the therapy session. They loved it!
We listened.
We changed our app to move seamlessly, and quickly. Which also then lead us to not offer a variety of voices. The 3rd party voices slowed down our app, and our kids choose not to have that option in lieu of instantaneous biofeedback. We see the entire app as the “grid size”, but the point of intake is just 8-9 at the most on the screen, which is close to the average memory chunking competent without rehearsal of details.
It’s natural. It decreases processing. It increases automaticity.
It works.
We’ve had hallmark AAC individuals turn us away at the door saying until we had an option for more than a 3×3 grid size, they were not interested in seeing our product.
We’ve had hallmark AAC hospital leaders ask us, in person, at ISAAC in Australia, why we were not the ones up there presenting.
People have their opinions.
Ours just happens to be based in experience, trial sizes, and validity of results in increasing language exposure across a wide spectrum of users to prompt communication growth through support.
We’re here for you! With open eyes, ears, and minds.
~Danielle
We chose our fixed 3×3 grid intentionally. We beta tested over 100 users with their caregivers and support team and unanimously, the 3×3 grid was chosen. We do have a HIDE/SHOW feature in the Settings Menu of our app in which you can decrease the field size with a 3 second hold on any item, group, or navigation button if field size limitations and/or navigation limitations are preferred. Video featured below. However, you cannot increase our field size. And our intention is to keep it that way.
Why? In a world of more, and in a world where very large field sizes are often the gold standard in AAC, why is our company going against that?
Because it works.
We watched our users. Trust me, I wanted the 10×10 field size. I have been in AAC for 21 years and boy was I really wanting a lot on a page. But our people flat out didn’t like it. They walked away from $85,000 of other devices we had because they flat out didn’t like it. We watched for rate of response, negation behaviors, emotional dysregulation, pushing systems and devices away. We watched for interaction with others, calming states, emotional ease without labor. We watched for smiles. We watched for stims. We watched for percetage of language learning opportunities. We watched for accuracy. We watched for ability to intake new information. And when we found the right match, the 3×3 grid size, our users refused to give our devices back to us at the end of the therapy session. They loved it!
We listened.
We changed our app to move seamlessly, and quickly. Which also then lead us to not offer a variety of voices. The 3rd party voices slowed down our app, and our kids choose not to have that option in lieu of instantaneous biofeedback. We see the entire app as the “grid size”, but the point of intake is just 8-9 at the most on the screen, which is close to the average memory chunking competent without rehearsal of details.
It’s natural. It decreases processing. It increases automaticity.
It works.
We’ve had hallmark AAC individuals turn us away at the door saying until we had an option for more than a 3×3 grid size, they were not interested in seeing our product.
We’ve had hallmark AAC hospital leaders ask us, in person, at ISAAC in Australia, why we were not the ones up there presenting.
People have their opinions.
Ours just happens to be based in experience, trial sizes, and validity of results in increasing language exposure across a wide spectrum of users to prompt communication growth through support.
We’re here for you! With open eyes, ears, and minds.
~Danielle