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Switch Software for Children

Press To Play Series from Don Johnston

There are three programs in the Press to Play Series. They include:

Press to Play – Animals

Press to Play – Speedy

Press to Play – Zoo

They are elementary cause-and-effect programs that cater to a range of ages. Users can interact with the characters using a switch, Touch Window or mouse. They are highly motivating programs that will suit young and older children alike. The three adventures stories in this series include Press to Play – Animals, Press to Play – Speedy and Press to Play – Zoo. Colourful animation with high quality speech and sound effects accompany each scene.

You install the programs from 3.5” floppy disks. The programs are available for either Apple Macintosh or PC Compatibles running MS Windows. The games can be played in four modes:

• Cause-and-Effect – press the switch, mouse or touch screen at any time for action
• Simple Scan – this mode is ideal for switch training and for users just beginning to use their single switch
• Complex Scan – suitable for users who have more control and/or cognition, who are beginning to make choices
• Direct Selection – using touch screen or the mouse, children can initiate the animations directly.

You are greeted by a welcome screen with an animated sequence after launching the program. A title page is briefly displayed, replaced with a single image. An auditory prompt requests that the user “press”. When the user presses successfully, he or she is rewarded with an animated scene accompanied with appropriate sound effects. Images are large, well defined and not too “busy”. The female voice is clear and invites the user to participate.

At any time, the teacher, aide, trainer or parent can press the letter “T” for the teacher menu. This is where you customise the program to meet individual needs. Speech can be selected to speak choices or to be silent. Sound effects can be turned on or off. Cause-and-effect can be continuous or start-stop. Scanning can be performed automatically or as a step scan, scanning horizontally or vertically, with 2 to 6 choices. The Scan speed can be set to Slow, Medium or Fast.

The animations are well designed with large, clear target areas. All three programs cater to users who are visually impaired as well. Activities will cycle automatically; therefore, children can play indefinitely. The cause-and-effect mode suits younger users or those just starting to use their input device. Increased independence allows children to practice and build confidence. The activities have been designed with a sense of fun; ideal for two users to play together.

Press to Play – Animals

The humorous scenes amuse children of all ages. Scenes include: a monkey swinging on vine, eggs hatching in a nest, a mother bird returning to her nest, a mother feeding her young with a worm, a door opening with a cat being “removed” from a building, a cat grooming itself, a cat investigating options in a garbage can, a dog befriending a rabbit, a rabbit diving into his burrow, a monkey falling from a vine! Numerous scenes run automatically. Users will delight in the fun antics of the characters.

Press to Play – Speedy

Speedy is a young boy who has a wheelchair. The scenes involve him playing various games with his friends, including catching a fish, travelling on the school bus to school, playing with his train set, moving about in his wheelchair, playing with his puppy and video games with his friend, throwing a Frisbee to his dog and shooting hoops with basketball. The sound effects and colourful drawings are very well designed in a cartoon style.

Press to Play – Zoo

The three friends, including Speedy, visit the zoo where they encounter a number of animals. A cheeky monkey blows them a “raspberry”, a seal cavorts in his pool, an elephant sprays the children, and a baby Joey jumps into his mother’s pouch. The multicultural scenes incorporate language-rich environments and are ideal for promoting discussion and dialogue about previous visits to the zoo. The animations are colourful and will appeal to users of all ages. It’s great to see a kangaroo included in this software included with other popular animals that you usually find in a zoo.

Note: A new title is also now available on CD-ROM. The Press to Play Sports has the main character, Speedy, participating in a number of sports events. It has great animation action, sound and music. It represents the fourth title in this fun series of switch activated software.