Teach Me to Talk Overlays CD-ROM
by Gerry Kennedy
For PC Compatible and Apple Macintosh Computers
Overlays for Teach Me to Talk from SoftTouch
This CD-ROM specifically works with Teach Me to Talk, the new software CD-ROM from SoftTouch. The entire disk contains full colour overlays that can be used with the IntelliKeys touch membrane keyboard. They have been professionally created and designed. The digitised images compliment the onscreen activities on Teach Me to Talk.
The overlay files can be printed out in black and white or if you have a colour inkjet printer, glorious colour. You will require Overlay Maker, from IntelliTools to print them. To use this CD-ROM resource, place into your CD drive and start the file "Startcat". This program guides you through how to access and use the overlay files. Each group of overlays is labeled clearly. The files are listed on the CD-ROM by filename. There are thirteen folders. The categories include:
- Animals
- Bwords
- Clothes
- Food
- Household
- Library 1, 2, 3, 4
- Mwords
- Pwords
- Switches
- Transport
The overlays are ready to print. First, you find the overlay you wish to print and copy it to your hard disk (i.e. most likely in the C:IntelliTools folder, inside Overlay Maker/My Overlays.). Open it with your Overlay Maker software, and print as desired. Trim and laminate. They can be used immediately after printing to US Legal sized paper. You can use A4, but you will need to double-side adhesive them together. Being an American standard, US Legal paper is larger than A4 by a few inches. It measures 8.5" x 14". Have your stationer or printer cut a ream down from A3, to 329 mm x 216 mm (to allow for laminating and for easier insertion). These dimensions have proven to be ideal and work well. Set Page Setup to US Legal.
The overall quality of your printed overlays depends on a number of factors. First, always purchase good quality paper stock, described in GSM. Better quality paper yields much better results. Keep in mind, you are going to use some of these overlays many times. A ream holds 500 sheets of paper, so it will last quite a while!
The next consideration is your printer's resolution. A printer that is capable of printing 600 x 600 dpi (dots per square inch) will produce sharp, clear images without jagged areas. A 300 x 300 dpi print run will suffice. Lastly, the quality of your printer and the technology it employs will determine colour definition. The new electro-static printers (Epson) print using "dry ink". The Hewlett Packard or Canon, Lexmark and numerous other printer brands and technologies, will provide more than reasonable hard copy and spray "wet ink". The guide, as always, is price. The combination of specific features, speed (PPM - pages per minute) and the age of the printer, are practical and accurate barometers of quality. For sharp, clear black and white, use either an inkjet, or for excellent quality, a laser printer. A laser printer, particularly at 600 x 600 (or higher) will provide very satisfactory results.
The Teach Me to Talk Overlays match the activities in the Teach Me to Talk program (sold separately). There are 128MB of overlay files on this well designed and easy to use CD-ROM. Another support package, Companion Activities, is also available (sold separately). The three CD's combined provide powerful learning outcomes on and off the computer, in encouraging users with special needs to communicate. It will also prove popular in pre-school through to Grade One.