Tango for Children
by Blink Twice
Available now in Australia and New Zealand (only from Spectronics)!
The next generation of AAC
A new approach to communication
The Tango is the first speech generating device to bring the power of mass communications and consumer electronics to the world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). It combines a broad array of communication methods, such as an intuitive language hierarchy, ingenious new icons, and easy-to-access pop-ups, with the vast power of consumer electronics – like a built-in camera and voice morphing, so individuals can better match their specific communication needs with the best features to achieve them.
“WOW! The Tango is a therapist’s dream. It was refreshing to work with a team of individuals that listened and implemented ideas and suggestions to a level that far outreached my expectations. I believe this device will offer a new world of communication to people with complex communication needs.” Pati King DeBaun, M.S. CCC-SLP
“The Tango has such an elegant, almost ‘minimalist’ look, with a small number of buttons. But don’t let that fool you! It has a wide range of features that support both language development AND interactive communication. I’m excited about the ease in combining social scripts, generative language, and quick talk… all on a single device with a small button set!” Dr. Caroline Musselwhite
Developed in conjunction with industry experts
Pati King-DeBaun led a team that included Patrick Brune and Beth Dinneen to create Tango’s innovative language structure. For the first time, a vast array of phrase-based language coexists happily and powerfully with individual words and spelling.
Karen Erickson helped create novel keyboard layouts and core vocabulary to support literacy, learning and precision in communication.
Caroline Musselwhite and Linda Burkhart created TangoScripts to promote social interaction and conversational control for a range of communicators. Linda also developed novel scanning patterns to fully take advantage of the Tango’s novel six button structure.
Designed specifically for school children – and their teachers
Designed for children who rely on AAC and for teachers who are committed to educating special-needs children. The Tango was created to address real-world problems. A Tango for Teens version is also available, created specially for teens and secondary school students with special needs.
See user video clips of the Tango in use in real life at the Blink Twice website. (Opens in a new window. If the Flash video does not work you may need to download and install free Flash player plug-in)
See larger images of the Tango
Tango Benefits
called Language Streams provides quick access to topics and relevant vocabulary. Children can switch seamlessly from nearly 2,500 intuitively organised and fully customisable phrases to precise word selection or spelling keyboards for more specific communication. Learn more about Language Streams.
Early communicators can have access to robust, intentional communication. Each EZ Set contains 12 phrases that support quick, engaging initiation, commenting and conversation. Now you can focus not just on language structure and linguistics, but also on building skills that support inclusion, and the pure joy of communication.
Explore 30 fantastic sequenced Social Stories created by Dr. Caroline Musselwhite, PhD., CCC-SLP and Linda Burkhart. They not only allow initiation, but motivate children and promote interaction. Additionally, a child can create dozens of their own stories. Share moments. Share a life.
Use the Tango’s built-in camera to take photos in seconds. Then, use Voice Morphing to create a personalised voice. Discover a cool way to engage people quickly – and powerfully.
Each Tango comes with the full set of languages, illustrations and voices for a character from the above range. You can purchase additional or replacement characters to add to or replace the one on your Tango if desired (note: only one character can be used at a time.)
Try the Tango now interactive Flash demo (opens in a new window and requires Flash player installed on your computer – Download and install free Flash player)
Three things you can do on the Tango. Right out of the box!
- Share an experience or memory
- Use the built-in camera to create a photo album
- Record phrases for each photo
- Use voice morphing to create a unique child’s voice
- Or use a keyboard and synthesise your speech
- When you get back to your family or friends, share experiences with new personality, energy and emotion
- Use the built-in camera to create a photo album
- Get dressed and enjoy communication
- Navigate to the “Dressing” Talk Topic
- Discover 72 powerful phrases organised by communication intent
- You’ll be able to make requests, make comments, and ask questions with quick bursts of communication
- Use any or all of the 60 additional words that expand the ability to be specific: articles of clothing, verbs, and adjectives to describe everything from scratchy to loose
- Access a keyboard and streams of core vocabulary if you want to write complete sentences
- In short, you can have as much flexibility choosing your style of communication as you do choosing your clothing
- Tell someone what you’re really feeling!
- Go to the Pop Talk pop-up, featuring quick and constant access to over 200 phrases you’ll want to use over and over. (Don’t worry: if you don’t like one of the available choices, you can change it in less than a minute.)
- Choose the Emotions topic
- Tell someone you’re mad at them
- If they don’t listen, hit the “Voice” pop-up, hit “Shout,” and yell it like you mean it!
- Go to the Pop Talk pop-up, featuring quick and constant access to over 200 phrases you’ll want to use over and over. (Don’t worry: if you don’t like one of the available choices, you can change it in less than a minute.)
Features
- NEW UpTempo, the Tango’s NEW operating system! NEW
UpTempo is faster than ever, offering a more sophisticated language structure and customisation options, with the same personality and intuitive interface you’d expect from the Tango. Check out some of UpTempo’s fantastic new features below! And see why Blink Twice Communication First approach to language is second to none.
- Support literacy and linguistic skills with new Core First structure!
Now, in addition to the 90-word list for building simple sentences, the Tango also offers an advanced generative language structure that supports literacy and linguistic skills like never before.
- Power Core and Combos
UpTempo’s Power Core starts with the existing Core Words and adds over 600 more! Incredibly, you can reach them all from our six top-level buttons – and with no more than three easy-to-access hits. You’ll find morphology (such as I, me, mine) and also powerful word combinations (such as I will, I am, and I want to). So you can build sentences on the Tango faster than ever. And always with the same intuitive structure you’d expect from Blink Twice.
- Custom Core
Now you can choose a Core option that works best for you. Standard Core uses fewer words and gives you the option of attaching a colour to each screen, as well as supporting words with symbols. And using Power Core, you can choose to get to morphology first, or word combinations first.
The Tango’s new Core Words combine with our newly organised Lists to bring an approach to sentence building that’s as innovative and easy-to-access as everything else on the Tango.
- Power Core and Combos
- Build sentences more quickly with new generative language capabilities!
- Experience personality, energy, and engagement you won’t find anywhere else with
- 8,000 distinct Tango symbols!
- Personalise the Tango for individuals with fully customisable Home screen, scanning patterns, and user settings!
Visit the Blink Twice Webinars website for up and coming free sessions to see the power of UpTempo.
- Support literacy and linguistic skills with new Core First structure!
- Built-in Camera
The Tango is the first communication device to incorporate a built-in digital camera, so a communicator can capture full experience in real time. Imagine coming home from the zoo with not only language, but photos. You can store up to 30 different, easy-to-access photo albums on the Tango, so you can share a wealth of experience with speed and ease.
- Built-in flash
Life doesn’t only take place amid bright, outdoor sunlight. (Although when it does, you’ll be able to see the Tango’s magnificent screen.) But for capturing indoor or night-time experiences that you’ll want to share, the built-in flash is there when you need it.
- Voice Morphing Technology
The Tango actually lets you record an adult’s voice and morph it into a boy or girl’s voice. That means you can quickly add digitised language to photos or a new button you want to create. Now you can create sentences that have improved prosody, comprehension- and personality. Imagine, learning language without a parent or teacher’s voice.
- SD Memory Card Slot
It’s one thing to have a standard SD slot. It’s another to have a slot that launches an incredibly easy-to-use interface that makes new content a snap to access. Just insert an SD card into its slot and a step-by-step interface makes the upload or download process lightning fast and user friendly.
- Vast Scanning Arrays
The Tango incorporates easy-to-master options for one- and two-switch scanning, not to mention a variety of scanning patterns and speeds. Best of all, just plug in a switch and the Tango automatically begins scanning. Ever think a device wasn’t working… but was just in scan mode? That won’t happen with the Tango !
- Easy-to-use USB Dongle
The water-resistant side covers contain worlds of possibility. A USB dongle lets you easily connect to a computer (exporting information) or keyboard (inputting information). Plug in a keyboard, and you’ll instantly be able to use a computer keyboard.
Plug the Tango into your computer, and all phrase text, keyboarding, and individual words will be sent to any standard computer applications like Microsoft Word, email client, etc.
A dedicated device that’s also dedicated to being a simple-to-use computer interface can be a wonderful partner.
- State-of-the-art Speakers
Going to a restaurant? The playground? Want to be heard at recess? The two dynamic speakers work in tandem with the state-of-the-art voice technology for the best possible sound output. This means increased quality-and increased comprehension.
- Compact Flash Expansion Slots
The Tango has two key slots that let you plug into the future. The SD slot lets you load new content onto the Tango. And the Compact Flash slot will allow for future expansion into WiFi, Bluetooth, and mobile phones.
- Cutting-Edge Ergonomics
The Tango doesn’t just have the lines of a racing car, it handles like one, featuring dozens of ergonomic enhancements designed to help facilitate access. From sloping edges that guide fingers to the various pressure-sensitivities of buttons on the Tango, you’ll be amazed at the attention to the details that affect movement, speed, and usability.
- Water-resistant and Strong Durability
The Tango is designed with the toughest and most demanding users in mind. With water-resistant gaskets, rubber doors and Gore-Tex protected speakers, the Tango can withstand drool, spills, and even a light rain! Using the best available high-density plastics to an extra-strong screen, the Tango has been designed to withstand a fall from a table or tray and keep on ticking.
Optional keyguards are available, so users can select optimum sizes for openings which help guide one’s fingers.
“What a combination! Phrases, words, and spelling all organised for efficiency and precision. The potential for communication and literacy is staggering.” Dr. Karen Erickson, Director of the Centre for Literacy, UNC/Chapel Hill
“Powerful, cleverly designed and easy to learn. Congratulations to Richard Ellenson, AbleNet and their teams for taking the options available to young people with complex communication needs and their communication partners to a ‘next’ level.” Sarah Blackstone, PhD
“What do I think of Tango? It lets me show you how I see the world, so you can catch a glimpse of my soul. I’m able to show you through sights that capture me, sounds that stir me, and words to tell my story.” Dan Herlihy
Related Products
Equipment Trial
This product is available for trial through Spectronics’ Equipment Trial Scheme. Please click here for more information about this scheme and for equipment trial forms.
Videos about Tango
- DynaVox Mayer-Johnson's videos on the Tango (at vimeo)
- The Yankees celebrate Hope Week - YES NETWORK.com, July 2009 - The Yankees reach out to a Little Leaguer (Tom Ellenson) living with Cerebral Palsy
- ABC NEWS (US) coverage on Person of the Week: Richard Ellenson - who created a kid-friendly speaking device called "Tango"
- How-to Video Clips
Specifications
- Physical Dimensions
Weight: 1.07 kg (2.35 lbs)
Dimensions: 4.8 cm (1.9”) thick x 32.5 cm (12.8”) wide x 11.2 cm (4.4”) tall
Screen size: 14.8 cm x 5.4 cm (Width x Height)
Button size: 2.3 cm x 3.9 cm (Width x Height)
Symbol size: 1.8 cm x 2.4 cm (Width x Height)
- Durability
Battery: Li-ion polymer battery, 3.7V DC
Battery life: Eight hours of typical use, including taking pictures, changing volumes, etc.
Water Resistant: Rigorous pour testing
Shock Resistant: Fully drop-tested, Rounded corners
- Storage Capacity
150 Talk Topic Areas: Preloaded with 30 Topics
More Than 10,000 Phrases: Preloaded with nearly 2,500
More Than 20,000 Words: Preloaded with more than 4,500
30 Photo Albums: Holds up to 400 photos, use photos for thousands of icons
Synthesised Phrases: Virtually unlimited capacity
Digitised Communication: More than 25 hours
- Built-in Peripherals
Built-in Camera: Create icons or albums
Built-in Flash
Noise-Balancing Microphone
SD Card Reader: Add content or back up data
Compact Flash Slot
External Microphone Port
External Speaker Port
Personal Audio Port: For auditory scanning
- Connectivity
Connects to a Computer: Plug in and use to type or input
Connect a Keyboard: Use a USB keyboard when desired
- Access methods
Direct Selection: Instant activation, Press and hold
Removable Keyguard
Plug-and-Play Scanning: With seven patterns for diverse needs. Auto start when switch plugs in
One-Switch Scanning: Step scan, Step and hold, Step and hold with delay
Two-Switch Scanning: Step scan, Step and hold
Auditory Scanning: All buttons scannable, Volume control
- Speech
Text to Speech: Customised Acapela speech engine
Enhanced Digitised Speech: Maximise emotion and comprehension
- One year warranty
View/Download
- How-to Video Clips (If the Flash video does not work you may need to download and install free Flash player plug-in)
- Tango Lab
- Tango Link
- TANGORAMAS
- Tango Lessons
- Tango Guides to Maximising Communication
- Tango for Children Word Locator (pdf 1.8 MB)
- Tango Language Hierarchy and Word Map (pdf 4 MB)
- Tango Quickstart Guide (pdf 3 MB)
- Customising Your Tango Quickstart Guide (pdf 1.5 MB)
- Tango User Manual (pdf 13.5 MB)
- The Blink Twice Tango Warranty (pdf)
Online Training and Webinars
- Free Product Training and Webinars for Tango by Blink Twice
For more information on "Tango for Children" read the following articles:
- Person of the Week: Richard Ellenson, ABC NEWS, July 2006
- The Lessons of Classroom 506, by Lisa Belkin, New York Times, September 2004
Tango for Children is targeted at the following age ranges:
- Early Childhood
- Early Primary
- Mid Primary
- Upper Primary
Tango for Children is designed to foster development in the areas of:
- Communication
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and technical support visit:
Prices
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Prices are listed in Australian Dollars