An incredibly flexible and powerful communication display maker!

Boardmaker Version 6 is now available.

Boardmaker is a communication and learning tool containing over 4,500 Picture Communication Symbols (PCS). It is designed to enhance the language and learning process for students of all levels. The program allows you to:

• Make a professional looking communication display in minutes


• Quickly find and paste PCS symbols into your display or desktop publishing program


• Make the pictures any size and with any spacing


• Print and/or save your display on disk for later use


• Print displays in black and white or colour (if you have a colour printer)


• Combine elements from PCS to create your own custom symbols
  
• Import digital photos and other graphics and create custom-drawn images
  
• Store, name, retrieve, resize, and paste any image or graphical object
  
• Make worksheets, picture instruction sheets, reading books, journals, schedules, posters or custom activities.

BOARDMAKER INCLUDES

• Now with 4,500 Picture Communication Symbols (the Australian PCS symbols and vocabulary in the Windows version)
  For information on adding the Australian symbols into the Macintosh Version of Boardmaker click here.


• Symbols from the 1998 Addendum Library now integrated into the core set
  
• Symbols with transparent background, enabling you to seamlessly layer them to create free-form materials (e.g. in stories, language activities, games and more)
  
• A set of black and white symbols and a set of colour symbols


• A drawing program


• Over 300 templates for schedules, device overlays, calendars, communication displays and more
  
• Assorted pre-made blank grids for making communication boards or overlays


• Option to install a library of symbols pertaining to sexuality
  
• A Boardmaker User Manual


• A video showing you how to use Boardmaker


• A printed booklet of the PCS symbols is provided with the Macintosh version of Boardmaker, but not with the Windows version. The Windows version CD does contain a printable file which lists the names of all of the available symbols.


• The Windows version also contains a printed tutorial to introduce users to the main features of Boardmaker in a guided way.
  
• Support for country specific symbols which may include holidays, famous people, food, and currency. These symbols may be downloaded free from the Mayer-Johnson website.

An alphabetical index of Boardmaker symbols is available in .PDF format. Click here to view.

From February 2001 in Australia, Boardmaker for Windows has been upgraded to Version 5.

REASONS TO UPGRADE TO BOARDMAKER FOR WINDOWS VERSION 5

• Australian symbols and vocabulary are built into this version of Boardmaker


• Instantaneous search times


• Thumbnails feature displays up to 49 pictures at once. For example, you can type in the word “play” and see all of the “play” pictures at one time.


• Pictures are sorted into categories. Combining the category and thumbnails feature allows you to view 49 pictures in the same category at one time (e.g. “grooming” or “cleaning”).


• PCS are vector-drawn metafiles which means they are scalable to any size – no more “jaggies”


• Paint tools added: paint bucket, eraser, pencil, flip, rotate tools


• Works better with digital pictures (eg. from your digital camera)


• Import your existing BM files and libraries into the new version


• Allows you to use the colour-coded backgrounds recommended by Goossens, Crane, and Elder. This means you can surround a black and white picture with colour while allowing the picture to stay white internally.


• Multiple languages support features
  
  • Each symbol is supported by 42 languages, can be searched in all languages, and placed in a board or activity with any of the languages
  
  
  • Symbols may be placed with:
    
    • no text above the symbol
    
    
    • one or any two languages above the symbol
    
    
  • Additional text in any language may be added to the symbol by the user
  
  Note: In order for the many languages to work, the computer needs to be set up with the correct regional settings and has the appropriate fonts for those languages.

REASONS NOT TO UPGRADE TO BOARDMAKER FOR WINDOWS VERSION 5

• Your machine is old and can’t run Windows 95 or higher


• You’re happy with your current version


• Your hard drive doesn’t have 350 megabytes of free space to load the new version of Boardmaker. (Because the symbols are vector-drawn, the symbols use five times more hard disk space).


• Your computer does not have a CD-ROM Drive (as Boardmaker for Windows Version 5 requires that the CD is in the computer to run the program).

THERE ARE NOW THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO BUY BOARDMAKER FROM SPECTRONICS!

1. Boardmaker: Australian Version 5 for Windows Deluxe Bundle which includes:

• Folder, Users Guide and Tutorial localised for Australia by Spectronics (new addition for 2004)


• Boardmaker Program CD


• Boardmaker Tutorial CD


• 2000/2002/2004/2006 Addendum Bundle (giving you 4500 extra symbols)
  
• Aussie School Fonts Deluxe CD (new addition for 2004 – giving you school handwriting fonts for each State of Australia)


• (This Deluxe Boardmaker includes 9000 symbols)

2. Boardmaker: Australian Version 5 for Windows Super Symbol Bundle which includes:

• Folder, Users Guide and Tutorial localised for Australia by Spectronics (new addition for 2004)


• Boardmaker Program CD


• Boardmaker Tutorial CD


• 2000/2002/2004/2006 Addendum Bundle (giving you 4500 extra symbols)
  
• (This Super Symbol Bundle Boardmaker includes 9000 symbols, but not the Australian School handwriting fonts – making it a better option for Early Intervention Services, Pre-schools and overseas customers.)

3. Boardmaker: Australian Version 5 for Windows which includes:

• Folder, Users Guide and Tutorial localised for Australia by Spectronics (new addition for 2004)


• Boardmaker Program CD


• Boardmaker Tutorial CD


• (This Standard Boardmaker still includes only 4500 symbols)

Confused about which symbol software program would best meet your needs? Click here to view our Symbol Software Comparison Chart comparing the features of Boardmaker, Writing with Symbols 2000 and Communicate:In Print 2.

Click here to download a pdf booklet showing you all of the additional symbols supplied in the 2000/2002/2004/2006 Addendum Bundles (3.4 MB .pdf).

Boardmaker Version 6 is now available.

System Requirements for Windows

• Pentium II Processor or better


• Windows 98, 98(se), ME, 2000, XP (NT4, Vista not supported)


• 128 MB RAM


• CD ROM Drive (CD now required to run the program)


• 350 MB free hard disk space
  
• 16 bit hi colour display

Download

• Additional pre-made templates
  
• Boardmaker Updates