Assistive Friends :D helps AAC users to escape to a virtual beach party to chat with virtual friends. It helps them to practice turn taking and conversational interaction using a modern chat interface.

Assistive Friends :D uses color, sounds and movement to interest the user. The virtual friends are located on a beach, with the relaxing sounds of people talking and waves rolling onto the beach. The attractive location and characters provide a very pleasant diversion.

The virtual friends respond with a text and high quality spoken (audio) reply, anytime of the day or night. If the user ceases to interact, the virtual friends will prompt him or her with spoken questions. This should help the user to break out of any "learned passivity" and help continue the conversation. So make sure the volume is turned up!

The virtual characters use our proprietary "Natural Response" technology. The responses generated are unlikely to be bland or predictable, just like real people. The chat avatars are software responders so they are infinitely patient and impossible to offend! They provide a safe and private environment for the user to say whatever he or she wants to.

The app accesses the latest word-completion technology to reduce the number of key-presses required to create any given message. We hope that this app will help users to improve their social interaction skills.

Please note that lip-movements are not animated during speech as this can look false, and adds little to the user experience. The app requires an internet connection to exchange messages with our chat server and wi-fi is strongly recommended.

This is a totally unique AAC app designed to stimulate social interaction and provide relief for carers. It includes 7 chat personalities, and as it is now a Universal app, it can be installed on all your iOS devices at no extra cost!

Please send improvement requests to us at info@mindskate.com so that we can continue to make this better for AAC users.