How do I create a Visual Scene Display in Mind Express? – Forbes AAC Online Help Center

"Visual Scene Displays (VSDs)" are communication tools that have an image as the focus, with interactive buttons that allow the user to engage with that image in a meaningful way. VSDs can be used during educational activities (i.e. book readings), as well as for more general communication supports.

This article will explain one of the ways to create a custom visual scene display in Mind Express.

Get Visual Scene Display Inspiration!

Check out some of the pre-made VSDs to get ideas for what types of vocabulary to add!

From the Portal, select the "Steps to Language and Score" folder.

Note: If you are not currently on the Portal page, select "Menu" in the upper left corner, and then "Portal."
For inspiration, refer to one of the pre-made VSDs (i.e. "Visual Scene Read," "Visual Scene Snack," etc.):

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You will notice that as you select the transparent buttons on the image, the vocabulary at the bottom of the screen will change to correspond with the transparent button that was selected. The buttons at the bottom of the screen produce speech output when selected.
When you're ready to create your own Visual Scene Display, return to the Portal by selecting "Menu" in the upper left corner, and then selecting "Portal."

Make a Copy of the Visual Scene Display Template

Making a copy of the template will allow you to customize a VSD now, while retaining the original template for future customizations!

Select "Menu" in the upper left corner, and then select "Organize."
Select the "Visual Scene Template" folder. 3 buttons will appear on the image:
Select the center button to make a copy of the template.
Choose a label, picture, and color of the new pageset (this can also be modified later), and then click "OK."
Click "OK" in the upper right corner of the screen to exist the "Organize" tool.
Your template has been added, but you may have to use the scroll arrows on the side of the screen to locate it.

Customize Your Visual Scene Display!

Open the copy of the Visual Scene Display template that you made in the previous section.
When it opens, it will look like this:
Press "add cell" in the upper left corner to place editable cells on the screen.
Now, you will see 6 white cells at the bottom of the page, and one grey cell on the large rectangle in the middle of the screen (where the picture will go).
First, we will select an image to fill the large rectangle. You can...
1. Take a picture:
  1. You can use the camera by selecting the "Take Photo" button on the left side of the screen.
2. Use a symbol or a picture from the internet.
  1. Select "Menu," in the upper left corner, and then select "Edit."
  2. Select the large rectangle in the middle of the screen, and then select "Image" in the "Edit Menu" on the right.
  3. Use the search bar to find the image you would like to use. You can choose from a variety of search options, including symbols sets and a web search. Once you have found a preferred image, press "OK."
Now that you have an image, you can begin customizing the buttons. First decide where you would like your transparent button to be. Remember, this button will not speak, but when selected, it will change the icons on the bottom of the screen to vocabulary associated with the transparent button. In this example, we put the transparent button on the bench. You can adjust the button size by clicking and dragging the edges of the button.
Next, we can customize the icons at the bottom of the screen. These icons will produce speech output and the user will have access to this specific set when they select the "bench" icon on the larger park picture. To begin, click one of the buttons, and use the "Edit Menu" on the right side of the screen to add an image and a label.
For your programmed button to speak, you will need to ensure that there's a speech action added. If one is not added automatically, select "Add action," and then select "Text"

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Type the message you would like the button to speak and click "OK.
You now have a speech message attached to that button:
Repeat this process for each button you would like to program.

Note: You can move these buttons around by clicking and dragging them! You can also change the size by clicking and dragging the corners of the button.
Once you've finished editing, click the green checkmark in the lower right corner to close the "Edit Menu."
Click the "Save" button in the upper left corner of the screen to save your changes.
If you would like to add additional transparent cells to the photo, press "Add cell."
This will give you a new transparent cell, and 5 new available buttons to program. Repeat steps 6-13 above

Use your Custom Visual Scene Display!

You will notice that as you click on the transparent buttons, a small yellow border will appear on the button when it's selected. The vocabulary in the cells at the bottom of the page is dependent on which transparent button is selected (has the yellow border visible).

It may be helpful to hide the "Tools" buttons on the left side of the screen ("add cell," "take photo," "delete photo") to avoid accidental editing. Here is how to do that:

Select the "Cog Wheel" button in the upper right corner of the screen:
Select the blue "Play: hide tools" button in the lower left corner.
Now, the buttons will be hidden.
To bring back the edit buttons, re-select the "Cog Wheel" button, and then select "Edit: Show tools."

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