How do I get started with Proloquo4Text on my ProSlate?

 

Proloquo4Text is a robust text-based system with a wide range of features and customization options.  The how-to articles linked in this article were created by AssistiveWare, which is the company who owns the Proloquo4Text software.  

If you have follow-up questions about any Proloquo4Text features on your ProSlate, please reach out to the Forbes AAC Tech Support Team and/or your local Forbes AAC Assistive Technology Specialist.

Please Note:  If you have one of our ProSlate loan devices, Proloquo4Text will be one of the loaded software systems.  If you have a funded ProSlate, the loaded software will be the one that your speech-language pathologist recommended following an evaluation. This software may or may not be Proloquo4Text.

---

Getting Started with Proloquo4Text

Once you set up a User, you are ready to being using Proloquo4Text!  Your default screen will look similar to this:

On this screen, you will see the "Text Pad" (highlighted by the blue box below) and the "Quick Blocks" (highlighted by the green boxes below).

Text Pad

The "Text Pad" is used to compose messages.  If the AAC User taps a blank space on the "Text Pad," a keyboard will appear where they can type out their messages.  When they are ready to speak, they can press the blue "play" button on the screen.

Quick Books

To make communication more efficient, AAC Users can utilize the "Quick Books" that frame either side of the "Text Pad."  By tapping the labels of the "Quick Books," you can scroll through a variety of different tools.  These include:

1. Phrases - Store common phrases organized into categories
2. Quick Talk - Speaks a phrase without adding it to the "Text Pad" (allows the AAC user to continue composing a message while saying something unrelated aloud)
3. History - Stores words/phrases that were said previously (for up to 7 days after being spoken)
4. Conversations - Allows users to switch between conversations
5. Word Prediction - Predicts words as the AAC User is typing (learns new words/phrases as they are used)
6. Sentence Prediction - Predicts sentences as the AAC User is typing (includes recently typed sentences and phrases)
   1. Prediction settings can be adjusted.  More information about this can be found here: Change prediction settings - AssistiveWare

"Quick Books" can be customized in a variety of ways.  This includes:

• Content (i.e. what words/phrases are available and how they are organized)
  • Add and edit categories in Phrases and Quick Talk - AssistiveWare
  • Add and edit items in Phrases and Quick Talk - AssistiveWare
  • Change the order of items and categories - AssistiveWare
  • Move items between categories - AssistiveWare
  • Delete items and categories - AssistiveWare
• Visually (i.e. colors, font size, etc.) 
  • Change the appearance of the Text Pad and Quick Blocks - AssistiveWare
  • Change the appearance of the Word Prediction buttons - AssistiveWare
• Which "Quick Books" are Visible (i.e. turn on/off access to certain quick books)
  • Show, hide, or move Quick Blocks - AssistiveWare

---

Changing Voice Settings

In Proloquo4Text, there are a variety of aspects you can customize when it comes to speech output.  Some popular options include:

• Change how a voice sounds in Proloquo4Text - AssistiveWare
• Change how a word is pronounced - AssistiveWare
• Change message playback settings - AssistiveWare
• Change Speak As You Type settings - AssistiveWare
• Choose whether Quick Blocks speak items automatically - AssistiveWare

---

Hiding the "Edit" Tools

It can be helpful to hide the editing tools menus to prevent accidental edits, especially while everyone is first learning the software!  To hide the edit tool:

1. Open "Settings" 

   

2. Select "Restrictions"
3. Toggle "Allow Editing" to "off"

---

Backing Up Proloquo4Text

Backing up your language software regularly is highly recommended.  This ensures that you will always have a saved copy of your custom language file should anything happen to your communication device.  

Many communication apps recommend that you back up custom vocabulary files via Dropbox or Google Drive.  Forbes AAC does load Dropbox and Google Drive apps onto all ProSlate devices before they ship, but we do NOT set up any associated accounts, so these are accounts that you would need to create yourself.  More about the account set-up process can be found in the following articles:

• Dropbox
• Google Drive 

There are several methods for backing up Proloquo4Text.  Please note that dedicated devices are limited to using Google Drive, Dropbox, or AirDrop.  Refer to the following articles for full instructions:

• Using Google Drive and Dropbox for Proloquo4Text Backups - AssistiveWare
• Export and save a backup with iTunes File Sharing - AssistiveWare
  • Import and restore a backup using iTunes File Sharing - AssistiveWare
• Share backups with AirDrop - AssistiveWare

---

All of the available Proloquo4Text written support guides can be found here: Proloquo4Text help overview - AssistiveWare

---

Would you or your team benefit from AAC training?  You are more than welcome to reach out to your local Assistive Technology Specialist:  Find a Specialist | Forbes AAC | Augmentative Communication