Accessibility Tools | News

AbleNet Brings Communication Board to iOS

• By David Nagel
• 10/01/10

SoundingBoard supports iOS devices running version 3.1 or later, including iPad. This screen shot is from the iPhone version.

AbleNet has launched SoundingBoard, an app for iOS devices that allows teachers to build communication boards for students with verbal communication disabilities.

SoundingBoard is designed to be a straightforward tool for creating a means of communicating using symbols that correspond to recorded messages that are played back by the device. With support for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, SoundingBoard provides a library of hundreds of pre-defined AbleNet symbols and allows users to create their own using photographs or other images.

Other features include:

• Support for unlimited boards (screens) with various board layouts, with up to nine items on a 3 x 3 grid;
• Unlimited message length for symbols; and
• Symbols can be imported from an existing image library or created on the fly with the device's camera.

SoundingBoard runs $49.99 and requires an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch running iOS 3.1 or later. It's available now in the Apple App Store here. Further information can be found on AbleNet's site here.

About the Author

David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.

He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).