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Cause-and-Effect Software

The SwitchIt! Scenes software from Inclusive Technology in the UK, is an entertaining and amusing software package. It caters to young children and to users who require cause-and-effect software. SwitchIt! Scenes is a an ideal program for users learning to control their environment. It has some innovative features that teachers and parents can use to motivate and extend their children.

The package is quite simple in its execution. When you start SwitchIt! Scenes , you’re greeted with an animated screen with music playing. You can begin straight away using the default settings. You move your mouse to the top of the screen to display, a ‘menu bar’.

From this menu bar, you can select one of twelve different “animated concepts”. You scroll the menu bar horizontally from left to right and click on the desired concept. The “menu” icon takes you to a screen where you customise the program. The Game Options include:

• Colours – you can choose a background colour (from nine choices). Left and right switch colours can be set as well (especially where user has coloured switches, as may be the case with different Jelly Bean switches).
• Debounce – how quickly the activity will respond to the input, then re-act.
• Pre-acceptance Delay – the time between hitting the switch, clicking the mouse, or pressing on IntelliKeys and the software’s reaction to your input
• Access – choose from mouse, single switch, double switch alternate or random input.
• Serial Switches – select if you have a switch interface connected into the serial port (e.g. COM2).
• IntelliKeys – when you choose this option, an automated process sends an overlay to the IntelliKeys with the two switch ports on the board programmed, ready to accept switch input.
• Concepts – choose one of twelve concepts; select either “random” or “sequential” order.
• Activities – you can set up the program so that the user receives an instant response with “1 step”, or with a “pause”. You can promote increased interaction with three or five steps to encourage greater effort. The “1 step” is ideal for training where you want the user to achieve every time.
• Speech Prompt – you can elect to a voiced prompt turned on or off. Some users may require voice.
• OK – after setting all of the conditions, you are ready to play again. Or you can ‘Save’ the settings.
• Open/Save – you can save a setup by name (for individual users) and then open it at any time.
• Exit – this is where you quit and leave the program.

SwitchIt! Scenes is a captivating multi-media program for switch users, young children and for those who enjoy animated movement, colour, and fun sounds. It can also be used with a range of input devices, including Touch Window, IntelliKeys, single or double switch. It caters directly to users who are physically disabled, intellectually disabled and to those who are vision impaired.

Users of all ages can easily access this program and interact with fun characters that move about the screen, accompanied by clear, vibrant sound effects. It can also be used to accommodate the needs of adults in day training and residential centres. SwitchIt! Scenes is a delightful piece of early learning software.