By Emma Hughes
Many of our communication devices are Windows based and have software that may need regular updating. These communication devices include the PowerBox Motion, The Grid Pad family, Tellus 5, Tellus 4, Tellus 5 IntelliGaze, Tellus 4 IntelliGaze, Mobi 2 IntelliGaze and Mobi 2. Here are some answers to questions that we are often asked at Zyteq about updating the software on communication devices.
Do I need to do any software updates?
If you are EVER connected to the internet on your communication device it is essential that you are updating your software.
If you are NEVER connected to the internet on your device AND everything is working and new features are of no interest software updates are not necessary but are still recommended.
Why should I update my software?
Updates for Windows are highly recommended as they help to patch any known security holes in the software. These updates fix major bugs that allow malware and viruses to get into your computer. It is generally recommended to turn on Automatic Updates so that these updates are installed by your computer whenever they are available. It is also important that Internet Explorer is up to date as many other software programs (including The Grid 2) use Internet Explorer.
As well as updating for security reasons updates will also improve software stability and fix problems with the software that might be occurring. Updates can also offer new features that are developed over time.
If your device is connected to the internet regularly and you are updating Windows it is very important to update other software that you are using on the communication device. This includes The Grid 2, Alea Intelligaze software and Mind Express. As Windows updates also can update the drivers used by these programs (eg. ECU and switch interface drivers) it is good practice to update the communication software as well so that these devices continue to work well.
What software needs to be updated?
When updating the communication device Windows Update is the best place to start with updates. Make sure Windows is up to date first and then update other software. The Grid 2, Alea Intelligaze and Mind Express all have their own update tools and these should be used regularly after Windows updates are completed.
How often should I update the software?
Windows updates are released regularly every week or two. If you are set to automatically install important updates than these will install when updates are available. Immediately after Windows updates have been installed automatically you might notice that the computer takes longer to shut down and restart for the first time as it the updates are being configured for your computer.
Updates for The Grid 2, Mind Express and Alea IntelliGaze are less regular and it would be a good idea to update these programs every month or so. This will ensure that you have the latest versions of the software.
How do I update the software on my device?
Windows (link to Windows help)
Alea Intelligaze (PDF download)
The Grid 2 (PDF download)
Mind Express 4 (link to Mind Express 4 website)
Grid 3 (link to instructions on Smartbox website)
Some things to keep in mind when updating:
When you are updating software the size of the download could be quite large. Care needs to be taken so that large downloads are not completed using 3G data as it can be quite expensive.
Some updates are difficult to be completed from within schools or hospitals due to internet settings that block software from connecting to the internet. In these situations configuration might be required or an alternative internet access point might be needed.