PowerBox 7 and PowerBox 7 IG-30

Overview

The new PowerBox 7 from Smartbox sets a new standard for high-tech, low cost communication aids. Based around the Sahara Tablet PC, it provides all the functionality you expect in a high end speech generating device and many innovative features.  Supplied with The Grid 2 installed, with Australian RealSpeak it provides communication options for people with a wide range of abilities and requirements. Many sample pages are available and these can be modified.  Page sets can be customised from scratch.  This is a wheelchair mountable device or for use on a table or desk.  The mounting plate supplied is compatible with Daessy, Rehadapt Monty mounts and VESA. The PowerBox 7 is well-designed and modern.  It takes advantage of the latest mainstream technology while providing numerous assistive technology options.  If the intelligaze IG-30 is connected, the PowerBox 7 can be operated by eye-gaze.  

Go to PowerBox 7 IG-30 (PowerBox 7 with Intelligaze) or see under "accessories" here.

Features

  • based on a powerful windows tablet computer (see specifications), so can be used for regular computer applications such as games, internet access, email etc. or can be supplied as a 'dedicated' device locked to The Grid 2, for communication, note-taking, environmental control, music and DVD playing,email and internet access only.
  • suitable for wheelchair mounting or use at a table or desk; inbuilt mount plate supplied
  • offering a wide range of alternative access including numerous scanning setting for single or multiple switch access, auditory scanning, direct touch screen access with keyguards available and eye-gaze control using Intelligaze (an optional extra).
  • supplied with The Grid 2 software which is very powerful and flexible for communication via symbols, photos or text.  It can be used to environmental control, note-taking and saving documents, email, music and DVD playing, internet browsing.
  • environmental control as standard, to enable operation of TV, DVD, air conditioning and other appliances
  • very loud speech output
  • 8 hours battery life

Hardware Details

The PowerBox 7 consists of a Sahara Slate i400D tablet PC  (Intel CoreDuo 2.0 Ghz with 2GB RAM and 120 GB hard drive) and the specialised hardware from SmartBox which provides amplification, switch ports, USB ports, headset port for private auditory scanning, UIRT environmental control unit, desk stand and mount plate.  

  • The overall weight of the Powerbox 7 as shown here is 3.5 kg.
  • Dimensions: 310 mm x 230 mm x 70 mm

For full details see 'specifications".

         

 

Software Details

The PowerBox 7 is supplied with Windows 7 operating system.  If you prefer Windows XP this can be requested as a special order.

For communication and other special operations The Grid 2 is supplied with Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) and Symbolstix.  The speech synthesisers supplied are Acapela English (U.K.) and Australian Realspeak.  Other languages are available.  Please see The Grid 2 for more details. 

The Grid 2 is powerful software which can be used 'out of the box' with the sample grids.  Full customisation is also possible or any of the sample grids can be modified. The Grid 2 provides the interface for voice output communication using symbols, photos, whole messages or by spelling using text-to-speech.  Word prediction, stored phrases and word banks are available to increase speed of message generation.  The Grid 2 also provides many accessing or input options such as switch/scanning with numerous settings including auditory scanning, two switch (and multiple switch) scanning.  There are timing settings to adjust the touchscreen access and visual cues such as magnification of the selected cell.

The Grid 2 provides:

  • speech output for communication with high quality and very loud Australian speech synthesis, or record your own messages.
  • message generation using symbols, photos, text or spelling
  • accessing options 
  • computer control using an on-screen keyboard to use any other program on the computer via the specialised access.

Accessing

The Powerbox 7 with The Grid 2 provide a wide range of accessing options.
Touch screen - the touch screen can be used directly with fingers or a stylus (supplied) and keyguards can be added if required.  Special settings can be adjusted for head-pointer use, keyguard use or mouse control.
Scanning - single or multiple switch access can be set-up with auditory scanning if required.  Visual scanning offers several highlight settings including: magnification of the selected item, drawing a border, colour the cell background, and magnification with colour background. Background colour can be chosen from a colour palette.  Scan methods include automatic scanning, hold to advance (inverse scanning), tap to advance (manual scanning), 2 and 4 way elimination and directed scanning. Scan patterns can be set to linear scanning (simple scan), row/column, column/row, overscan.  Switch actions can be assigned. If the user is primarily a single switch user, a second switch can be assigned a wide range of commands such as 'accept', 'cancel', 'reverse', and any command from the extensive list of possible operations available in the Grid 2. The timing settings are comprehensive.
Mouse or mouse emulator - any mouse or mouse alternative can be used to control the PowerBox 7.
Eye-gaze - with the Intelligaze IG-30 connected eye gaze can be used to control the Powerbox 7.  Please see "accessories" for full details.

 

  

The images above show scanning using StarTalker in The Grid 2 and a Pikobutton.

Supplied with:

  • charger
  • manuals
  • stand
  • mount plate
  • with blue, red or black silicon surround
  • external keyboard with 2 additional USB ports
  • 4 GB memory stick
  • mouse
  • case