KINETIC - A kinaesthetic learning and communication tool ... and a whole bunch of fun too!

KINETIC for iPad is a fun kinesthetic learning aid which will engage users of all ages and abilities.

This small and light unit is able to determine its orientation in free space by it's in-built gyroscopes - so it knows which way is "up" at all times. It can also detect being tapped or tilted, which together allows many kinaesthetic learning activities to be devised and created.

How Can It Be Used?

There are many uses of KINETIC either as a "switch" or an alternative activation method for other technologies, KINETIC gives you unique tool to incorporate kinesthetic approaches.

For example, the unit may be placed inside a soft play cube (either make your own or ask Communicate AT for assistance) to allow different outcomes as the user turns it from face to face. Make a giant dice and connect your KINETIC to an iPad app like Smooth Talker and you have a taking dice for playing and learning.

KINETIC can also operate as a soft switch (soft outer shell also available separately), ideal for switches in sensory rooms. Place Kinetic inside a small soft pillow-like object and set it to "tap". Kinetic is sensitive and smart enough to be able determine a tap which can be used for switch access to technologies.

When KINETIC is placed inside a waterproof box it may be used as a floating switch, using its tilt feature to detect a significant movement away from its normal floating position. KINETIC is simple to set up and loaded with features - an amazing little magic box.

Built-in Activities

1. Dice
2. Dice-as-a-switch
3. Find-me
4. Find-me-Sequence
5. Tilt
6. Tap/Catch

Dice - Turn Your iPad into a Magic Dice with KINETIC for iPad, use your Smooth Talker with KINETIC for SimplyWorks

Each time the soft play cube into which KINETIC is inserted is turned to a new face, it sends data to the iPad to indicate which face is now uppermost. This may be used with Smooth Talker AAC app from Pretorian (found on the App store) to play a particular message, depending which face is uppermost. By way of example, faces 1 - 6 could have pictures of farmyard animals inserted and messages 1 - 6 could play corresponding animal sounds. Or attach six different textures to the cube faces and have a message to describe each.

Or simply attach dots and use it as a speaking dice like we did on our Facebook page!

Dice-as-a-Switch

Each time the soft play cube into which KINETIC is inserted is turned to a new face, it sends a switch activation to the iPad, just as if a normal accessible switch had been pressed. This may be used to scan or select an item, for example, to play a piece of music or even to take a photograph.

Find-Me

KINETIC triggers only when face number 1 of the soft play cube is turned uppermost- the other five faces having no effect. This enables the device to be used as a ‘find-me’ game. For example, insert differently coloured cards into the pockets on each face of the soft play cube and then ask the user to find the colour blue, which has been deliberately inserted into the pocket on face number 1. If the user turns up any other face, nothing occurs and they are asked to try again. Only when face number 1 is turned uppermost does KINETIC trigger. Again, the iPad can be made to play a piece of music, play a message in the Smooth Talker AAC app or take a photo. If you are using iOS Switch Control, it may also be used to select an item. Generally speaking, the outcome will be some kind of reward or reinforcement.

Find-Me-Sequence

This activity builds on the Find-Me activity and can be a progressive step for users who have mastered Find-Me. Find-Me-Sequence triggers when face number 1 is turned uppermost and then when face 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are turned up one by one in turn, such that the user must find the items in the correct sequence. Turning up any face which is out of sequence will not result in any output. The teacher/therapist/carer prepares a list of the items depicted on each of the six sides in the correct order 1-6 and then asks for them in turn. Each time the user turns up the correct face, they get a reward or reinforcement from the receiving device.

Tilt

This Activity can find application in many ways. An output is triggered whenever KINETIC is tilted off its normal position by an angle of more than 30°. Once triggered, it will not output data again for at least one second to prevent multiple triggers occurring. It is important that KINETIC is placed with face 1 uppermost (the face which has the buttons and display). If placed inside the soft play cube the unit will detect the cube being tilted without the need for it to be turned to a new face (unlike Dice-as-a-Switch Activity). This can be beneficial for users who do not have the motor skills or strength to easily turn a cube onto a new face. Alternatively, if KINETIC is placed inside a waterproof box (please note - KINETIC IS NOT WATERPROOF!)  and allowed to float in a body of water such as a hydrotherapy pool, it may be used as a switch if it is tapped or struck.

Tap/Catch

This Activity allows KINETIC to be used as a switch simply by tapping it. If the unit is placed in a cushion or the (separately available) soft switch shell, simply tapping its surface is sufficient to trigger it. Alternatively, for higher motor skill users, it can be used to detect a catch or the cushion striking a hard surface†. Once triggered, it will not output data again for at least one second to prevent multiple triggers occurring. As before, the iPad can be made to play a piece of music, play a message in the Smooth Talker AAC app or take a photo. If you are using iOS Switch Control, it may also be used to scan or select an item.

Connection and Compatibility

KINETIC for iPad connects to iOS devices by Bluetooth and KINETIC for SimplyWorks connects to any of the SimplyWorks receivers including Smooth Talker.

KINETIC is compatible with the following Apple products: 

• iPad- all models
• iPod Touch 3rd generation onwards
• iPhone 3GS onwards

KINETIC is also compatible with most computers and laptops which have a Bluetooth capability, such as MacBooks. Android tablets vary enormously in specification so compatibility with these products is dependent upon the specific tablet. Please contact Communicate AT for guidance. When using KINETIC with products other than iPad/iPhone/iPod, there are some features of KINETIC which may not function- in particular the on-screen keyboard button.

All references to iPad should be taken as meaning any of the above Apple products.

The Talking Dice in the Communicate AT office

Introduction to KINETIC Video from Pretorian

Two Models

There are two KINETIC models to choose between, depending on how you intend to use KINETIC

• KINETIC for iPad
• KINETIC for SimplyWorks

Either way, KINETIC is a magic little tool for inclusion into any Assistive Technology toolkit.