The Avaz User Manual

A 10-minute introduction to all of Avaz’s features

The Avaz picture mode

This is the starting screen of the Avaz picture mode. Avaz has age-

appropriate picture sets, arranged in three grades. You can later set any of these

categories as your Home screen. 2

The Avaz picture mode

The picture screen contains categories (green folders) and messages (beige

boxes). Tap a category to view the items it contains (messages and further sub

categories). 3

Framing sentences

Tap words and string them together to form phrases or sentences. Tap the

message box to speak the sentence formed. 4

Language development

5

Avaz’s system of organizing categories and messages makes it easy to focus on language development. On the path to the operative word (‘orange juice’ in this case), the child encounters also the words needed to make a complete sentence.

Navigation buttons

Tap the Go back button to go to the higher-level category, and the Home

button to go the Home screen. 6

Navigation buttons

If you mis-spoke a sentence, tap the Mistake button and make a correction.

Tap the alert button to call for attention. The breadcrumbs bar shows the

path to the current screen. 7

Using the Quick button

The Quick category contains useful messages for quick communication. The

Quick button redirects to the Quick category on the root screen, which contains

ready-to-use templates and stock sentences. 8

The Top Row Buttons

Tap the delete button once to delete the last picture in the message box,

and twice to clear message box. Tap the Keyboard button to switch to

Keyboard mode. 9

Add New Message/Category

Tap the pencil icon to enter Edit mode. The pencil turns red in Edit mode. Tap

the pencil again to exit edit mode. Tap the Add new button to add a new

message or category. 10

Edit an item

To add an item, set its caption, image and audio properties. You can use the

‘Speak as’ field to customize the way a word is pronounced. 11

Finding a symbol

You can browse through 12,000+ symbols by specifying a search string in the “Find

symbol” field. Use the left and right arrows near the image to scroll through the

search results. 12

Take photo

Tap the Take photo button to take a photo of the item that you want to add

or edit. 13

Choose photo

Tap the Choose Photo icon to choose a photo from the collection of photos in

your device’s photo gallery. 14

Edit buttons

In the Edit mode, you can also edit, cut/paste, delete, enable and disable

messages and categories. Disabling an item hides it from the user’s view without

deleting it. Tap an action first and then tap a picture to perform that action. 15

Rearrange icons

To rearrange pictures in Edit mode, you can drag and drop them to a different

location. Start dragging by holding an icon for a couple of seconds. 16

The Avaz keyboard mode

This is the Avaz Keyboard mode. Use the QWERTY keypad to type what you want

to say. QWE layout is easy for children who have experience with computers and

keyboards. 17

Buttons

18

Tap the Pictures button to switch to Picture mode. Tap the message box to

speak its contents. Single tap the Delete button to delete the last word and double

tap to clear the message box.

Quick Access bar

For the most frequently used words and phrases in a conversation, you don’t even

have to type: you can pick them straight off Avaz’s quick response bar. The

response bar is completely customizable, using Save. 19

Prediction

Typing can take time – which is why prediction takes the delay out of working with

text. Avaz can predict the word you’re trying to use, based on what you’ve typed so

far. You can scroll the prediction bar left and right. 20

Alert and Undo

The Alert button sounds a bell. Use it to call for attention. Tap the Undo

button to undo the last action on the message box. 21

Save

22

You can use the Save and Load functionality to create shortcuts for commonly

used messages. Tap Save and then tap any of keys to store the sentence as a

keyboard shortcut. Keys already assigned as shortcuts are highlighted in red.

Load

23

You can use the Load button to load keyboard shortcuts into the Message box.

Tap the Load button and the assigned key to restore the message that you have

saved in that key.

Load

24

You can load a previously spoken sentence from history, by selecting from the

prediction bar in Load mode.

good morning

Keyboard mode settings

Avaz has a number of settings, which are accessed by pressing the settings button. In

the keyboard mode, you can switch the layout between QWE and ABC. You can also

selectively enable pictures in the prediction bar. 25

ABC layout

Children who find it difficult to work with multiple orderings of the alphabet can

switch to a simpler ABC layout. This is also useful for beginners. 26

Picture mode settings

27

You can also customize the Picture Mode settings to make it most

appropriate for a child.

Album mode

Turn the Message box off to see the screen in Album mode. This keeps the

screen distraction-free and is useful for beginners. 28

Picture sizes

You can select the number of pictures on screen using the ‘Picture Size’ setting –1,

2,3,4, 8 or 15 pictures per screen. The picture sizes become progressively smaller as

the number of pictures on screen increases. 29

Caption sizes

You can use Avaz to promote sight-reading, by gradually decreasing the size of an

image, relative to its caption. Use the ‘Caption Size’ setting for this. 30

Enlarge on select

Avaz supports multi-sensory reinforcement through zooming animations and

audio prompts. Turn on or off the Enlarge on Select option to have the picture

zoom-in on selection. 31

Starting screen

32

You can select any of the categories on the first page as the starting screen for

Avaz Picture mode. Use the Starting Screen setting for this. You can even add

new categories to the first page and then select them as the starting screen.

High contrast mode

33

You can use the high-contrast setting for children who prefer a darker

background.

Audio settings

You can customize the voice, accent and speed of the audio. You can also choose

whether to speak as you type, or speak out only after the message is completed. You

can also speak or mute action keys like “Keyboard”, “Home”, “Go Back” etc. 34

Voice options

Avaz uses natural, high quality Acapela voices. You can choose a voice that suits your

gender, age and accent – you can choose from 5 voices - male, female and child (girl

and boy) voices with US accent, and female Indian accent. 35

Password protection

You might not want your content to be moved around or deleted accidentally! Avaz

gives you the option to restrict access to Settings and Edit mode with a password. 36

Restore original dictionary

37

If you want to undo all of your customizations, you can, at any time, reload the

original Avaz picture dictionary by restoring the original dictionary. This

operation takes several seconds.

Thank you for choosing Avaz!

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