Learning science remains unaware of exactly how it’s possible to remember where things are in the world. Even if we were aware, there are significant differences from individual to individual in how we learn, how we remember, and what we pay attention to.
For these reasons, we designed sound boards with two major design goals:
The idea of organizing words into different tiles by category was inspired by the Fitzgerald Key, a smart way of organizing concepts to make learning easier. The reason the Fitzgerald Key is so effective in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) learning is based on four key theories:
Color-coding different concepts provides visual cues that help learners quickly recognize and categorize words. This visual differentiation aids memory retention and retrieval, making it easier for learners to construct sentences.
By assigning specific colors to different concepts, it reduces the cognitive load on learners. This allows them to focus more on the content of their communication, rather than the complexity of language construction. Simplifying the process of finding and using words can be especially beneficial for individuals with cognitive impairments or language processing difficulties.
Consistent use of color-coding across different contexts and AAC devices creates a predictable system that learners can rely on. This consistency helps reinforce learning and makes it easier for learners to generalize their communication skills across different settings and situations.
The visual nature of the Fitzgerald Key allows learners to self-correct more effectively. When learners see the color-coding, they can recognize and correct errors on their own, fostering greater independence in communication.
Combined with color and location, HexTiles provide a rich set of spatial cues designed to maximize learnability.
Within the HexTile design, we included six possible button locations. This made it possible for learners to productively use anywhere from one to six buttons, in any arrangement on the sound board.
Because our board is asymmetric, this means that the distribution of the buttons themselves on the board can provide another visual cue to learners, including a possible 63 different button arrangements.
For instance, here are 20 ways you can arrange just three buttons on a HexTile.
