Tobii Communicator 4.3 released

Stockholm, May 25, 2009 – Today Tobii Technology AB released an update of Tobii Communicator, an AAC software package for producing dynamic page sets for Speech Generating Devices (SGD) and other Windows based AAC devices.

New name, new functionality

Many new improvements, functions and bug fixes, have made the creation of page sets more efficient and even more user-friendly.

With this new release, VS Communicator’s name has been changed to Tobii Communicator, however, the team responsible for developing and supporting Tobii Communicator remains the same.

Some of the improvements for creators of page sets include:

Better support for macros – Linking one or more buttons to an action stored on page level instead of recreating the same action for each button speeds up development.
Copy and Paste – Copy and paste actions and pages make it easier to reuse and modify content that has already been created.
Easier navigation in Edit Mode - Going to current pages when exiting run view and the possibility to follow links in edit view, makes it easier to navigate pages in Edit Mode.
Actions and buttons for full user access to hardware settings in the new Tobii C-Series devices, including eye-tracker settings.

Some of the improvements for the users of page sets include:

Enhanced language support – New keyboard layouts for Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek and Russian.
50 new pictures in the stroke picture library, as well as updated graphics (icons, splash, backgrounds for readymade page sets etc) make the page sets more user-friendly.
Enhanced IR environmental support with full support for GEWA, TIRA2, and USB-UIRT.
Added support for joystick-based switch-interface.
Link Visualization, showing users which buttons lead to other pages, improves the usability of page sets.

Tobii Communicator comes in three editions

Tobii Communicator comes in three versions that suit different communication needs. All three versions are fully compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista and XP.

Tobii Communicator Premium – for full access to your computer
Tobii Communicator Standard – for SGDs
Tobii Communicator Light – The optimal on-screen keyboard for your PC.

Tobii Communicator offers readymade page sets, as well as sample page sets and add-on content like the Sono Suite. These can be used for everyday use of Text-to-speech, symbols-to-speech, language and grammar training, as well as writing and editing text in Windows applications. Tobii Communicator Premium can also be used for accessing e-mail, telephone calls, chatting, organizing photos, checking calendars, adjusting environmental control through IR signals and much more.

Tobii Communicator supports all input methods including track ball, joystick, touch screen, head mouse, Tobii Eye Control and 1-, 2- or 3-switch scanning.

How to update your current version

Users already running VS Communicator 4.x can update to Tobii Communicator 4.3 by choosing "Check for updates" under the help menu. If you are in run mode press F10, or right click on the page and choose "run in window", to gain access to the menu bar.

For interview, please contact:

Lars Lamhauge, International Product Manager
E-mail lars-(d_)-_lamhauge-(_sm3Remove)-_-(_a)-_tobii-(d_)-_com

For other information, please contact:

Thomas Nordén, Marketing Communications Manager
E-mail thomas-(d_)-_norden-(_sm3Remove)-_-(_a)-_tobii-(d_)-_com

About Tobii Technology

Tobii Technology is the global market leader in hardware and software solutions for eye tracking and eye control. Our products are widely used within the scientific community and in commercial market research and usability studies, as well as by disabled people as a means to communicate. Tobii also drives integration of eye tracking technology in a large number of other areas, offering OEM components for integration into various industry applications.

Founded in 2001, Tobii has continuously shown very rapid year-to-year revenue growth. The company is based in Stockholm, Sweden, with offices in the US, Germany, Norway and Japan. Products are sold directly to customers and through resellers and partners worldwide.