What are Lightwriters?

Easy to use - Lightwriters^® are extremely easy to use - just turn on and type. No special training is required for their basic operation. Unlike computers, Lightwriters® turn on and off instantly, making them ready for use at the touch of a button.

Clear and simple set-up - Setups are easy to understand and simple to change. All models are supplied with a straight forward user guide and getting started guide.

Dual displays - Lightwriters^® have high legibility dual displays, one facing the user and a second out-facing display allowing natural face-to-face communication. This gives the user the opportunity to maintain eye contact, facial expression, and body language with their conversational partner.

Long battery life - Lightwriters^® are powered by rechargeable batteries that permit use all day long.

Auditory feedback - Auditory key press confi rmation is standard.

Versatile - Lightwriters^® are designed to accommodate the wide range of physical disabilities which may accompany loss of speech, such as poor control, tremor, weak muscles, spasticity, slow reactions, cognitive limitations, impaired vision and deafness.

Telephoning/SMS - More recent models of Lightwriter^® have the capability to widen the user’s scope of communication! Users can send SMS texts to their friends and family (SL40) or use the Lightwriter as a mobile phone (SL40 Connect - available soon) and speak to them wherever they are.

Memory and Acceleration Functions - All Lightwriters^® store memories so that frequently-used words or phrases can be easily retrieved with fewer key strokes. Abbreviation Expansion allows frequently-used words or phrases to be stored and retrieved as a 2 or 3 key code, e.g. DC = "I'd like a drink of coffee, please."  The word prediction facility may benefit keyboard users who are slow on the keyboard, headpointer users, poor spellers, and people who have difficulty finishing words, and gives a significant increase in speed.
Scanning - Multiple Access Methods. With Scanning Lightwriters^®, the first press of the scan switch turns the Lightwriter^® on and starts scanning, subsequent switch presses make the selections from the scan screen. The objects on the scan screen are laid out logically for rapid communication, and these devices are found to be very easy to use. Auditory scanning Lightwriters^® assist users with vision or cognitive impairments, and permit use by people who are totally blind (selectable to be beeps, spoken, or silent). Automatic single-switch row/column scanning with optional auditory feedback (operates with any single switch). Two-switch step scanning with optional auditory feedback (one switch directs, the other selects).

Available in several languages (our language selection is expanding, please contact us for latest information) - English (GB and US), French (also French Canadian), German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Finnish. Visit the Acapela site here for voice demonstrations.   

Read about the different Keyboard Lightwriter^® models here.

Read about Scanning Lightwriters^® here.