Hold it normally
Train while holding the phone or tablet in the same position used every day.
A practical guide to ETalken AAC
Start visible. Practice comfortably. Use less screen over time.
Begin with the visual board, then add personal shortcuts at a comfortable pace. Guided practice keeps each word and its movement together while it becomes familiar.
A clear learning path
Begin with a few words that matter.
Keep the board available while each personal shortcut becomes familiar.
- 01
Begin with useful words
Choose needs, responses, and commands that matter every day.
- 02
Link comfortable input
Use a tap, dot pattern, gesture, or multi-stroke motion that is easy to repeat.
- 03
Practice beside the board
Tap the word, watch its saved shortcut, and repeat it without leaving the communication screen.
- 04
Move to the full pad
Use the shortcut independently when it feels familiar, with the visual board still available whenever it is needed.
One pad, no mode switching
Taps, gestures, and multi-stroke input can work together.
ETalken keeps taps and strokes in order, allowing them to work together as one personal shortcut.
Three taps in order
Three taps become one shortcut.
Tap patternFinished
Input pause
550 ms
Train for the way the device is held
Reliable input starts with repeatable movement.
Keep the order clear
Start point, finish point, direction, tap order, and stroke order are part of the shortcut.
Use a comfortable pause
Short pauses feel faster. Longer pauses leave more time to finish multi-stroke input. ETalken allows very short timing when that suits the user.
Keep shortcuts distinct
Avoid saving patterns that differ only slightly. Clear differences improve recognition.
Reverse with intention
The same path or tap layout in the opposite order can become another shortcut.
Start with commands
Speak, pause, undo, clear, and lock reduce the need to reach for controls later.
Guided practice
Keep the word and its movement together.
When a board word has a personal shortcut, ETalken can show them together for immediate practice.
- Choose a familiar board word
- Watch its saved shortcut
- Practice without leaving the board
- Move to the full pad when ready
Everyday controls
Edit quickly without crowding the board.
Long-press to edit
When the board is unlocked, hold a button or folder to open its settings directly.
Save a full sentence
Build a useful sentence, then save it as one board button or one trained shortcut.
Undo or clear
Tap undo for the last item. Hold it briefly when the full sentence should be cleared.
Use ETalken in other apps
Take the same communication tools wherever you want to type.
Once enabled, ETalken can be selected anywhere a regular keyboard is available.
- Open the Keyboard section in ETalken Settings.
- Follow the device prompt to enable ETalken.
- Choose ETalken from the keyboard switcher in another app.
The goal is confidence, not speed
Familiar movement can reduce the need to look at the screen.
Use the board for clarity, guided practice while learning, and the full pad when a shortcut feels dependable. Move at the person's own pace.
Ready to begin?
Start with a few useful words.
Add personal input only when it helps.
