Toyshop

Toyshop is designed for children that are severely physically disabled and/or have severe learning difficulties. It is also suitable for young children, that are just learning to use a computer.

The program is intended to both diagnose and train children to understand that something happens when they activate a touch screen or a switch. When the child understands how he/she is able to affect the program, the child needs to learn that they can choose from different pictures, and to practice remembering what pictures have been shown on the screen.

The ability to understand cause and effect, to choose from different alternatives that are being displayed and to remember what is shown on the screen are fundamental requirements for a child to be able to continue with more complex computer programs.

See Toy - This is a cause and effect activity. Pressing a switch once (or optionally, twice) is rewarded with an animation and sound. The pictures can be shown sequentially or in random order.

Choose Toy - Here the user can practice choosing from between two toys shown on the screen. Which ever they choose will animate as a reward. Each toy is highlighted by a hand pointer and/or a box.

Remember Toy - In this activity a toy is shown for either a short length of time, or optionally until the 'Enter' key is pressed. Then the same object and one other are shown on the screen. The learner has to choose the one that was previously shown to them. Selecting the correct toy is rewarded by an animation.

You can select which pictures will be shown to the learner. You can also choose whether the images are shown in random or sequential order.

Pictures include toys, vehicles and animals. Choose the speed of animation, one or two switch operation, whether items are highlighted by a hand or a square box.

The toys are: fire engine, boat, aeroplane, hot rod, locomotive, motorcycle, accordion, spinning top, music box, drum, trumpet, xylophone, balloon, doll, woodpecker, cat, teddy bear, wobbly toy.

Supplied on CD, but installs to hard disc. Requires 20Mb hard disc space.