Why Is QVoice different?

Modified on Mon, 22 Sep at 7:51 PM

A Personal Note from the Founder:

Navigating the world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for my daughter, Quinn, often felt like stepping back in time. The existing solutions struck me as surprisingly outdated, failing to leverage the technological advancements I knew could significantly impact children with cognitive delays like Quinn. I saw firsthand how these archaic approaches weren't truly engaging her or empowering her communication partners effectively. It was this frustration, this sense that Quinn deserved so much more than what was currently available, that ignited a personal mission. As a mobile app developer (15+years) and, more importantly, as Quinn's mom (6+years), I knew I could build something better, something that truly understood her unique needs. QVoice isn't just an incremental improvement; it's a deliberate leap forward, incorporating features I knew would be game-changers for Quinn – like the dynamic visual support of GIFs, the essential inclusivity of web-based accessibility for her entire team, and the long-overdue focus on tools that empower everyone involved in her communication journey. This app is born from a conviction that our kids deserve cutting-edge solutions, not yesterday's technology.

Our Core Mission

Our mission is to provide a quick, effective, and engaging voice for individuals with cognitive challenges. Born from a parent's journey, QVoice is thoughtfully designed to reduce the user's cognitive load while empowering the entire communication team—parents, SLPs, and educators—with smart, supportive tools.

Our Guiding Principles

This mission is guided by three key principles:

Prioritize the User's Success: We focus on making communication as intuitive and successful as possible. Every feature, from the layout to the AI engine, is designed to lower the barrier to expression and build the user's confidence.
Empower the Communication Partner: We believe that successful AAC implementation is a team effort. We are committed to creating powerful, easy-to-use tools that help parents and providers teach, model, and generalize language in a way that is both effective and efficient.
Build with Purpose: Every feature in QVoice is connected to a real-world need. We are dedicated to using technology thoughtfully to solve genuine problems, ensuring the app remains practical, focused, and free of unnecessary complexity.

How is QVoice different?

	Our design philosophy is built on a powerful principle: prioritize by cognition. This tree shows our method. We start with the root word—the foundation of meaning—because a clear and simple start is crucial for users with cognitive delays. Complex forms, like the leaves, aren't eliminated; they are thoughtfully layered. We are focused on root form of words; not conjugations, tenses, and pluralizations [yet ?]. Keeping the core user—someone like Quinn who needs quick and effective communication—at the center of every design decision is the most important thing. We are designing for clarity and success in the moment, not for linguistic perfection.³ When a user is ready for more complexity, those advanced forms are just a step away. If not, their screen remains uncluttered. This 'root-first' approach allows us to optimize screen real estate for what matters most: access to more word choices. For proficient users who want more control, we've got big plans for you. Stay tuned...
	We use animations such as GIFs, folder transitions, or hinting.¹ Sometimes a GIF can explain an abstract word 100x better than any static image Animations also has be successful in retaining attention
	You should not have to be tech-savvy in order to program an AAC system. If you can navigate a Facebook or UberEats app, you can handle QVoice! Communication is hard enough. Your AAC software should not be. No one should be afraid to edit their AAC device, most importantly, families, caretakers, or communication partners!!! More intuitive software can decrease device abandonment and increase AAC buy-in from all parties, especially at home.
	With QVoice's AI, users only need to select two or more words to generate a complete sentence. This significantly reduces the initial motor learning burden while allowing for grammatically correct communication. Speaking in full sentences can lead to better understanding and presentation. We're having fun exploring the potential of this feature! Read more here.
	We have real-time synchronization across web, mobile, iOS, and Android platforms Universal access without requiring AAC User to give up their device. All your data is automatic-back up on the cloud. You can login in from anywhere and get access to your words. Login to as many devices as you want, with no extra fees.
	We take full advantage of system resources to keep our costs low. FREE icons (universal) Uses icons and symbols that are also used in the real world and have already been vetted to be communicate the intent with as little detail as possible.² FREE emojis These are free as well but may look differently per platform Emojis are part of pop culture. These have also been optimize to convey the most with the least amount of details. ² FREE System text-to-speech Text-to-speech improvements are made every few months. So you get to take advantage of the best reader. Example: The system knows how to pronounce the "Dr" in the following sentences: "Dr Jones" vs"Jones Dr". FREE system voices When systems update their voices, you can take advantage of it right away! (example: iOS - Personalized Voices) System keyboards You can buy system keyboards from the app store and it will automatically work with QVoice!
	Every feature is tied to real-life examples (we can name who each feature/widget was built for) PIN practice - learn how to unlock an iPad without being locked out Jokes - have reciprocal conversation between peers
	We believe in equal access, despite cognitive delays. Reading is not a requirement to make full use of the system! Contextual learning with root words are prioritized.
	We have automatic data collection to provide accurate usage insights. Empowering providers to create tailored treatment plans, write smarter goals, and ensure accountability in AAC implementation. Advanced data tools like our Scribe feature to record and visually display speech progress.
	We learned from attending so many conferences how important personalizations are!!! This helps increase ownership. So we built QVoice to be everyone's voice (T's voice, M's voice, etc). We want the device to show off each QVoicer's style and personality. As soon as you see the device on the table, you'll know who it belongs to.
	Smart Buttons (current in BETA) automatically change in the grid to show the correct grammatical form based on the words already in your sentence bar. This provides clear visual feedback and helps model correct language.

Read more about Grid Layouts and why are they important to understand the distinct architectural approach we took in building QVoice, setting it apart from other AAC solutions.

QVoice is a continuous work in progress. As we learn more, we change. When we know better, we do better. We have so many ideas and initiatives. Please consider signing up for QVoice. Join our community and help us improve QVoice for the masses.

References for Further Reading: