Table 6.
Summary of features that support person-centered communication (PCC) in the evaluated communication apps (cApps; this table describes PCC features found in the evaluated cApps during the 2015 review and in the 2017 replication review, as well as evaluates the percentage of cApps with a PCC feature between the 2015 and 2017 reviews. Data were extracted from the Canadian App Store description and during the prepurchase review of the cApps. Feature categories were not mutually exclusive; therefore, 1 app could have several built-in features and/or custom features).
| Person-centered communication features | 2015 review | 2017 review | Change over time, (%)b | ||||||
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AACa (n=23), n (%) | Translation (n=4), n (%) | AAC (n=25), n (%) | Translation (n=17) | AAC | Translation | |||
| Built-in features (n=9) | |||||||||
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Supports vision lossc | 10 (43) | 2 (50) | 8 (32) | 9 (53) | −26 | 6 | ||
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Supports hearing lossd | 23 (100) | 4 (100) | 25 (100) | 16 (94) | 0 | −6 | ||
|
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Multiple display representationse | 20 (87) | 4 (100) | 25 (100) | 11 (65) | 15 | −35 | ||
|
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Natural sounding voice outputf | 16 (70) | 3 (75) | 17 (68) | 11 (24) | −3 | −68 | ||
|
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Text-to-speech function | 22 (96) | N/Ag | 25 (100) | N/A | 4 | N/A | ||
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Speech-to-speech function | 2 (9) | N/A | 1 (4) | N/A | −56 | N/A | ||
|
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Translation function | 3 (13) | N/A | 1 (4) | N/A | −69 | N/A | ||
|
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Available in multiple languages | 8 (35) | N/A | 11 (44) | N/A | 26 | N/A | ||
|
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Supports two-way communicationh | 10 (43) | 3 (75) | 7 (28) | 7 (41) | −35 | −45 | ||
| Custom features (n=5) | |||||||||
|
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Can customize vocabularyi | 7 (30) | 4 (100) | 17 (68) | 12 (71) | 127 | −29 | ||
|
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Can add/save personalized photos/images | 18 (78) | 1 (25) | 19 (76) | 3 (18) | −3 | −28 | ||
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Can to add/save personalized text | 8 (35) | N/A | 8 (32) | N/A | −9 | N/A | ||
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Option to add/save personal voice recordings | 15 (65) | N/A | 15 (60) | N/A | −8 | N/A | ||
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Can add/save personalized videos | 4 (17) | N/A | 6 (24) | N/A | 41 | N/A | ||
| Total number of features j | |||||||||
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cAppsk with all applicable features | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | N/A | N/A | ||
|
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cApps with most features (approximately 75% or more) | 3 (13) | 1 (25) | 2 (8) | 3 (18) | −38 | −28 | ||
|
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cApps with some features (approximately 50%-74%) | 11 (48) | 3 (75) | 12 (48) | 8 (47) | 0 | −37 | ||
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cApps with few features (less than 50%) | 9 (39) | 0 (0) | 11 (44) | 6 (35) | 13 | N/A | ||
aAAC: augmentative and alternative communication.
bPercent change calculation: ([percentage of 2017 apps with the feature−percentage of 2015 apps with the feature]/percent of 2015 apps with the feature)*100. A negative percentage indicates a decrease in the percentage of cApps with the person-centered communication feature over the 2-year period.
cFeatures that support vision loss include high-resolution images, zoom function, and large pictures/text.
dFeatures that support hearing loss include volume control, earbud option, speech rate adjustment, voice customizations, and speech-to-text function.
eMultiple display representations indicate that the app includes two or more features: text, handwriting option, speech input, camera/photo pictures, images, symbols, and video.
fInformation about voice output was not available for 4 AAC apps during the data extraction phase.
gNot applicable.
hSupports two-way communication means that the app could be used for caregiver-resident task-focused and/or interpersonal-focused communication (eg, conversation view).
iOption to customize vocabulary includes saving frequently used words/phrases in the following manner: pages, favorite lists, history, and add personalized vocabulary.
jA total of 14 person-centered features applied to AAC apps (built-in=9; custom=5). A total of 7 person-centered features were applicable for translation apps (built-in=5; custom=2).
kcApp: communication app.