For switch users progressing from cause and effect to making choices




1 User

5 Users

choice skill symbol

cause and effect skill symbol

switch timing icon

2 Switch Accessible

For switch users progressing from cause and effect to making choices

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, designed for switch users who are progressing from cause and effect to making choices. The program also includes a memory game for those who have mastered the primary skills.

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

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 child can see the toy appear with 1 or 2 presses of their device (including touch window, mouse, keyboard [space bar and enter keys] or IntelliKeys or 1 or 2 switches connected into IntelliKeys or into a switch adapted mouse.

Each picture can be printed in portrait or landscape from the File/Print menu. The images are on disk as well so that you can include them in communication displays on paper or on a device such as a Macaw (they are very small .bmp files). You can print them as displays, or as black and white images to be colored in off />
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 2 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.

Configuration Options:
You can select which pictures will be shown to the learner. Therefore,  you could restrict the display and interaction to only two toys, or 5 toys etc. You can also choose whether the images are shown in random or sequential order. Choose the speed of animation, 1 or 2 switch operation, whether items are highlighted by a hand or a square box. You can choose Enter (one switch) or Enter and Space Bar (for two-switch mode) on the keyboard (or on IntelliKeys or Discover:Board). If using one switch, the marker (a large hand) or square moves as an automatic scan from left to right. In two-switch mode, the first switch moves the marker or square, with the second switch selecting the item. A visible mouse pointer can be turned on or off. The marker speed (for automatic scan with one switch) can be set to 1-5. The animation speed can also be set from 1-5. Toyshop can operate in 640 x 480 mode (VGA) or in 800 x 600-screen mode (SVGA). Toyshop has a useful onscreen Help file system (with pictures).

Link to more information

Targets the following age ranges:
� Early childhood
� Early elementary

Fosters development in:
� Cause and Effect
� Switch Use
� Switch Timing
� Choosing with a switch

Access Options:
� 1 or 2 switches;
� a touchscreen;
� a mouse, trackball, or joystick;
� an IntelliKeys keyboard;
� a switch adapted mouse; or
� a Concept Keyboard.

System Requirements
20 MB disk space, CD ROM, 1 or 2 switches

image of toyshop
1 User
5 Users