Verbally

Verbally is a Free to download App for the iPad that provides text to speech through its onscreen keyboard, word bank and phrase banks, though to customise these banks you need to upgrade for a price.

The user interface

Verbally's on-screen keyboard is of a similar size to that of the standard iPad on-screen keyboard, which pops up whenever text input is required. However, they do have a smart option that helps those with motor skill issues called Steady Hands. 

Steady Hands is an option that can be turned on or off from within the settings, and will only accept a key press from where the finger touch is released. This means that if you intend to press the 'H' key, you can slide your finger from anywhere on the screen to get to the 'H' key and when you lift your finger off the key, that key is selected and placed in the message area.

Verbally is not switch accessible and doesn't use a touch anywhere option, unlike Predictable, to turn the iPad's screen into one big switch in order to select letters, words, phrases etc..

As with most text prediction interfaces, when you start typing a word, the App tries to guess what word you are typing by the letter/s typed so far. There are up to 4 word suggestions at a time.

Another way to speed up typing is to use the word and phrase banks, which occupy the top third of the screen (the App only works in landscape mode). There is also on option to have the keyboard on either the right or left-hand side of the screen, which will also turn the keyboard from a QWERTY format into an ABC format and places the word/phrase banks onto the opposite side of the screen.

Unfortunately, the word and phrase banks do not work with the Steady Hands interface, and the cells containing the words are quite small, so careful targeting will be needed.

Of course, there is a Speak button, though there is also an alarm button that plays a 'Hi-De'Hi' style announcement sound (for those who remember the 1980's sit-com). They also throw in a repeat button to repeat the last word or sentence as well as a Speak each word button that will speak each word when typed or selected.

Phrases

What you get for free is 12 phrases. They are useful, but they can't be edited or added to. Upgrading from Free edition to their Premium edition allows you to categorise the phrases into unlimited categories that will hold up to 12 phrases each. Each phrase has no length restriction.

Email

There is an option to import your contact emails from your Contacts list on the iPad, allowing you to send the words or phrases that you write via email. Again, this is only available in the Premium edition.

Voices

Yep, it's another what you pay for clause! For free, you get a male and female voice (Rosie and Dave). Both Rosie and Dave sound rather worried, with Rosie also being rather monotone. If you decide to part with your cash, you get a further 3 voices (male - Ryan, female - Heather and child - Jessie). The 3 Acapela voices sound less worried than with the free voices, with Ryan sounding slightly cocky though Jessie sounds as if he has just had a shot of helium. The paid for voices can have the speed of their speech altered as well as the pitch, so you can give Jessie even more helium!

Let's talk money

OK, this App is written by a company and therefore they want your cash. Many people can use the Free edition in it's own right, though if you want the ability to edit, add and organise phrases, or send you text in an email, you will need to part with $99.99. This is done by purchasing with the App itself.

Pros

• There is a free edition that can act as a full version for those not bothered by the quality of the voice, email support and phrase creating. For those needing these options, the free edition gives you a taster of how it works.
• The word prediction works well, though in the free version it will not remember the frequency of how often you have chosen the word, to help with the accuracy of the prediction.
• Steady Hands is a nice option for some.
• Email interface (at cost).
• Phrase addition and editing (at cost).

Cons

• Steady Hands only works with the keyboard.
• No switch access.
• Poor voices in the Free edition.
• Keys aren't re-sizable, and the words in the word bank will be difficult to target if you have fine/gross motor skill issues.