Communication Aids and

Strategies Using Tools of

Technology
 Communication Aid

• Helps individual to communicate more effectively with

people around them.
• Also referred to as Augmentative and Alternative
Communication which is defined as a huge range of
techniques which support or replace spoken
communication. These include gesture, signing, symbols,
word boards, communication boards and books, as well
as Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs).
• Unaided communication pertains to a communication that
there is no need to use any forms or tools that related to
technology in communication process. In a simple
explanation, it does not use additional equipment, just your
body language, gesture, vocalization, signing are typically
applied.

• Aided communication pertains to the use of technology or

equipment. It can be simple or complex, depends on the
communication purposes. It might be as simple as writing, it
might also be as complicated as an eye gaze activated
computer. Both sender and receiver or the speaker and the
listener need to understand the communication aid.
 Aided communication has four integrated parts:
 
• Symbol
- In many cases symbols are visuals and graphics. It could be
pictures, photographs or line drawings. Other symbols to be
considered are bliss symbols or icons, printed words are kind of
symbol as well.
•  Aids or tools
- Aids or tools are the manner in which the symbols are being
delivered. It could be a board, book, key-ring, tablet or computer.
However, communication boards or books does not have speech
output, the computer or hand-held devices might have speech output.
Considering that speech output can be recorded, as a natural voice or
a synthesized voice.
• Selection Methods
-These are the ways a user chooses the symbols. The sender or the
speaker has the right to select what symbols to use in communication
aids. Considering the fact that both the sender and receiver or the speaker
and the listener should understand the chosen symbol. This might be
direct or indirect symbols, such as pointing is a direct while scanning is
indirect.
• Strategies
- Communication Strategies is commonly the exchange of information
between the sender and the receiver or the speaker and the listener. It
focuses on the strategies to be conducted or used in ways of
communicating through face to face or on writing.
 Types of Communication Strategies
• Verbal communication strategies  categorizes into written and oral
communication. In written strategies, it consists of emails, text, or chats.
While in oral, it consists of phone calls, video chats and face to face
conversations.

• Non-verbal communication strategies consist of mostly visual cues, such

as body languages, facial expressions, physical distancing between
communicators, or the tone of your voice, however, these cues are typically
not intended, but take into considerations to realize the message you are
sending otherwise, you may be saying one thing, yet the receiver is hearing
another or possible, it can be misunderstood.

• Visual communication strategies consist of signs, webpages, and

illustrations. Normally, these kinds of strategies are used in workplace to
draw some attention and to provide documentations.
 Web-Based Communication
Web-based communication is defined as the
sharing of information, words or ideas over a
network of computers known as the Internet.
 Areas of Web-Based Communication
• Social Media – That which we use to create an engaged community of users. Social media is
 
computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through
the building of virtual networks and communities. By design, social media is internet-based and
gives users quick electronic communication of content. 

• Web Based Content – Web communication is more than just the above. It’s more than just creating
social media content. Its web site content, URLs, redirects, SEO and navigation. Web content refers
to the textual, aural, or visual content published on a website. Content means any creative element,
for example, text, applications, images, archived e-mail messages, data, e-services, audio and video
files, and so on. Web content is the key behind traffic generation to websites.

• Analytics – Often overlooked or tacked on to someone’s existing job description, analytics are

crucial to this position. Not only to measure what you’re doing, but to prove your value in being
able to do so. Email, web and social media analytics combine to create real actionable results. In
order to do this, you need full understanding of the web, campaigns, departments, etc.

Analytics is the systematic computational analysis of data or statistics. ... It can be valuable in areas
rich with recorded information; analytics relies on the simultaneous application of statistics,
computer programming and operations research to quantify performance.
 Types of Web-Based Communication
• Instant Messaging
 Instant Messaging
One of the fastest-growing forms of Internet communications is
instant messaging, or IM. Think of IM as a text-based
computer conference between two or more people. An IM
communications service enables you to create a kind of private
chat room with another individual in order to communicate in
real-time over the Internet. Typically, the IM system alerts you
whenever somebody on your buddy or contact list is online.
You can then initiate a chat session with that particular
individual.
 Advantage and Disadvantage of Instant Messages
• IM is real time nature
- Unlike e-mail, where you will wait for the recipient to check
his or her e-mail and send a reply, if a person you want to
reach is online and available in your IM contact list, your
message appears instantly in a window on their screen.

• Spim and viruses propagation

Spim- the IM equivalent of spam and is perpetuated by bots
that harvest IM screen names off of the Internet and simulate a
human user by sending spim to the screen names via an
instant message
• Viruses and Trojans can be spread through IM channels

- These malicious programs are usually spread when an IM

user receives a message that links to a Web site where the
malicious code is downloaded. The message will appear to be
from a known IM contact, which is why recipients are more
likely to click the hyperlink and download the file. Using safe
chat rules (such as never clicking the link) and keeping an
updated anti-virus program on your system will help reduce
the chances of becoming infected by malicious programs being
spread through instant messaging.
 Internet Telephony
Internet telephony consists of a combination of hardware and
software that enables you to use the Internet as the
transmission medium for telephone calls.
Internet telephony is a type of communications technology
that allows voice calls and other telephony services like fax,
SMS and other voice-messaging applications to be
transmitted using the Internet as a connection medium.
Software under this technology is cost-effective and
convenient because it allow the user to communicate through
fax, voice and video calls anywhere in the world as long as
there is an Internet connection.
 E-mail
• Short for electronic mail, e-mail is the transmission of
messages over communications networks. The messages can
be notes entered from the keyboard or electronic files stored
on disk. Most mainframes, minicomputers and computer
networks have an e-mail system. Some e-mail systems are
confined to a single computer system or network, but others
have gateways to other computer systems, enabling you to
send electronic mail anywhere in the world.
 Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

• IRC is a multi-user chat system that allows to people gather

on "channels" or "rooms" to talk in groups or privately. IRC is
based on a client/server model. That is, to join an IRC
discussion, you need an IRC client (such a mIRC) and
Internet access.
 Socrative
• Designed by a group of entrepreneurs
and engineers passionate about
education, Socrative is a system that
allows teachers to create exercises or
educational games which students can
solve using mobile devices, whether
smartphones, laptops, or tablets.
Teachers can see the results of the
activities and, depending on these,
modify the subsequent lessons in order
to make them more personalized.
 Projeqt
• Projeqt is a tool that allows
you to create multimedia
presentations, with dynamic
slides in which you can
embed interactive maps,
links, online quizzes, Twitter
timelines, and videos,
among other options. During
a class session, teachers can
share with students’
academic presentations
which are visually adapted
to different devices.
 Thinglink
Thinglink allows educators
to create interactive images
with music, sounds, texts,
and photographs. These
can be shared on other
websites or on social
networks, such as Twitter
and Facebook. Thinglink
offers the possibility for
teachers to create learning
methodologies that awaken
the curiosity of students
through interactive content
that can expand their
knowledge.
 Animoto

Animoto is a digital tool

that allows you to create
high-quality videos in a
short time and from any
mobile device, inspiring
students and helping
improve academic lessons.
The Animoto interface is
friendly and practical,
allowing teachers to create
audiovisual content that
adapts to educational
needs.
 Kahoot!
Kahoot! is an educational platform
that is based on games and
questions. Through this tool,
teachers can create
questionnaires, discussions, or
surveys that complement
academic lessons. The material is
projected in the classroom and
questions are answered by
students while playing and
learning at the same time. Kahoot!
Promotes game-based learning,
which increases student
engagement and creates a
dynamic, social, and fun
educational environment.