Eco Unity Instruction Manual

1

ECO™ Unity® Manual

For use with ECO software

version 1.06 and higher

Prentke Romich Company

April, 2009

Revised June 2010

14416 v.2.1

2

ECO, Vantage, Vanguard II, Vanguard, Pathfinder, SpringBoard, Language Activity Monitor (LAM), Memory
Transfer Interface (MTI) and PRC Infrared Receiver (IRR) are trademarks of Prentke Romich Company.

DECtalk is a product of the Digital Electronics Corporation.
Minspeak is a registered trademark of Semantic Compaction Systems.
Minspeak Application Programs (MAPs) are trademarks for products manufactured by the Prentke Romich

Company.
Unity is a registered trademark in the USA of Semantic Compaction Systems.
Windows, Windows XP, Windows Explorer, Windows Media Player, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word,

Windows WordPad and Microsoft PowerPoint are registered trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.
IntelliTools is a registered trademark of IntelliTools, Inc.

Natural speech supplied by: Fonix-DECtalk Text-to-Speech software, a copyright of Fonix Corporation, all
rights reserved; and RealSpeak Text-to-Speech, a product of Nuance Communications, Inc.

Non-English text-to-speech supplied by the Acapela Group and RealSpeak Text-to-Speech, a product of
Nuance Communications, Inc.

Computer access pages for Kurzweil, WYNN, TestTalker, Word, and Outlook created by Brian Simms, M.A.
CCC-SLP, Augmentative Communication Specialist, Colorado Therapy Associates

WYNN and TestTalker are trademarks of Freedom Scientific, Inc.

Kurzweil Educational Systems, Inc.

April, 2009

Revised June 2010

PRENTKE ROMICH COMPANY

1022 Heyl Rd. • Wooster, Ohio 44691

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

E-Mail Address:

Web Site Address:

[e-mail]

www.prentrom.com

Prentke Romich International

PRC House, Minerva Business Park

Lynch Woo d, Peterborough, Cambr idgeshire

PE2, 6FT UK

Fax: [phone]

E-Mail Address:

©2009

[e-mail]

Kurzweil 3000 is a trademark of

14416 v.2.1

Table of contents

3

Contents

ECO Hardware ............................................................................................. 6

ECO Front Panel ..................................................................................................... 6

ECO Right Side Panel ............................................................................................. 7

ECO Left Side Panel ............................................................................................... 7

Menus and Settings ....................................................................................... 8

Drop-Down Menus ................................................................................................. 8

Customize a User Area ........................................................................................... 8

Maintenance Menu................................................................................................ 10

ECO Vocabulary Options ..................................................................................... 11

Six User Areas in ECO ......................................................................................... 12

Other Language Programs .................................................................................... 13

Introduction to Unity .................................................................................. 14

Unity 60 1-Hit .............................................................................................. 15

Organization .......................................................................................................... 15

Talking .................................................................................................................. 16

Core vocabulary and icons .................................................................................... 17

Practice sentences for 60 1-Hit ............................................................................. 21

Activity row .......................................................................................................... 22

Pages ..................................................................................................................... 24

Simplify by hiding keys ........................................................................................ 25

Unity 60 Sequenced ..................................................................................... 26

Organization .......................................................................................................... 26

Use the Icon Tutor to look up words. ................................................................... 26

Whole Sentences ................................................................................................... 27

Unity Patterns.............................................................................................. 28

Unity Pattern – Single Hit Words ......................................................................... 28

Unity Pattern – Pronoun Phrases .......................................................................... 29

Unity Pattern – Question Pronoun Phrases ........................................................... 30

Unity Pattern -- Pronouns ..................................................................................... 31

Unity Pattern – Grammar Categories .................................................................... 32

Icon + Grammar Ending ........................................................................................... 33

Grammar Icon + Core Icon ....................................................................................... 33

Unity Pattern -- Dynamic Activities ..................................................................... 34

Sentence Builders and endings in the Activity Row. ............................................ 34

Extra Verbs in the Activity Row ........................................................................... 35

Main Activity Rows, Pages, and Computer Access ............................................. 35

Category Labels in Core ....................................................................................... 36

Unity Customization Options: Icon prediction and Embellished Icons............... 37

Icons and Icon Rationales ..................................................................................... 38

Practice Sentences for Unity 60 Sequenced.......................................................... 42

Where to Find ....................................................................................................... 44

Table of contents

4

Word Prediction .......................................................................................... 46

Icon Tutor .................................................................................................... 46

Teaching Unity ............................................................................................ 47

More Customizations .................................................................................. 48

Changing core icons .............................................................................................. 48

Important Tools for customizing .......................................................................... 48

Activity Rows ....................................................................................................... 48

Visual Scenes ........................................................................................................ 50

Create a Visual Scene ................................................................................. 52

Importing Graphics ............................................................................................... 52

Create a Scene Page .............................................................................................. 52

Sounds on Scene Pages ......................................................................................... 53

Linking a Page ...................................................................................................... 54

Vocabulary Builder ..................................................................................... 55

Choose words from the Vocabulary Builder screen ............................................. 55

Use a Word List .................................................................................................... 56

Import a Word List................................................................................................ 56

Computer Access ......................................................................................... 57

ECO Revised Computer Access ........................................................................... 57

Customize Your Computer Access ....................................................................... 61

Program a link with the Run Program tool: .............................................................. 61

More ECO Features .................................................................................... 63

Extra Help .................................................................................................... 63

ECO Unity 84 .............................................................................................. 64

Unity 84 1-Hit .............................................................................................. 65

Organization .......................................................................................................... 65

Talking .................................................................................................................. 66

Simplify by Hiding Keys ...................................................................................... 67

Core Vocabulary and Icons ................................................................................... 68

Practice Sentences ................................................................................................. 74

Activity Rows ....................................................................................................... 75

Internal Computer Access ..................................................................................... 77

Practice computer access ...................................................................................... 78

Unity 84 Sequenced Organization ............................................................. 80

Talking .................................................................................................................. 80

Simplify................................................................................................................. 81

Icons and Rationales ............................................................................................. 82

Core Vocabulary Patterns ..................................................................................... 88

Use the Icon Tutor to look up words. ................................................................... 91

Activity Rows, Pages, and Computer Access ....................................................... 91

Visual Scenes in Unity 84 ..................................................................................... 92

Visual Scene Books to teach Unity ........................................................................... 92

Table of contents

5

Practice Sentences for Unity 84 Sequenced.......................................................... 93

Where to Find .............................................................................................. 95

Introduction to Unity 144 ........................................................................... 96

Unity 144 Single Hit .................................................................................... 97

Load Unity 144 Single Hit .................................................................................... 97

Organization .......................................................................................................... 97

Talking .................................................................................................................. 99

Simplify by Hiding Keys. ..................................................................................... 99

Core Vocabulary and Icons ................................................................................. 100

Practice Sentences ............................................................................................... 107

Activity Rows ..................................................................................................... 108

Internal Computer Access ................................................................................... 109

Pages ................................................................................................................... 110

Where to Find ..................................................................................................... 111

Unity 144 Sequenced Icon Rationa les ..................................................... 112

Unity Patterns in 144 Sequenced ............................................................. 119

Computer Ac cess in Un ity 14 4 ................................................................. 119

Directions for using computer access rows and pages ........................................ 119

ECO Unity Computer Programs page................................................................. 120

Choose Your Spell Page ..................................................................................... 120

Customize your computer access ........................................................................ 120

More Resources for Un ity 14 4 ................................................................. 121

ECO Hardware

6

ECO Hardware

• 3 USB Ports

• USB keyboard and mouse

• 2 Switch jacks

• Internal Microphone

• External speaker jack

• Built-in CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive

• 14.1” touch screen

• 60 GB Hard drive

• Integrated Blue Tooth technology

ECO Front Panel

There are eight recessed keys on the top of the ECO frame. Six of these keys are user­defined keys. This means that you can customize the tools that are activated. To change
a user-defined key, go to the ToolBox and select Assign Core Keys Menu. Follow the
prompts on the screen. The user-defined keys are also accessible to scanners. Scanning
through them is an option that you can find in the Access Method Menu.

ECO Vocabulary

7

Headphones

Headphones

Microphone

Microphone

3 USB ports

3 USB ports

ECO Right Side Panel

ECO Left Side Panel

Reset

Reset

PCMIA slot

PCMIA slot

for phone

for phone

card

card

Special instructions for using the re-set button: The first re-set you will try if your
screen locks up is to hold down the ON/OFF key and count to 10. Do not use the re-set
button on the left side if your hard drive is still active. You will see a red flashing light
on the right side of the center window when the hard drive is spinning.

You may also plug in the USB keyboard and do a re-boot with CTRL + ALT + DEL.

Compact

Compact

Flash

Flash

Card

Card

reader

reader

Phone audio

Phone audio

cable from

cable from

Phone card

Phone card

2 switch

2 switch

jacks

jacks

External

External

Monitor

Monitor

Charge port

Charge port

ECO Vocabulary Options

8

Display Area

Display Area

Text Display

Icon Display

Status Display

Drop Down

Menus

Menus and Settings

Drop-Down Menus

• Select the Menu key on the right side of the Status Display and look at the list of

menus and settings.

• Each menu has a counterpart in the ToolBox which can be used by a scanner or

someone using any of the other ECO access methods.

Customize a User Area

We are going to use the menus to customize a user area. Settings you choose from these
menus will stay with the user area, and will not change other user areas.

1. First, select “Open User Area” Open User Area shows you a list of all the areas

currently available in ECO’s six user areas. If you choose “Replace User Area”

you can see a list of all the available language programs in ECO. Choosing

“Replace..” will erase all stored vocabulary in the area you are working in, so be

careful with this one!

2. Select Unity 60 Single Hit. This opens up the 60 Single Hit MAP.

3. Next we’ll use our menus to customize Unity 60 Single Hit the way we want it.

ECO Vocabulary Options

9

Change the colors

1. Select the Menu key

2. Select Colors. Notice the tabbed property sheet that is titled “User Area Setup

Properties.”

3. Choose the colors that you like for each item.

4. Select OK

5. Go to the ToolBox and select Feedback Menu. Notice the color choices on the

right.

6. Select OK, OK to return to Unity 60

Change the Access Method

1. Select the Menu key

2. Select Access Method. Use the pull-down arrow to view the list of all access

methods in ECO.

3. Choose a method, then OK

4. Go to the device ToolBox, select Access Method Menu and see that the same

changes have been applied here.

5. When you are setting up customized block scanning, you need to use the Access

Method Menu in the Toolbox to define the scan blocks.

6. Predictive Selection is common to all access methods. When predictive selection

is off, all keys are active, whether they contain anything or not. When predictive

selection is on, any keys that are grey or white cannot be selected. The default

setting is predictive selection off in all user areas. One advantage to having it on

is that you don’t have to start over if you mistakenly hit an empty key.

Auditory Prompts

1. Are for auditory scanning or auditory “fishing.” You will not need to set these up

unless you need spoken prompts to help you make selections.

2. When auditory prompts are on, and your access method is set on “Touch,” you

will have to hit a key twice to activate it: once to hear the prompt, and once to

make the selection.

Feedback Menu

1. Use the drop-down menu to choose speaker volume, activation beep volume,

backlight intensity, and text size.

2. Select OK, and then go to the Feedback Menu in the ToolBox. Notice that the

same changes apply.

3. Select OK, OK to return to Unity 60.

Speech Menu

4. The Speech Menu in the ToolBox is the same as “Voice” in the drop-down menus

5. Select the Menu key, then Voice.

6. Set up the speech the way you want it and test it, then hit OK.

10

Maintenance Menu

The Maintenance Menu is in the device ToolBox.
Important settings include

• System Lock

• Auto Power Down (saves battery power)

• Calibrate Touch Screen

• System Information – including the software version

• Battery Status

• Shipping Mode

ECO Vocabulary Options

11

ECO Vocabulary Options

From the Menu key you can open any one of the six user areas in ECO. There are many
more language programs (MAPs) available from the User Area Menu in the ToolBox.
You may view these options by selecting Replace User Area. Remember to back up any
customized areas by saving to an MTI file before you do a replace.
People who cannot access the drop-down menu to choose another overlay may go to the
ToolBox to User Area Menu, and then select Switch User Area. To load one of the other
programs in ECO, select User Area Menu, and then Replace User Area. You will see all
of the available language programs.
If you want to start building your own language program, you can choose to load a blank
overlay.

Default settings for six user areas in ECO

ECO Vocabulary Options

12

Six User Areas in ECO

Area Contains

Unity 60 Single Hit 60 location display. Most keys are one hit = one word. 42

single words with dynamic links to activity rows that help you
put 2 and 3 word phrases together at a beginning language
level. Pages for IntelliTools, computer access, Kurzweil,
WYNN, and TestTalker software

Unity 60 Sequenced 60 location display. Most entries require 2 or three keys to say

words, phrases, and sentences. Organized and color coded
into patterns that promote learning by motor planning and
automaticity. Icons are in the same locations as 60 sing le hit.
Has approximately 2,000 core words, about 3,000 words in
activity rows. Pages same as Unity 60 Single Hit.

Unity 84 Single Hit An 84 location display. Most keys are one hit= one word. 66

single words with dynamic links to activity rows for phrase
completion. Beginning language level. Pages for IntelliTools,
computer access, Kurzweil, WYNN, and TestTalker software.

Exploration Wizard Links to the other 5 user areas in ECO, plus links to 4, 8, and

15 location sample language programs. Also the PRC picture
test in 8 and 15 locations. Pages for switch access practice
and assessment.

Unity 84 Sequenced An 84 location display. Most entries require 2 or 3 hits to say

words, phrases, and sentences. Unity 84 Sequenced is based
on the same patterns as Unity 144, has approximately 4,000
core words and 4,000 words and phrases in activity rows;
Kurzweil, WYNN, TestTalker and other computer access rows
and pages.

Unity 144 Sequenced Unity 144 is the same program as Unity 128 for Pathfinder.

The reason for the number changes is the activity row has
sixteen keys in ECO. People who have learned Unity 128 will
be able to transfer their memory files into ECO from Pathfinder
and not have to relearn anything. This program has over 4,600
root words in core. Over 4,000 words in activity rows, and a
very small number of pages.

ECO Vocabulary Options

13

Other Language Programs

Number of key

locations

144 Unity 144 Single Hit; WordCore 144
84 Unity 84 Transition, Unity 84 Scan, WordCore 84
45 Unity 45 One Hit, Unity 45 Transition, Unity 45 Basic, Unity 45 Sequenced,

Unity 45 1-Hit Adult, Unity 45 ABC with Pages, WordCore 45, MinTalk, 45
Medical,

15 15 CVA w Word Cues, 15 Adult Phrase w Word Cues, 15 Word Cues, 15

Talk w Word Cues IT, 15 Child Word w Word Cues
8 8 Adult Phrase, 8 Child Phrase, 8 Child Word, 8 Auditory Scan, 8 ICU
4 4 Child,

Programs

Find these programs by selecting the Menu key, and then Replace User Area, or by going
to the ToolBox, selecting User Area Menu, and then Replace User Area. .

ECO Introduction to Unity

14

Introduction to Unity

Unity is meant to be a growing and expanding system of language representation. Each
program is related to the others. There is more than one level of Unity, but all the levels
use the same group of category and grammar icons to represent the same concepts.

What makes Unity unique?

• Multi-meaning icons

• Constant access to core vocabulary

• Fringe vocabulary available in activity rows

• Minimal use of pages for communication

Unity is a word-based system instead of a message-based system. Communication grows
as people learn to use words to generate spontaneous, novel utterances without having to
spell out every letter of every word.

Unity is a language system that is based on the use of core vocabulary, that is, words that
are used with high frequency across age groups and situations.

When core vocabulary has stable locations, the need for navigation is minimized, thus
speeding up the rate of communication.

The following examples of Unity patterns are taken from ECO Unity 60. After you learn
the patterns, you may apply them to other versions of Unity. You will find that
memorizing a pattern helps you learn new words without having to memorize individual
sequences. We will begin with Unity 60 Single Hit.

Unity 60 1- Hit is for early language learners who may say just one word. That is why
the core vocabulary includes many verbs. Verbs are powerful words that cause things to
happen and can be useful in many situations. Words like “help, come, go, eat, and drink”
give the early communicator power. Combining these power words with the extended
vocabulary in dynamic activity rows gives quick access to frequently used phrases. Then
the beginning language learner goes from using one word at a time to using two and three
word phrases.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

Unity 60 1 -Hit

Organization

Row 1 is the main activity row.

• Activity rows contain vocabulary specific to certain situations.

• Some keys in the main activity row do not open other activities. These keys

are tools. The Pages key links to the Pages page.

Rows 2 through 6 contain core vocabulary words.

• Core words are words that people of all ages use frequently across situations and

environments.

• With most of the core keys one keystroke equals one word.

The orange key with Mother Hubbard and the +s sign is a plural key.
Each core key opens up a dynamic activity row for extended vocabulary.

Column 1 has two tools.

• Choose activity scrolls through activities and closes dynamic activities

• Clear clears the text area.

15

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

16

Talking

• With core vocabulary you can say one word at a time, or put phrases together by

using the dynamic activity rows linked to each core key. When you select the
APPLE icon, you say “eat” and the food row appears.

Say the following phrases:

• Turn on

• Turn off

• Eat grapes

• Eat cookie

• Help me

• Play game

• Get in

• Drink juice

• Don’t do that

• Don’t want it

• I like you

• Stop it

• Need more

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

17

Core vocabulary and icons

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

OBJ (OBJECT)

POSSESSIVE

INTERJECTION

DETERMINER

CONJUNCTION

PREPOSITION

QUESTION
WORD

Give me the present. me

It’s mine. It has my nametag on it. my

Interjections pop up in conversations just like
fireworks.

Mr. Determiner points to that. that

Conjunctions join words together just like the
train cars are joined together.

Prepositions show position. There is a cloud
above the bridge. “Of” is a common
preposition.

Question words ask questions. “What” is a
frequently used question word.

please

and

of

what

NOUN

NOUN PLURAL

ADVERB

I

WE

VERB

VERB + S

Mother Hubbard is a person, her cupboard is
a place. There is a thing in the cupboard.

Mother Hubbard’s cupboard has lots of things
in it.

Many adverbs end in –ly. There is a
frequently used adverb.

The girl is pointing to herself I

We are friends. we

There are many things Mr. Action Man can
do.

The “S” bucket stands for “is” because of the s
on the bucket.

a

(adds an s
to any
word)

there

are

is

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

18

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD
VERB + ING

VERB + ED

TO + VERB

NUMBER

ADJ + ER

ADJ + EST

YOU

We were pouring water out of the bucket. were

The “+ed” bucket means past tense “was”
because the water was poured out of the
bucket.

The “to” bucket says the word to. to

The NUMBER icons links to a page of
numbers. .

Quick access to the little word “an” an

Quick access to the word “the” the

The finger is pointing to you. you

was

THEY

DICE

SUN

HAMMER

MASKS

BOOK

MORE MUSIC

They are a group. they

You can play games with dice. play

Everybody likes a sunny day. like

You can work with a hammer. work

The happy and sad masks express feelings. feel

You can read a book. read

Most people want to hear more music. more

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

19

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

STOP

IT

HE

WANTED

DOG

REMEMBER

FROG

You stop at the stop sign. stop

Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as
snow.

He is a boy. he

He is a wanted man. want

You call your dog to come. come

Tie a string around your finger to remember
something to do.

Look at that frog go! go

it

do

PHONE

MORNING

RAINBOW

BATH

SHE

KNOT

APPLE

You say things to your friends on the phone. say

You get up in the morning. get

A rainbow is made up of many colors. color

You might need help in the bathroom. help

She is a girl. she

The KNOT icon stands for negatives. don't

The apple icon stands for foods. eat

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

20

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

GOD

UMBRELLA

JUICE

KITCHEN

OPEN

BED

People make cookies of different shapes to
celebrate holidays (God).

You need your umbrella when it is raining. need

You can drink juice. drink

You turn the thermometer in the kitchen pan. turn

You can put treasures in the open chest. put

You sleep in a bed. sleep

make

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

21

I need that.

I need a drink.

I need help.

I don’t need that.

What do you need?

You need to work.

I need to work and play.

You need sleep.

Get me a drink.

I get a turn.

You don’t get a turn.

Get more to eat.

Get it.

Go get help.

I all done. (Choose the Go Back arrow to
go back to the yes/no row.)

It is all gone. (Choose the Go Back arrow to
go back to the yes/no row.)

I want more.

You get more.

Eat more.

Get more to drink.

Help me get more.

I don’t want more.

Practice sentences for 60 1-Hit

Open the activity row labeled WORD YES/NO. Your screen looks like this:

Try the following sentences and phrases.

Try combining core words with dynamic activity words to say some more phrases.

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

22

Activity ro w

Icon Contains

Good, yes, no, bad, all done

Quick access to names.

Hi. What’s up? How are you? I’m fine. I’m not so good. It’s nice to meet you.

Well, I must be going now. Good-bye.

Personal information: My name is…, I live in…, and a link to the YOU row

with questions about you.

Tools for controlling your device, easily available in an activity row.

Sounds, calculator, icon tutor, remote controls, word prediction on/off,

number page options, spell page options.

Contains a link to circle time activity and links to rows for classes in school.

This row contains an answer row for multiple choice and true-false

questions.

Links to other activity rows of songs, games, and learning activities.

Commands in this row control the device MP3 player.

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

23

Activity Row second row

Contains whole sentences separ ate d into sub-categories: Jokes, speaking,

communication repair, medical, wants, friends, protests, questions, telling,

and technology.

Contains tools for working in and managing notebooks.

Tools for internal computer access with links to pages for working in

Windows Word Pad, Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, Solitaire,

and Internet Explorer.

IntelliTools 4 contains tools for working with IntelliTools version 4.

IntelliTools 3 contains tools for working with IntelliTools version 3. To

simplify, hide the activities that you don’t use.

News Row – Use this row to save messages from your display to a

notebook. Speak the messages later.

The Phone Row contains tools for operating the Air Card phone option in

ECO.

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

24

Pages

These are the pages available from the PAGES key. The top right corner key of each
page goes back to Core.
The blank key is a hidden key for the Notebooks Page. To show this key, use the Set-up
Key.

When you first select the Set-up Key, you will see the Notebooks Page key.

• Select this key, and then Hide/Show Keys.

• The Notebook Page key is grey. Select it and it turns white.

• Then Select the text area to exit Hide/Show mode.

• Select OK to return to the Pages page.

ECO Unity 60 1-Hit Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

25

Simplify by hiding keys

Some people may need to have the field of choices narrowed; maybe because of vision or
attending problems. If these people begin learning on a 4, 8, or 15 location page system,
then they will have to re-learn many key positions as their vocabulary grows. If, instead
of starting with pages, we hide some of the keys on Unity 60 Single Hit, and then show
the keys again to teach more words; they will not have to re-learn key positions.

Here are the directions for hiding and showing keys. First we hide the Activity Row by
opening up a blank activity, and then we select certain core keys to teach first, and hide
the rest.

1. Select the tools key at the top left corner of the ECO frame.

2. Select Modify Activity, and then More Items until you see the key marked

TOTALLY BLANK.

3. Select TOTALLY BLANK, and then select show.

4. Select OK, and then Go To Core

5. When you are in Core, select User Defined Key #1 (Choose Activity) until you

see the key marked TOTALLY BLANK.

6. Select TOTALLY BLANK. This blank row hides the main activity row.

7. To hide core keys, select the set-up key (User Defined key #2)

8. Select Hide/Show Keys at the top right of the screen.

9. Select Hide All.

10. Next, select the APPLE, MORE, and STOP icons. Select CLEAR.

11. Select the text area to exit hide/show.

• Show all the keys by selecting the set-up key, and then Show All. Select the text

area to exit Hide/Show.

• To see the main Activity row again, select Choose Activity (or the #1 user defined

key on the top of the ECO frame.)

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

26

Unity 60 Sequenced

Organization

The layout of Unity 60 Sequenced is very similar to Unity 60 1-Hit. The major
differences are

• There are more combined icons where two pictures/concepts occupy the same

key.

• There are no text labels on most of the keys.

Use the Icon Tutor to look up words.

The Icon Tutor is located inside the ECO TOOLS row. If you don’t see it at the top
center, select the Choose Activity key, either User Defined key #1 or OBJECT +
OBJECT will do Choose Activity.

Use the Icon Tutor to look up some words.

Yes/No Row

The Yes/No Activity Row contains punctuation, a delete word tool, a link to spell mode,
and a few more one-hit words.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

27

Whole Sentences

The SENTENCE icon is a quick way to begin saying important messages, too.
When you select the Sentence Key, you will see keys in the activity row highlighted in

blue. This coloring means that they are links to another activity row.

Say some of these whole sentences
There are whole sentences stored in core, also. Try some of these whole sentences.
SENTENCE + APPLE = “I have an emergency” The embellished icon feature in Unity

60 turns the APPLE icon into the AMBULANCE icon.
SENTENCE + FROG = “I want to go…” Phrases to complete this sentence appear in the

dynamic activity row.
SENTENCE + UMBRELLA = “I need…” Phrases to complete this sentence appear in

the dynamic activity row.

There are many other whole sentences stored in Unity 60 Sequenced. In the Activity
row, select GREETINGS. Say some of the phrase and sentences.

Select Choose Activity to see the main Activity Row.
Select the ME activity. Say some of these sentences. Notice the link to the YOU activity

row. You can use your Set-up key to customize the ME row.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

28

Unity Patterns

Unity is a pattern-based system so that learning many new vocabulary entries becomes
predictable. We will look at examples of the following patterns in Unity 60 Sequenced.
All of these patterns are also found in the other Unity MAPs.

• Whole Sentences

• Single words – there are 7 of them in core

• Pronoun-verb phrases – negatives, question, and negative question phrases

• Pronouns

• Grammar categories

• Semantic categories – dynamic activity rows

Unity Pattern – Single Hit Words

Single Hit words appear on verb, noun, and adjective ending keys. You can see the word
printed in small letters as the label.

Note that the word NUMBERS in all caps is not a single hit word, but a page link.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

29

Unity Pattern – Pronoun Phrases

I can

I can’t

After you select the “I” pronoun, your screen looks like this: Practice some of these
pronoun-verb phrases.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

30

Unity Pattern – Question Pronoun Phrases

Reverse the order of this pattern for question phrases and negative questions.

can I

can’t I

After you select the JUICE icon, your screen looks like this:

Notice the pronoun phrases on all the yellow pronoun keys. Practice some of these
question phrases and negative question phrases.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

31

Unity Pattern -- Pronouns

Pronouns are color coded yellow. They are always in column two and three.

Icon Sequence Subject Pronoun Icon Sequence Object Pronoun

I

you

it

she

he

we

they

Icon Sequence Possessive Adjective Icon Sequence Possessive Pronoun

my

your

me

you

it

her

him

us

them

mine

yours

its

her

his

our

them

its

hers

his

ours

theirs

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

32

Unity Pattern – Grammar Categories

Icon + Grammar Ending
Verbs, category nouns, and adverbs ending in –ly use the pattern of core icon + ending.

Embellished icons OFF Embellished icons ON

eat

food

hungrily

eat

food

hungrily

Select APPLE to see the patterns related to the Unity pattern, core icon + ending.

Verbs and verb endings are selected in the 2nd and 3rd row, with green color coding
Notice that in Unity 60 Sequenced, there is a row of verbs that appears above Mr. Action
Man and his row of buckets. These keys take over the keys of the INTERJECTION,
DETERMINER, CONJUNCTION, PREPOSITION, and QUESTIONS WORD and
temporarily turn them into verb endings.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

33

Icon + Grammar Ending
Category nouns (singular and plural) are in the 2nd row, with orange color coding.

Adverbs ending in –ly are in the 3rd row, with white color coding.
Adjectives follow the pattern of a core icon + a solid light blue color coded key.

After you select the APPLE icon, your screen looks like this. Find the category noun, the
verbs, and the adjectives.

Grammar Icon + Core Icon

Interjections, conjunctions, prepositions, determiners, question words, and adverbs that
do not end in –ly follow this pattern. All of these beginning icons are in the 2nd row from
the top.

yum

that

and

without

why

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

34

Unity Pattern -- Dynamic Activities

Dynamic activities contain more nouns. When a core icon is activated, a dynamic
activity row provides quick access to category-related nouns. These words are referred to
as “fringe vocabulary” because they are not all frequently used, and may vary greatly
according to personal preference.

Foods

Games

Drinks

Sentence Builders and endings in the Activit y Row.

Watch for words that help you build sentences such as a, an, the, me, and mine. These
words will appear in the activity row at the top after you begin speaking. You may use
the top row of words, or use core vocabulary to build your sentences.

It is recommended that you not make any changes to these sentence builder activity rows.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

35

Extra Verb s in the Activity Row

When you select Mr. Action Man, the VERB icon, you see a row of extra verb categories
select a verb.

Main Activity Rows, P ages, and Computer Acce ss

These are the same as in Unity 60 1-Hit.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

Category L abels in Core

You may find it helpful to see labels on the core keys in Unity 60 Sequenced. These
labels are not comprehensive; however, they represent the most frequently used group of
words available after the first selection of the key. For example, the RAINBOW and the
TRUCK share an icon. This key label is COLORS even though you can find the
category of vehicles with a second hit on the key.

To see core key labels:

1. Go to the ToolBox and select FEEDBACK MENU

2. At the bottom of the FEEDBACK MENU screen select First Categories ON.

Make sure the item above, Mid-Sequence Categories, is ON

36

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

37

Unity Customization Options: Ic on prediction and Embe llished Icons

Because many different types of people use Unity to communicate, there are many ways
to customize the look of your Unity program. Icon Prediction and Embellished Icons are
both found in the Feedback Menu. Icon Prediction can be White, Grey, or Off.
Embellished Icons can be either on or off.

Icon Prediction = white Icon Prediction = grey

Icon Prediction off

Embellished icons OFF Embellished icons ON

eat

food

eat

food

hungrily

hungrily

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

38

Icons and Icon Rationales

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

PHONE

SUIT

INTERJECTION

DETERMINER

CONJUNCTION

PREPOSITION

QUESTION
WORD

Give the present to me.
Pronoun ending for objective pronouns. Pronoun beginning

key for reflexive pronouns.
It’s mine. It has my nametag on it.

Categories: names, clothing. Ending key for possessives.
Interjections pop up in conversations just like fireworks.

Categories: Interjections, holiday greetings
Mr. Determiner points to that.

Categories: articles, demonstrative adjectives
Conjunctions join words together just like the train cars are

joined together.
Categories: conjunctions, numbers (We count the cars.)

Prepositions show position. There is a cloud above the
bridge. “Of” is a common preposition.

Categories: prepositions
Question words ask questions. “What” is a frequently used

question word.
Categories: question words

NOUN

NOUN PLURAL

I

WE

VERB

Mother Hubbard is a person, her cupboard is a place.
There is a thing in the cupboard.

Singular ending for category nouns
Mother Hubbard is a person, her cupboard is a place.

There are things in the cupboard.
Plural ending for nouns

The girl is pointing to herself
Pronoun

The WE icon is two friends.
Pronoun

Mr. Action man is doing many things. He works; he
whistles; he carries a bucket and a hammer; he walks.
Category: Extra verbs

Present tense ending for verbs.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

39

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

VERB + S

VERB + ING

VERB + ED

TO + VERB

ADJ/NUMBERS

ADVERB

YOU

The “S” bucket stands for “is” because of the s on the
bucket.

Present tense singular ending for verbs.
We were pouring water out of the bucket.

Present participle ending (-ing) for verbs
The “ed” bucket means past tense “was” because the water

was poured out of the bucket.
Past tense verb ending

The “to” bucket says the word to.
Verb infinitive ending.

As a beginning key, this icon links to a numbers page.
Ending key for adjectives

Many adverbs end in –ly. “There” is a frequently used
adverb.

Category: adverbs; Adverb ending
The finger is pointing to you.

THEY

DICE

SUN

HAMMER

MONEY

MASKS

BOOK

Pronoun
They are a group.

Pronoun
You can play games with dice.

Categories: games and sports
Everybody likes a sunny day.

Category: Jokes, laugh, smile, fun, funny, silly
You can work with a hammer. People work for money.

Categories: workers, employment, tools, money
It’s good to have money

Category: money
The happy and sad masks express feelings.

Categories: feelings, actors
You can read a book.

Categories: things to read, classes in school

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

40

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

MORE

STOP

HE

IT

WANTED

FAMILY

REMEMBER

Most people want to hear more music.
Categories: music, musicians, Words: more, less

You stop at the stop sign.
Categories: endings, spell mode, Words: stop, wait, quit

He is a boy.
Pronoun “he”

Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow.
Pronoun “it” Category: Animals

He is a wanted man.
Category: People, Words: want, hope let

The family did dress up for their picture.
Category: Family, Words: come, join, allow

Tie a string around your finger to remember something to
do.

Categories: time, days, months, accessories,

HOUSE

MORNING

RAINTRUCK

BATH

SHE

SENKNOT

APPLE

Look at that frog go! It’s jumping in front of the house.
Categories: home parts, rooms, buildings

You get up in the morning.
Categories: nature, places to go

A rainbow is made up of many colors. The truck represents
vehicles.

Categories: colors, art supplies, transportation
You might need help in the bathroom.

Categories: body parts, health and medical
She is a girl.

Pronoun
The SENTENCE/KNOT icon stands for negatives and

whole sentences.
Category: Whole sentences

The apple icon stands for foods.

Categories: foods, Words: being verbs

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

41

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

GOD

UMBRELLA

JUICE TV

KITCHEN

OPEN

BED

People make cookies of different shapes to celebrate
holidays (God).

Categories: holidays, religion, shapes

You need your umbrella when it is raining.

Categories: weather, negativ es

You can drink juice. The juice glass is on top of the TV.

Categories: drinks, TV shows

You turn the thermometer in the kitchen pan.

Categories: kitchen, large appliances,
Words: mix, bake, cook, turn

You can put treasure in the open chest. You put toys in a toy

chest.

Categories: containers, toys, Words: put, keep share, save

You sleep in a bed.

Categories: furniture, linens, Words: sleep, rest

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

42

Practice Sentences for Un ity 60 Sequenced

I’m hungry for
pizza

You’re not.

What would you
like?

I don’t know.

Maybe a
hamburger.

I don’t think so.

Well, what?

Let’s get some ice
cream.

Okay

We both like
chocolate.

Let’s go.

Wait. I need my
jacket.

Would you help
me?

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

43

Do what?

Find my
homework.

You had
homework?

A little.

A little what?

A little math paper

I saw that.

Where?

It was on the TV.

Help me look.

We will find it.

Thank you for
helping.

Where are we
going?

It’s a surprise.

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

Where to Find

Air Card phone tools Activity Row, PHONE
Back up the memory Transfer Memory Menu
Calculator Activity Row, Device Tools
Change how a word is pronounced Dictionary Menu
Change the voice Speech Menu
Create Visual Scenes Begin by importing a scene in the Transfer

Memory Menu. Go to Create Page to create

the scene page
Hide Activities Modify Activity Menu
Hide Core Keys Assign Core Key Menu
Hide Page Keys Set-up Key, then select the key you want to

hide. Select Hide/Show. Follow the on-screen

prompts
Icon Tutor Activity Row
Infrared phone pages Pages page
Kurzweil, WYNN and TestTalker pages Pages page, Education Softwar e
Kurzweil, WYNN, and TestTalker rows Activity Row, School
Link a page Open the page you want to modify. Use the

set-up key. Select the key where you want the

link. Spell Message or Define Key Function,

then Page Link.
Lock the ToolBox Maintenanc e Men u
MP3 player Activity Row
Set-Up Key Key number 2 on the top frame of ECO
Teaching Unity help Pages page, Teaching Core Pages
Turn the activation beeps off Feedback Menu
Visual Scenes Pages Page, My Scenes
Windows Media player Activity Row, Computer

44

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

45

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

Word Prediction

There are three different options for Word Prediction in ECO. Go to the ToolBox and
select Word Prediction Menu. Try each one of the following options. Select the option,
then go to spell mode and begin spelling a word.

PRC Word Prediction

Recent words
Morphological prediction

Word Q

Recency prediction
Next word prediction
Suggested spelling

Combined

Uses features from both PRC and Word Q dictionaries

Icon Tutor

The Icon Tutor helps you look up sequences for words in any version of Unity. Find the
Icon Tutor key in the center of the main Activity Row in Unity 60. You can also find
Icon Tutor in the Review Memory Menu in the ToolBox.

Icon Tutor on-the-fly is a new feature in ECO. Find this option in the Feedback Menu.

• Can be turned on or off

• Can have a time delay set that controls how long the sequences stay on the

display.

• Can show different instances of a word if there are more than one sequence for

the same word.

• Select the space key after a word to start the icon tutor

46

ECO Unity 60 Sequenced Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

Te ac hing Unity

Teach vocabulary

• by categories

• by student-centered activities

• by patterns

o Identify the patterns
o Prioritize
o Select vocabulary from each pattern to teach
o Use a variety of teaching aids

Teach navigational and operational features

• Getting to and from pages

• Getting to more items in activity rows

• Correcting mistakes

• Speak the display

Pages to help teach Unity

Go to the Pages page. Select TEACH CORE or POWER POINT and IR CAR

47

ECO More Customizations

More Customizations

Changing core icons

• Change one icon at a time by using the set-up key (#2 user defined key)

• Change one icon at a time by using the Assign Core Keys Menu.

• Change all occurrences of an icon by using the User Area Menu.

Important Tools for c ustomizin g

• Modify Activity Menu – tools for changing activity rows

• Assign Core Keys Menu – tools for changing core keys

• Modify Page Menu – tools for editing pages

Activity Rows

Purposes of activity rows:

• For commonly used phrases and sentences

• For sentence building

• For easy access to tools

• For access to fringe vocabulary

Modify an Activity row

1. Navigate to the row or key that you want to change.

2. Use the set up key (#2 user defined key) to begin. (You can also right click on

your mouse and select Set Up

3. Follow the prompts on the screen to

• Modify the last picture or

• Modify item within or

• Spell text for message or

• Change label or

• Change key color

48

ECO More Customizations

49

Create a new activity row

1. Begin in the ToolBox with the Create Activity Menu.

2. Spell the name for your new activity (can be up to 20 characters). Select OK

3. Choose an icon to represent the activity. If you choose No Icon, the label text will

represent your new activi ty.

4. Right after you select your icon, it goes out to the main activity row and you

won’t see it until you select Go to Core. You are now programming inside your
new row.

5. Select the first empty key to begin programming.

6. Follow the prompts on the screen to change these items:

7. Change icon – do this first

8. Spell text to display.

9. Change label if you want

10. Change key color (optional).

11. Continue to work on other keys as there is time.

12. Select OK and Go To Core.

13. You will see the icon for your new row at the top left.

14. To make other changes to your row, open the row, and then use your set-up key.

15. Or go to the Toolbox and select Modify Activity.

16. In the Modify Activity Menu you may Hide, Show, and Move activities. Use the

arrows at the bottom of the screen to move a selected activity.

17. Delete an activity from the Modify Activity Menu.

Working with Pages

Characteristics of pages

• Vocabulary for a specific activity.

• Limited vocabulary set

• Tends to increase visual load and reduce automaticity

Modify a page

• Navigate to the page you want to change.

• Use the set-up key to begin customizing the key you select.

Create a new page

• Begin in the Create Page Menu in the ToolBox

• Follow the prompts on the screen

• If you choose copy from existing pages, and then choose TEMPLATE, you will

have three tool keys already programmed: Delete last selection, Clear display,
and Go to Core.

ECO More Customizations

Visual Scenes

What are visual scenes?

• Special pages

• One large graphic superimposed over keys

• Created much like other pages

Modify a visual scene

1. In Unity 60 Sequenced, go to the Pages Page.

2. Select My Scenes, and then Pets.

3. Use the set up key to begin modifying this scene page.

4. Select any key.

5. Next you see the programming screen for modifying a page.

6. The specific tools you need for visual scenes begin with the key marked
“Change Visual Scene”

50

ECO More Customizations

Location of Visual Scenes in Unity MAPs

Unity 60 Pages page, My Scenes
Unity 84 1-Hit Pages page, M y Scenes
Activity row, Have Fun, Books
Unity 84 Sequenced Same as Unity 84 1-Hit plus

Pages page, Teach Core
Unity 144 Pages page, My Scenes

51

ECO More Customizations

Create a Visu al Scene

Review of Visual Scenes

• A special type of page with one large graphic superimposed over the keys.

• Begin creating just like any other page in ECO

• Several examples are already done in ECO. Look for the Pages page in Unity 60

Single Hit, and then go to My Scenes.

Importing Graphics

• Graphics to use: there are many sample graphics in ECO already

• To import your own graphics, they must be accessible in the ECO Windows

computer. You can have them on a CD or USB drive, or stored at any other
location in the ECO computer.

• Graphics may be in any graphics format.

• Use the Transfer Memory Menu to import graphics for scenes or

• Find the import graphic key in the programming screen after you have begun to

create your page.

Create a Scene Page

1. Begin in Unity 60 1-Hit Hint: Before you begin creating a page, you may find it

easier to switch to the programming QWERTY keyboard. Go to the User Area
Menu and select the QWERTY option under “Storing Keyboard.”)

2. In the ToolBox select Create Page.

3. Spell a name for the page.

4. Select Copy from an Existing Page

5. Select the page named 60 Single Hit Core. This is a page created to look just like

the core vocabulary in Unity.

6. Select any key. You can now see the create page programming screen.

7. Select Change Visual Scene.

8. Select Choose Scene. You will see the available scenes in ECO. If you have

imported some scenes, you will see them, also.

9. Change the Transparency

10. Select Set Scene Keys. Follow the prompts on the screen to set the scene graphic

where you want it. You will be selecting the top right corner and the bottom left
corner of the position for the picture. Select OK

11. Select Choose Next Key to Define.

12. Modify the keys inside the scene to say what you choose.

• Spell Message or Define Key Function

• Change Icon (use the No Icon option)

• Change Label

• Change Key Color

52

ECO More Customizations

53

Sounds on Scene Pages

You may make a digitized real-voice recording or import a wav file on a key by changing
the Type of Message to record.

TIP: If you select OK, OK when programming a page, you will be off the page and
into the ToolBox. Find your page again by selecting Modify Page and begin
programming. .

Select Choose Next Key to Define to stay on the programming screen for the page.

ECO More Customizations

Linking a Page

Once you have created your visual scenes page, you will need to link it in to the Unity
MAP so that you don’t have to go to the ToolBox to find it every time.

Begin by deciding where you want to link the page.
In Unity 60 1-Hit, there is a page named My Scenes. Find this page by selecting the

Pages Page, and then My Scenes. When you are one the My Scenes Page, you can use
your set-up key to begin programming.

1. Use the set-up key or do a right click on the key where you want to link your new

page.

2. Select Spell Message or Define Key Function

3. Select Page Link

4. Select No when you see the question “Do you want the linked page to close after

you select a key?”

5. Select the new page you created.

6. Finish by changing the icon, label, and color for the key on the Pages page.

54

ECO Vocabulary Builder

Vocabulary Builder

Vocabulary Builder is an electronic way of hiding keys much like putting a paper overlay
onto a manual board. You see only the sequences for words that you choose. You can
choose the words by picking one of the text files already stored in ECO, you can import
your own list of vocabulary, or you can build as list of words using the screens in
Vocabulary Builder.

1. Open the user area for Unity 60 Sequenced.

2. Select the Menu Key on the right side of the status panel.

3. Select Vocabulary Builder.

Choose words from the Vocabulary Builder screen

Notice the options in the center for showing and hiding vocabulary. Words showing are
in the left column. Words that are masked are in the right column.

To return to Core and see the changes you have made, check Enable Masking and select
Save Mask Info.

55

ECO Vocabulary Builder

Use a Word List

1. Select Use Word Lists

2. Select the list, and then Load List

3. Select Save Mask Info

4. Use the Assign Core Keys Menu to hide and show any remaining tools that you

may want to hide.

5. To unmask keys while keeping the same word list, go to the Menu Key, select

Vocabulary Builder, and then Turn Builder Off. This allows you to return to the
full view of Unity. When you want to mask again, go to Vocabulary Builder and
select Save Mask Info.

Import a Word List

1. Create a word list.

2. Save it as a plain text file.

3. Import through the Vocabulary Builder menu.
You can create your text file on any computer, including the ECO computer.

Remember the location, and navigate to where the file is stored when you are
importing.

After your list has been imported, find your list by selecting Use Word Lists in the
Vocabulary Builder Menu.

56

ECO Computer Access

Computer Access

Your ECO will do computer access with the ECO Windows computer or with an external
computer. The settings for computer access are in the Output Menu. Find the Output
Menu by using the Menu Key on the status bar, or go to the device ToolBox and select
Output Menu.

To practice the internal computer access features in Unity 60 Sequenced, first be sure that
your computer access is on, and set to internal. On the status bar there is an indicator
that is yellow if the internal computer access is on.

ECO Revised Computer Access

To begin computer access with ECO Unity 60,

1. Select the Pages key, and then ECO COMP key

Or

2. Select Choose Activity, and then COMPUTER key

Either way brings you to the ECO computer programs page.

57

Unity 60 1-Hit Pages Page

ECO Computer Access

58

Unity 60 1-Hit Computer Access activity row

When you select the ECO COMP key from either PAGE or Activity row, it turns on the
Internal Computer Access in the output menu. There is a key in the computer activity
row that turns off the internal computer access.

Selecting the External computer access key turns on external computer access in the
output menu, and opens the external computer access activity row. You can use this row
if you are using an external computer with your ECO. .

In the Computer access row we have keys that open Word Pad and Outlook Express
pages for ECO internal computer access. The OK key in this row takes you back one
page. The SCREEN key allows you to look at your ECO desktop by taking the number
of core rows down to 4 rows. Selecting the SCREEN key again brings back the full
number of core rows and hides the computer application behind it.

When you select ECO COMP from either Pages or the Computer activity row, you go to
the computer programs page.

ECO Computer Access

59

ECO Unity 60 Computer Programs page

This page shows just four rows of the computer programs page so that you can see your
computer applications on the ECO. If you select the Go Back key on the top left, you go
back to the Unity 60 PAGES page. If you select the CORE key at the top right, you
return to Core Vocabulary with the Computer Activity Row at the top.

On the Computer Programs Page, the light blue outlining means that this key is linked to
and opens up another page. The solid light green keys are tools for ECO computer
operations. The light green key labeled refresh is for returning the computer focus to an
open window on your desktop. When you select Refresh, it sends the mouse cursor to
top center of the ECO desktop, activates MOUSE DOWN, and then MOUSE UP. The
light green key marked CLOSE will open up options for managing window sizes and
closing applications. With the CLOSE key, you can minimize, maximize, reset the size,
or close any open windows.

The key labeled TOGGLE allows you to switch between open applications. You may
also use the TOGGLE key to “wake up” an application that has lost its focus.
There are two MOUSE pages on this page. You may choose to clear the key that you are
not using. Most applications have a link to the Mouse page for scanning and direct
select. If you are using Madentec Tracker for headpointing, you may want to copy and
paste the key for the headpointing mouse to other locations. Plug in a mouse to your
ECO and do a right click to find the menu for Setup, Copy, Cut, and Paste.
There are many keys on the computer programs page for applications that you may not
choose to use. You may either hide these unused keys, or clear them out to make room
for other page links.

ECO Computer Access

60

Example of a simplified computer programs page

You may clear out or hide applications that you are not using.

ECO Computer Access

61

Customize Your Computer Access

You can store links to your own personal files in ECO by using the Run Program tool.
First we will look at a key that is already programmed with this tool.

Go to the Computer Access Activity Row, and then select Word. On the Word Pad page
you will see a key labeled START. Use your set-up key to look at how this start key is
programmed. You see that there is a Run Program tool, and then a computer address for
the file that starts up Word Pad.

Select OK to exit this screen
Use the computer access Word Pad page to start Word Pad.
Write some text into your new word document. You can use either Core words, or spell

from the Spell Page.
Save your document using the keys on the Word Pad Page.
Now use the Run Program tool to create a link from the Word Pad Page to your new

document.

Program a link with the Run Program tool:

1. Use the set-up key, and then select a blank key on the Word Pad Page.

2. Select Spell Message or Define Key Function

3. Select Insert Tool (you may need to use MORE KEYS to see insert tool).

4. Select More Items at the bottom of the page.

5. Select Run Program

ECO Computer Access

62

6. You see titles for all the executable files on your ECO’s C drive.

7. Select Advanced

8. Select Yes for Show All Files, and then select OK.

9. Use the navigating keys at the bottom of the screen to locate the file you want.

10. If you make a wrong selection, you can use Delete Character or Clear to start

over.

11. Finish by putting a label and an icon on the key you are programming.

ECO Computer Access

63

More ECO Features

Your ECO has several other helpful features that are not covered in the introductory
training.

• Notebooks – files where you can save large amounts of text. You can edit

notebooks, lock them, store them to open with a sequence, and read them aloud a
sentence at a time. Notebooks work whether you are using ECO as an integrated or a
dedicated device.

• Calculator – New in ECO – scientific calculator

• Environmental controls – including pages for Gewa Jupiter phone and TASH phone

• Customized Block Scanning allows you to design your own scan patterns, scan

blocks of keys as a single key, and much more.

Look for tutorials and helps pages for these features on-line at

www.support.prentrom.com

Extra Help

Prentke Romich Co. Technical Support at 800-262-1990
PRC website www.prentrom.com
Printed Manuals that came with your ECO
PASS software – free authoring software that you can download from the PRC web site
Your regional consultant – call 800-848-8008 to talk to a consultant secretary
Training classes on-line. Check the schedule for classes at the PRC web site

http://www.prentrom.com/training/etraining

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

64

ECO Unity 84

Many people have achieved communication success with Unity 84 since its addition to
the Minspeak Application Programs (MAPs). The ECO version of Unity adds integrated
computer access features that allow you to work in and navigate through Windows
applications using the Unity 84 MAP. There are many examples of visual scenes in
Unity 84. You will also find a special application of the visual scene concept as language
therapy materials that are included in the ECO software.

Unity 84 Single Hit is for early language learners who may say just one word at a time.
That is why the core vocabulary includes many verbs. Verbs are powerful words that
cause things to happen and can be useful in many situations. Words like help, come, go,
eat, and drink
the extended vocabulary in dynamic activity rows gives quick access to frequently used
phrases. Then the beginner language learner goes from using one word at a time to using
two and three word phrases.

When the communicator is ready for more vocabulary, the transition to Unity 84
Sequenced is enhanced by the identical placement of icons in core. Keys in the main
activity row in Unity 84 Single Hit and in Unity 84 Sequenced are the same, and in the
same positions. Technology in the ECO allows for customized activity rows to be copied
easily from Unity 84 Single Hit to Unity 84 Sequenced.

give the early communicator power. Combining these power words with

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

65

Unity 84 1-Hit

Organization

Row 1 is the main activity row.

• Activity rows contain vocabulary specific to certain situations.

• Some keys in the main activity row do not open other activities. These keys are

tools. For example, the PAGES key links to the Pages page.

Rows 2 through 7 contain core vocabulary words.

• Core words are words that people of all ages use frequently across situations and

environments.

• With most of the core keys one keystroke equals one word.

• There are two keys that do not speak, but open a dynamic activity row: NAMES

and FAMILY. A label in all capitals means a link, not a spoken word.

• The orange key with Mother Hubbard and the +s sign is a plural key.

• Each core key opens up a dynamic activity row for extended vocabulary.

Tools are keys that perform functions; they do not talk.

• Choose activity scrolls through activities and closes dynamic activities.

Find this key at the top left corner of the display.

• Clear clears the text area. Find this tool at the lower left corner of the display.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

66

Talking

• With core vocabulary you can say one word at a time, or put phrases together by

using the dynamic activity rows linked to each core key. When you select the
APPLE icon, you say “eat” and the food row appears.

• When you select NAMES or FAMILY, you do not hear a word spoken until you

select a word from the dynamic activity row.

Try these phrases:
Eat ice cream
Play game
Drink soda
Feel happy
Color red
You help me
I help you
Go get mom

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

67

Simplify by Hiding Key s

7. Select the tools key at the top left corner of the ECO frame.

8. Select Modify Activity, and then More Items until you see the key marked

BLANK.

9. Select BLANK, and then select the key labeled “Show.”

10. Select OK, and the Go To Core

11. When you are in Minspeak select Choose Activity until you see the key marked

BLANK.

12. Select BLANK. This blank row hides the main activity row.

13. Select the Set-up Key, #2 on the ECO frame.

14. Select Hide/Show Keys at the top right.

15. Select Hide All at the top right.

16. Next, select the APPLE, MORE, and STOP icons. Select CLEAR.

17. Select the text area to exit hide/show mode.

• To show all the core keys again, select the Set-up Key, then Hide/Show, and then

Show All.

• To see the main Activity Row again, select Choose Activity, or select user defined

key #1 at the top frame of your ECO.

•

• Another way to simplify this program is by using the LAMP sets.

•

• Go to the Pages Page

• Then select Vocabulary Builder to see the LAMP sets

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

68

Core Vocabulary and Ic ons

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

ME (OBJ)

MY (POSS)

DRESS (SUIT)

NAME

INTERJECTION

DETERMINER

CONJUNCTION

Give the present to me. me

It’s mine. It has my nametag on it. my

He wore a suit to dress up. Wear

You put your name on a name tag.
This key links to names in the activity row.

Interjections pop up in conversations just like
fireworks. “Please” is a common interjection.

Mr. Determiner points to that. that

Conjunctions join words together just like the train
cars are joined together. “And” is a common
conjunction.

___

please

and

PREPOSITION

QUESTION
WORD

NOUN

PLURAL (NOUN
PL)

THERE (ADV)

I

Prepositions show position. There is a cloud
above the bridge. “In” is a common preposition.

Question words ask questions. “What” is a
frequently used question word.

Mother Hubbard is a person, her cupboard is a
place. There is a thing in the cupboard.

Mother Hubbard has lots of things in her cupboard +s

Many adverbs end in –ly. “There” is a common
adverb.

The girl is pointing to herself I

in

what

a

there

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

69

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

WE

ARE (VERB)

IS (VERB + S)

WERE (VERB +
ING)

WAS (VERB +
ED)

ON (VERB + EN)

TO (TO + VERB)

The two friends are pictured on the WE icon. we

Mr. Action Man is pictured on the VERB icon are

The “S” bucket stands for “is” because of the s on
the bucket.

We were pouring water out of the bucket. were

The “ed” bucket means past tense “was” because
the water was poured out of the bucket.

The “en” bucket says “on.” In Unity 84 Sequenced
this key is the ending for past participle verbs.

The “to” bucket says the word “to.” to

is

was

On

NUMBERS (ADJ)

AN (ADJ + ER)

THE (ADJ + EST)

END (ISLAND)

YOU

THEY

Link to a numbers page ___

In Unity 84 Sequenced this key is the ending for
comparative adjectives.

In Unity 84 Sequenced this key is the ending for
superlative adjectives. Remember the phrase, “It’s
the best.”

Quick access to the word “the.”
The map shows you where your trip will end. end

The finger is pointing to you. you

They are a group. they

an

the

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

70

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

KNOW

PLAY (DICE)

LIKE (SUN)

WORK
(HAMMER)

HAVE (MONEY)

FEEL (MASKS)

READ (BOOK)

You know what you learn in school. know

You can play games with dice. play

Everybody likes a sunny day. like

You can work with a hammer. work

It’s good to have money. have

The happy and sad masks express feelings. feel

You can read a book. read

MORE (MORE
MUSIC)

FAST (SHOE)

STOP

IT

HE

WANTED

FAMILY

Most people want to hear more music. more

This shoe is for running fast. Fast

You stop at the stop sign. stop

Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as
snow.

He is a boy. he

He is a wanted man. want

Family links to family names in the dynamic activity
row.

it

___

DOG

You call your dog to come. come

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

71

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

OLD (WATCH)

DO (REMEMBER)

GO (FROG)

GET (MORNING)

BIG
(ELEPHANTS)

COLOR
(RAINBOW)

HELP (BATH)

Old is a time-related word. old

Tie a string around your finger to remember to do
something.

Look at that frog go! go

You get up in the morning. get

The elephants are big. big

A rainbow is made up of many colors. color

Some people need help in the bathroom. help

do

SHE

LOOK (EYE)

SLOW (SNAIL)

HEAR (EAR)

THINK

RIGHT (right
arrow)

SAY (PHONE)

She is a girl. she

You look with your eyes. look

Snails are slow slow

You hear with your ears. hear

The thinking lady has a good idea. think

The yellow arrow is pointing right. right

You say things to your friends on the phone. . say

LIVE (HOUSE)

You live in a house. live

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

72

ICON NAME

WITH (LOVE)

FOLLOW
(PEOPLE)

DRIVE (TRUCK)

PUT (OPEN)

NOT (KNOT)

TALK
(SENTENCE)

SIT (CHAIR)

ICON

RATIONALE WORD

The new baby is with its mother. with

People follow the leader. follow

She can drive a truck. drive

You open the chest to put things in. put

The KNOT stands for negative words. not

The man and lady are talking to each other. talk

You sit on your chair. sit

EAT (APPLE)

COMPUTER

MAKE (GOD)

NEED
(UMBRELLA)

DRINK (JUICE)

ASK (TV)

The apple icon stands for foods. eat

It’s fun to play computer games computer

People make cookies of different shapes to
celebrate holidays (God).

You need your umbrella when it is raining. need

You can drink juice. drink

Ask what’s on TV. ask

make

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

73

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE WORD

TURN (KITCHEN)

BED

You turn the thermometer in the kitchen pan. turn

You sleep in a bed. sleep

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

74

Practice Sentences

Open the YES/NO Activity Row. Your display will look like this:

Try the following sentences and phrases.
Before you start, open the YES/NO row.

I need that. I need a drink
I need help. I need to sit.
What do you need? You need more work.
I need to work and play. You need sleep.
Get me a drink. I get a turn.
My turn. Get more to eat.
Get it. Go get help.
I all done. (Select the Go Back key to go back

to the Quick Hits row.)
I want more. You get it.
Eat more. Get more to drink.

You get more.

Help me get more. I don’t want more.
All done. My friend

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

75

Activity Rows

Icon Contains

Punctuation, delete word, link to spell mode, yes, maybe, no, all done, all gone, and
speech on/off

What’s up? Hi. How are you? Fine. Nice meeting you. Take care of yourself. Good-bye.

Personal information: My name is…, I live in…, and a link to the YOU row with
questions about you.

Sounds = Volume, activation beeps, calculator, , IntelliTools row, remote controls, word
prediction on/off, number page options, spell page options.

Link to rows for classes in school. This row contains an answer row plus links to rows
for math, science, reading, art, history, language arts, social studies, geography, music,
and health. Quick access to education software rows for WYNN, TestTalker, and
Kurzweil.

Items for calendar or circle time; days of the week, months, weather, songs, Pledge of
Allegiance

Links to other activity rows of songs, games, and learning activities.

Jokes, other whole sentences in subcategories: speaking, communication repair,
medical needs, wants, friends, protests, questions, telling on, technology

Device MP3 player controls.

Contains tools for working in and managing notebooks.

Links to pages: Visual Scenes, Clock, Money, Numbers, IntelliTools, Phonics, Word
Families, Teaching Core, and ECO computer pages.

Contains ECO internal computer access tools. Keys to run Windows Word Pad,
Outlook, Internet Explorer, Sol ita ire, and Windows Media Player.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

76

Icon Contains

There are two rows of IntelliTools computer commands. One is for version 3 and one is
for version 4. You may hide the row(s) you are not using. Go to the Modify Activity
Menu in the ToolBox.

The REC keys in this row will save the text on your display to a notebook. The SPEAK
keys will speak the notebook.

The row contains phone commands for the device cell phone.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

77

Internal Computer Acces s

ECO as an integrated communication device has some computer access tools available in
activity rows and pages. The ECO computer access tools are stored in an activity row
named COMPUTER ACCESS.

• Select Choose Activity until you see the COMPUTER con on the top row.

• Select the COMPTUER icon and the computer access activity opens on the top row

of your display.

• WORDPAD opens a page of short-cut keys for working in Windows WordPad

• EMAIL opens a page of shortcuts for working in Microsoft Outlook.

• EXTERNAL COMPUTER row has keyboard shortcut commands that work for those

people who want to use the ECO to access another computer.

• INTERNAL ON turns the internal computer access on, and links to a page of keys

that run the Windows programs in ECO.

• The ON/OFF key turns internal computer access on and off.

• WORD PAD links to a page of computer shortcuts for working in Microsoft Word

Pad. This key also launches the Word Pad program.

• EMAIL launches Outlook Express, and opens a page of keyboard shortcuts for

controlling Outlook Express.

• The OK key links to whatever page you were working on previously.

• SCREEN is a tool that minimizes the number of core rows so that you can see the

computer application running behind your Unity program.

• ON/OFF is a key for turning computer access on and off without going into the

toolbox.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

78

Practice computer access

• Select the INTERNAL ON key. Your ECO program shows just five

rows. You can see your ECO’s Windows desktop in the background.

• Select the top WORDPAD icon on this page to launch WordPad.

• See a page of tools for working in Word. EDIT WORD, FONT, and ABC are

links to other pages. The Go Back key is always the top left corner. This link
takes you back to the computer programs page. The key marked CORE takes
you back to core vocabulary and the computer access activity row.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

79

• Try typing some words or letters into your document. Then go to core vocabulary

and use the keys there to add text to your document. Use the OK key in the computer
access row to return to the page of Word Pad commands. Experiment with the
editing, font color and size features. Now use the Save As key to save your word
document.

•

• If you have text on your display that you want to copy to a word document, you can

use the green key with the COPY icon labeled TO PROGRAM. This key is helpful is
you have started composing sentences on your display before you open a word
document, and then you decide you want to send the text to a new document. Leave
the text on your display, go to word and open a new document, then use the copy to
program key to send your text from the display to the document.

•

• The green key with the CLIPBOARD icon can be used to clear the windows

clipboard.

•

• Try using some of the other Windows applications. See how much you can control

each program without touching the windows part of your screen.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

80

Unity 84 Sequence d Organization

The layout of Unity 84 Sequenced is the almost same as Unity 84 single hit. The
differences are:

• The PREVERB icon takes the place of NAMES. Names are now linked to the

POSSESSIVE icon at row 2, column 2.

• There are only 9 single hit words now: are, is, were, was, on, to, an, the, a.

• There are no text labels on the other core keys.

• Choose Activity is now two hits on the OBJ icon

Talking

You may begin talking right away by using the INTERJECTION icon to say some social
words and phrases. You must select two keys to say a word. First select the

INTERJECTION key, and then the word you want to say. Using two or more keys to say
a word, phrase, or sentence is called sequencing.

The SENTENCE icon is a quick way to begin saying important messages, too.
When you select the Sentence Key, you will see keys in the activity row highlighted in

blue. This coloring means that they are links to another activity row.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

81

Simplify

The Vocabulary Builder tool has many features for simplifying Unity 84 Sequenced.
To see sample sets of words already programmed for Vocabulary Builder, go to the Pages
Page, and then Vocabulary Builder. Select one of the LAMP sets to see an example of
how Vocabulary Builder simplifies learning. Instructions for Vocabulary Builder are at
the beginning of this book on page 56.

Unity 84 with LAMP SET 4 in Vocabulary Builder

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

82

Icons and Ration ale s

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

OBJECTIVE

POSSESSIVE

SUIT

PREVERB

INTERJECTION

DETERMINER

CONJUNCTION

Give the present to me.

Ending for objective pronouns. Two hits on this key = Choose
Activity

It’s mine. It has my nametag on it.

Ending for possessive pronouns

He wore a suit to dress up.

Category: clothing

Use this key to begin verb phrases without using a pronoun.
like, must, may, will, could, be, should, etc.

Interjections pop up in conversations just like fireworks.
please, ouch, congratulations, etc.

Mr. Determiner points to that.
this, that, these, a, etc.

Conjunctions join words together just like the train cars are
joined together.

and, but, or, nor, etc.

PREPOSITION

QUESTION
WORD

NOUN

NOUN PLURAL

ADVERB

I

Prepositions show position. There is a cloud about the
bridge. Of is a common preposition.

in, to, of, from, beside, under, around, etc.
Question words ask questions. “What” is a frequently used

question word.
who, what, when, where, how much, etc.

Mother Hubbard is a person, her cupboard is a place. There
is a thing in the cupboard.

final icon for category nouns

Mother Hubbard has lots of things in her cupboard.

final icons for plural category nouns

Many adverbs end in –ly. “There” is a common adverb.
always, there, just, now, etc. ending for adverbs ending in –ly;

The girl is pointing to herself

Beginning key for I pronoun phrases

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

83

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

WE

VERB

VERB + S

VERB + ING

VERB + ING

VERB + EN

TO + VERB

The two friends are pictured on the “we” icon.

Beginning icon for “we” pronoun phrases.

Mr. Action Man is pictured on the VERB icon

Ending icon for action words.

The “+s” bucket stands for “is” because of the “s” on the
bucket.

Ending icon for action words ending in s
We were pouring water out of the bucket.

Ending icon for action words ending in –ing.

The “ed” bucket means past tense “was” because the water
was poured out of the bucket.

Ending icon for action words ending in –ed.

The “en” bucket says ‘on.” In Unity 84 Sequenced this key is
the ending for past participle verbs.

Ending icon for action words ending in –en.

The “to” bucket says the word to.

ADJECTIVE

ADJ + ER

ADJ + EST

ISLAND

YOU

THEY

Ending icon for infinitives, e.g., “to stop.”

Link to a numbers page

Ending icon for adjectives

In Unity 84 Sequenced this key is the ending for comparative
adjectives. Quick access to the word “an”

In Unity 84 Sequenced this key is the ending for superlative
adjectives. Remember the phrase, “It’s the best.”

Quick access to the word “the”
The map shows you where your trip will end.

Places and travel-related words

The finger is pointing to you.

Beginning icon for “you” pronoun phrases.

They are a group.

Beginning icon for” they” pronoun phrases.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

84

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

KNOW

DICE

SUN

HAMMER

MONEY

MASKS

BOOK

You know what you learn in school.

Category:knowledge and school

You can play games with dice.

Category: games.

Everybody likes a sunny day.
like, fun, funny, etc.

You can work with a hammer.

Category: work, jobs, tools, employment

It’s good to have money.
Category: money

The happy and sad masks express feelings.

Feeling-related words.

You can read a book.

Category: things to read

MORE MUSIC

SHOE

STOP

IT

HE

WANTED

FAMILY

Most people want to hear more music.
Category: music-related words.

This shoe is for running fast.

Category: sports words.

You stop at the stop sign.
stop, quit

Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow.

Beginning of “it” pronoun phrases.

He is a boy.

Beginning icon for “he” pronoun phrases.

He is a wanted man.
want, stuff, hope, etc.

Family links to family names in the dynamic activity row.

Category: family-related words

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

85

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

DOG

WATCH

REMEMBER

FROG

MORNING

ELEPHANTS

RAINBOW

You call your dog to come.
Category: animals

You use a watch to tell the time.

Category: time

Tie a string around your finger to remember to do something.

Category: verbs – things you do with your hands

Look at that frog go!

Words: go, hurry

You get up in the morning.

Category: places in nature

The elephants are big.
push, pull, lift, drop, big, huge, large, etc.

A rainbow is made up of many colors.
red, yellow, orange, green, etc. Also, art-related words

BATH

SHE

EYE

SNAIL

EAR

THINK

Some people need help in the bathroom.
Category: body parts, medical needs, and toiletries

She is a girl.

Beginning of “she” pronoun verb phrases.

You look with your eyes.

look, see, alike, same, show, watch

Snails are slow

slow; beginning icon for somebody, somewhere, some day

You hear with your ears.

hear, listen Also, beginning icon for indefinite pronouns, e.g.,
everybody, everyone, everywhere

The lady is thinking.
Category: thinking-r ela ted wor ds.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

86

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

EXIT

PHONE

HOUSE

PEOPLE

LOVE

TRUCK

OPEN

The sign shows the right way to exit the building.

leave, arrive, send, way, right

Call me on the phone.

Category: small appliances, talking-related verbs; Thumbs up
stands for positives.

You live in a house.

Rooms in the house; buildings

People follow the leader.

different kinds of people

The mother loves her new baby.
Love-related words

Drive that truck

Category: transportation--related words

You open the chest to put things in.

Categories: containers, toys

KNOT

SENTENCE

CHAIR

APPLE

COMPUTER

GOD

The KNOT stands for negative words.

Category: whole sentences

The SENTENCE icon begins sequences for whole
sentences.

Category: whole sentences

You sit on your chair.
Category: assistive technology

The apple icon stands for foods.

Category: food-related words. Beginning icon for anybody,
anywhere, anytime….

The COMPUTER is a place where you can store documents.
Category: computer-related words

People make cookies of different shapes to celebrate
holidays (God).

Category: religion and holiday-related words.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

87

ICON NAME ICON RATIONALE

UMBRELLA

JUICE

TV

KITCHEN

BED

You need your umbrella when it is raining.

Category: weather words Thumbs down stands for
negatives.

You can drink juice.

Category: beverages

Ask what’s on TV.
Category: television

You turn the thermometer in the kitchen pan.

Category: kitchen-related words; temperature words.

You sleep in a bed.

Category: furniture
sleep, rest, tired

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

88

Core Vocabulary Patterns

All versions of Unity are based on just a few patterns for combining icons into sequences
that speak words, phrases, and sentences.

Unity Pattern Icon + ending
Verbs, category nouns, adjectives, and adverbs ending in –ly use the pattern of core icon

+ ending.

eat

food

hungrily

hungry

Select APPLE to see the patterns.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

89

Unity Patterns – Dynamic Activities

Dynamic activities contain more nouns. These words are referred to as “fringe
vocabulary” because they are not all frequently used.

Foods

Games

Drinks

Clothing

Body parts

Reading materials

Music and musical
instruments.

Unity Patterns – Pronoun Phrases

I can

I can’t

Reverse the order of this pattern for question phrases and negative questions.

can I

can’t I

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

90

Unity Patterns – Grammar Icon + Core Icon

Interjections, conjunctions, prepositions, determiners, question words, and adverbs that
do not end in –ly follow this pattern. All of these beginning icons are in the 2nd row from
the top.

Examples:

yum

without

why

Unity Patterns – Indefinite Pronouns

Select the APPLE icon to find “anyone,” “anyhow,” “anymore,” “anybody,” and
“anything.” Select the SNAIL icon to find indefinite pronouns beginning with “s”, the
HAMMER (nail) for words beginning with “n”; the EAR icon for words beginning with
“e”. (Note: this pattern appears in Unity 84 and 144, but not in 45 or 60.)

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

91

Sentence Builders and Endings in the Activity Row.

• Watch for words that help you build sentences such as “be” and “have been”.

These words will appear in the activity row at the top after you begin
speaking. You may use the top row of words, or use core vocabulary to build
your sentences.

Use the Icon Tutor to look up words.

The Icon Tutor is located in the activity row named ECO Tools. Select the ECO Tools
key, and then Icon Tutor. Follow the directions on the screen.

Activity Rows, Pages, an d Computer Access

These are in the same positions as in Unity 84 Single Hit. See the section beginning on
page 79

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

92

Visual Scenes in Unity 84

Locate Visual Scenes in Unity 84 by Selecting the PAGES key, and then MY SCENES.

There are six books which are like photo albums where you can put in your own pictures.
The keys at the bottom right link to scenes for teaching Unity in context.

Visual Scene Books to teach Unity

There are eleven books in visual scene format in Unity 84 Sequenced. You can also find
these books by choosing the Have Fun key in the Activity Row, and then Books.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

93

Practice Sentences for Un ity 84 Sequenced

I like to read.

You like to eat.

This is good.

That is better

I want my MP3 player.

He wants his radio.

She is hungry.

I am hungrier.

When is lunch?

I need a dollar.

I think he is nice.

He thinks I am pretty.

Everyone is coming.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

94

No one came.

Where did they go?

I don’t know.

You don’t like it.

Mom went shopping.

I can’t do that.

Yes, you can.

Try it again.

ECO Unity 84 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

95

Where to Find

Air Card phone tools Activity row, Phone
Back up the memory Transfer Memory Menu
Calculator Activity Row, Device Tools
Change how a word is pronounced Dictionary Menu
Change the voice Speech Menu
Choose Activity
Create Visual Scenes Begin by importing a scene in the Transfer Memory

Hide Activities Modify Activity Menu
Hide Core Keys ToolBox, Assign Core Key Menu
Hide Page Keys Set-up Key, then select the key you want to hide.

Icon Tutor Activity Row, ECO Tools row
Infrared phone pages Activity Row, Remotes
Kurzweil, WYNN and TestTalker pages Pages, Internal ON
Kurzweil, WYNN, and TestTalker rows Activity Row, School, Mor e
Link a page Open the page you want to modify. Use the set-up

Lock the ToolBox Maintenance Men u

User defined key #1 or OBJ + OBJ at row 2, col 1

Menu. Go to Create Page to create the scene page

Select Hide/Show. Follow the on-screen prompts

key. Select the key where you want the link. Spell
Text for Message, Select Page Link.

MP3 player Activity Row
Set-Up Key User defined key #2 on the top frame of ECO
Teaching Unity help Activity Row, Have Fun, Books; Activity Row, Pages,

Turn the activation beeps off Feedback Menu
Visual scene example Activity Row, Pages, Scenes
Windows Media player Pages, Internal ON

Teaching Core Pages

ECO Unity 144 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

96

Introduction to Unity 144

Unity 144 for ECO is the same as Unity 128 with a few additions for the internal
computer access and visual scenes. If you are familiar with Pathfinder Unity 128, you
will be able to talk with ECO Unity 144 right away. People who are using Unity 128 will
be able to save a memory transfer and load it into ECO with all their customizations. The
pages and activity rows for computer access and visual scenes can be copied from an
ECO Unity 144 area into a customized user area.

So why the title Unity 144? Why not ECO Unity 128? Because there are actually 144
keys in the display of ECO’s highest level vocabulary. The 8 key Activity Row from
Pathfinder is now expanded into sixteen keys for easier access to fringe vocabulary.

ECO Unity 144 has all the features of Pathfinder Unity 128 plus more. You will be able
to work in Windows and navigate to all of ECO’s computer applications using the
computer access rows and pages that are programmed in ECO Unity 144. And with the
Run Program tool in ECO, you will be able to customize your computer access to make it
even faster and smoother.

Unity 144 has a single hit version for beginning language learners, and a complete
sequenced version which, combined with spelling and word prediction, provides access
to full language at the most advanced level.

ECO Unity 144 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

97

Unity 144 Single Hit

Load Unity 144 Single Hit

Unity 144 Single Hit is not one of the six default MAPs in ECO. Follow these steps to
load Unity 144 Single Hit. If there is a program that you want to save in the area you

are loading, you must first do a memory transfer and save the user area.

1. Go to the ECO ToolBox.

2. Select User Area Menu

3. Select Replace User Area and follow the prompts on screen.

Organization

Row 1 is the main activity row.

• Activity rows contain vocabulary specific to certain situations. Some activity

rows contain tools for specific tasks.

Rows 2 through 9 contain core vocabulary words.

• Core words are words that people of all ages use frequently across situations and

environments. There are over 80 single hit words in Unity 144 single hit.

• With most of the core keys, one keystroke equals one word.

• There are two keys that do not speak, but open a dynamic activity row: NAMES

and FAMILY. A label in all capitals means a link, not a spoken word.

• The orange key with Mother Hubbard and the “+s” sign is a plural key.

• Each core icon opens up a dynamic activity row for extended vocabulary.

ECO Unity 144 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

98

Column 1 contains tools.
Tools are keys that perform functions; they do not talk.

• ABC is a link to spell mode.

• Choose activity scrolls through activities and closes dynamic activities.

Find this key at row 3, column 1. Choose activity is also user defined key number
1 on the ECO frame.

• TOOLS is an icon that opens the dynamic row for ECO tools.

• Delete last selection takes off the last thing you did.

• Delete icon takes off the last icon you selected. Delete icon will also close a

dynamic activity row.

• Delete word takes away one word at a time.

• Delete character takes away one character at a time.

• Clear clears the text area.

Other tools in Unity 144:

• Arrow keys in the upper right corner are active in ECO and in computer access.

• Store core at the bottom right corner is where you begin storing customizations to

core (rows 2-9).

• OK and cancel are tools you need when you are storing.

• Speech ON/OFF turns the speech on and off.

• SPACE at the bottom center types a space.

ECO Unity 144 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

99

Talking

• With core vocabulary you can say one word at a time, or put phrases together by

using the dynamic activity rows linked to each core key. When you select the
APPLE icon, you say “eat” and the food row appears.

• When you select NAMES or FAMILY, you do not hear a word spoken until you

select a word from the dynamic activity row.

Simplify by Hiding Key s.

See the instructions on page 72 for Unity 84 1-Hit hiding and showing keys.
To hide the computer row, go to the Modify Activity Menu in the ToolBox. Modify the

Computer Activity by selecting Hide on the right side of the screen.

ECO Unity 144 Prentke Romich Co. March, 2009

100

ICON

ICON NAME

ICON RATIONALE

SPELL/MINSPEAK = a toggle key to go between spel ling keyboard

SPEAK ALL = speaks all of the text generated since the last time

NAME

You can write your NAME on a name tag.

SENTENCE

SENTENCE stands for whole sentences. There is no word stored on

NO

NO = no.

INTERJ

INTERJECTIONS are words that pop up in conversation like

DET

Mr. DETERMINER is points to “that.”

CONJ

CONJUNCTIONS join words like the train cars are joined together.

PREP

PREPOSITIONS are position words. The cloud is above the bridge;

? WORD

QUESTION WORDs ask questions. “What” is a common question

yes

YES = yes.

NOUN

Mother Hubbard is looking at "a" thing in h er cupboard.

NOUN PL

This is the plural ending key. Mother Hubbard is looking at many

ADVERB

The ADVERB airplane is carrying an -ly banner. Most ADVERBs end

YES

CHOOSE ACTIVITY =scrolls through the activity row.

OBJ

Give the present to me (OBJECTIVE).

POSS

The name tag shows POSSESSIVE.

Core Vocabulary and Ic ons

and Minspeak keyboard

clear display was activated. This key will speak text that you don't
see on the display.

this key, but it opens a dynamic activity row of sentences.

fireworks. “Please” is a common interjection.

“And” is a common conjunction.

water goes under the bridge. “In” is a common prepositio n .

word.

things in her cupboard

in -ly.