My daughter Diane began using a Fujitsu Point 510 Tablet Computer running augmentative and alternative (AAC) software in 1996. She currently uses a newer Fujitsu Tablet, the Stylistic 3500S. Before DynaVox for Windows was released, she used a program called Logical Language for Windows. The Fujitsu Tablet is a fully functioning, Windows capable computer and can run any Windows compatible software.

A tablet computer looks like the LCD screen part of a notebook computer. Her's has a 10.4 inch TouchScreen. It weighs only 3.2 lbs. It has a 15 GB Hard Drive, an onboard microphone, a small speaker, connections for a serial port, a PCMCIA card slot, IRDA port, external microphone and external speakers. It also has a port expander that adds a floppy drive, parallel port, network and other connections. This model has an Intel 500MZ Celeron chip.In my experience, the Fujitsu 510 is a little slower than the DynaVox/DynaMyte dedicated devices. The Point 1600 is about th same speed and the 3500 series is actually faster.

While using and programming DynaVox software on The Fujitsu Tablet computers I have learned a few tricks and have discovered a few important considerations that I would like to list here and to pass on to others.

Before listing the difficulties, I will first discuss some of the advantages of this computer. I strongly feel that for most users, these advantages can far outweigh any of the problems.

As an off the shelf computer product, it is much less expensive than the dedicated DynaVox/DynaMyte devices.

As a fully functioning Windows computer, in addition to DynaVox software, it can run any Windows compatible AAC software. With it's large Hard Drive it can also hold and run any Windows software. (i.e. MS Word, AOL, and most any children's software) You can Plug in a PCMCIA CD or with many CDs, you can load the entire program onto the Hard Disk (and maintain portability).

The Battery is a Lithium Ion type rather than NiCads. It lasts about 4.5 hours and does not suffer from the "memory" effect the NiCads have. The charger is much smaller that the DynaVox chargers. The battery is replaced as easily as a flashlight battery and does not need to be sent to e sent to the manufacturer in Pittsburgh for a battery change.

The Tablet comes with a 3 year warranty included.

After using Fujitsu Tablets for more than 6 years with extensive everyday use, the computers have never needed service. This includes Diane's frequent testing of the table height drop, Mil Spec, specification.

The nearly unlimited RAM of a PC affords the User the capability for unlimited Photos, custom symbols, WAV sound files and additional Users on board. The easy plugging in of a keyboard makes programming much easier. Easy cable and IRDA connections to other computers facilitate using other computer resources.

The biggest obstacle to overcome is not buying the software and hardware from the same place. Software technical support will still be available from DynaVox, but hardware questions will need to be addressed to Fujitsu.

The volume of the onboard speaker is often inadequate. The volume needs to be turned up to maximum in three separate places, the DynaVox speech volume, the SoundBlaster Compatible software driver, and the Fujitsu HotPad volume control. Even with all of these turned up, the volume is okay only for the closest, one on one use, in a quiet room. Fortunately, the problem can be solved with a $11.99 Mini Amplifier from Radio Shack. If you want more fidelity and volume, look at the Sony Personal Speaker line, the SRS-T1, the SRS-T70 and the SRS-T77. These are only slightly heavier and larger and $40.00 to $80.00, but they will fill a large room with reasonable stereo. For the "Do it Yourselfer" I bought a NewQ Twin Flat stereo notebook speaker ($39.95 at Micro Center). I then cut off one speaker. I ended up with great (monaural) sound in a system that is only 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 1/2 inches and weighs just 1/4 lb. It is powered via the USB port so it doesn't need batteries and it goes on and off with the computer. It is so small that I can put it within the Tablet's slip case.

The dedicated devices have a separate button to enter the SETUP MODE. DynaVox for Windows allows for the use of the F1 Function key to be used to enter the SETUP. If no keyboard is being used, one needs to have a way to get to the setup. I solve this in three ways. I use an onscreen popup keyboard program to get to the F1 key. On some pages, I add a SETUP command type button. (I often make this minimal size and the same color as the background in order to keep it invisible) Or, I just "hot plug" a keyboard. Although Fujitsu offers one, I bought a very small inexpensive keyboard for this purpose. I recommend the Mini-Virtually Indestructible Keyboard ($39.95 at CompUSA).

Although the optional Slip Case from Fujitsu is the best case that I have seen for any notebook computer anywhere, it does not have legs for use on a table. Again, Fujitsu offers a very nice stand, but I use a very inexpensive book stand sewn into the slip case by a shoemaker ($10.00) for table or desk top use.

DynaVox for Windows is designed to run on a screen 800 X 600. When windows adds the Title Bar and Task Bar to the screen, the full 800 x 600 is no longer available. In order to give access to the whole screen, now Windows automatically add Scroll Bars (that take up even more room). Again, there are several ways to work-around this. Windows allows for the adjustment of the width of the Title Bar, Scroll Bar and Task Bar. If these are adjusted to the minimum, most of the screen is accessible. DynaVox for Windows Version 2.09 has an option to run in a Full Screen mode, but this needs to be set each time the software is started. If this is beyond the capability or dexterity of a User, a utility is available for download that will force the software to open in Full Screen Mode every time. If you use full screen mode, be sure to place a command button to shut down the software. I am also careful not to place any buttons too close to the borders of the screen.

Finally, another important difference is difficult to call an advantage or a disadvantage. The DynaVox touchscreen works with a light touch from a fingertip. The Fujitsu touchscreen is specifically designed to ignore a large soft touch, and look for a small touch from a stylus. This allows one to rest their whole hand on the screen and write with the stylus. Included software can recognize handwritten entries. Diane had some difficulty with a stylus, but she did well wearing a guitar finger-pick. She now prefers to just use her fingernail touch.

Some Users have asked me about the newer Tablet PCs now available. We have not yet upgraded to these models. There is some very important information that you need to consider with these units. Fujitsu's current offering is the Stylistic 4120. This model has a 933 HZ chip and a 60 GB drive. It is available with a 1024 x 768 indoor/outdoor screen. There should be no problem running DynaVox software in 800 x 600 mode because the bios of this model has an LCD screen compensater. By definition, however, Tablet PCs use an active digitizer. This requires the use of a radio pen stylus. If you cannot use a stylus, or prefer to use a pressure (passive) digitizer, be sure to buy a tablet that has this feature. Fujitsu does sell their tablets with a passive digitizer option. It then is no longer a "Tablet PC." It comes with Window XP Pro and the appropriate drivers instead of Windows Tablet XP.

Last year we briefly added a keyguard to Diane's tablet. Although she no longer uses it, I added information about how I designed it for anyone for whom it might be useful. During an AT evaluation, it was suggested that Diane might benefit from a keyguard. As Diane uses this unique setup, the proposed custom keyguard would cost several hundred dollars and take her computer away for some time. Being the "do it yourselfer" that I am, I surprised her SLP with my "home built" model at her next session. Re-adapting all of her DynaVox user pages into a common 40 button format was much more time consuming than the hour or so it took to make the keyguard. I purchased an 8 x 10 inch precut piece of Lexan at Home Depot ($2.50). I made a paper template to lay out my hole placement by putting graph paper over the DynaVox Screen. Then taped the paper to the Lexan to drill the holes. I used a Spade type drill bit. This cut easily and left little bur. Be sure to buy Lexan and not Plexiglass. Plexiglass is one dollar cheaper, but it is very difficult to cut or drill without cracking. Lexan is still cheap enough that you can buy a few pieces to practice with. I used a stone to polish any remaining bur. Sandpaper will work to but be careful not to scratch the Lexan surface. It is better to leave the protective paper over the plastic until you are done, to help prevent scratches. I was planing some kind of Velcro mount, but in turned out that the keyguard just slipped into the case with the tablet and stayed put by itself. This made it easy to remove when Diane used other programs on her computer.

To see photos of the Diane using the Fujitsu Tablet, as well as the mini-amplifiers, keyguard, keyboard, stand and finger-pick, click on the items highlighted in blue. Click here for a printer friendly page of all of the photos. Also be sure to visit my website, The DynaVox Page Exchange, at www.dynavox.askinazy.com. Click on this LINK to read part of a paper that I presented in 1999 in Orlando at an annual meeting of USSAAC. This paper describes how Diane and I got involved in AAC in the first place.