PECS is a low-tech version of AAC (Augmentative and alternative Communication), whereas Avaz is a high-tech version of AAC.
Avaz is a hi-tech AAC app that runs on iOS (iPads and iPhones) and Android (tabs and phones).
Here is what differentiates Avaz from PECS:
| Aspect | PECS | Avaz | |
| Tech level | Low tech (printed - physical pictures) | High-tech (digital, speech-generating) - has images and voice output | |
| Voice | No voice output | Has a range of voices and accents to choose from. You can pick one that suits your child's age and gender | |
| Vocabulary | Has an in-built graded vocabulary of around 4000-5000 words that you can start using off-the-shelf | ||
| Primary use | Requesting (early communication) | Full range of communication | |
Has an in-built library of over 60,000 symbols from Symbolstix that can be added to your app | |||
Customization
| Limited (needs printed pictures) | Adding pictures - In Avaz, you can add pictures in a few seconds to customize and personalize it for the AAC user. Unlike in PECS where you have to find pictures, download, print, laminate and add velcro strips to each picture to start using it. All these are completely avoided and photos can be added within a few seconds to Avaz app. This makes Avaz extremely scaleable to use. | |
| Aspect | PECS | AAC App |
|---|
| Tech level | Low-tech (physical pictures) | High-tech (digital, speech-generating) |
- Portability - the app can be easily carried wherever you go, regardless of the size of vocabulary. In PECS however, once the vocabulary grows, the size becomes more bulky and less portable.
- The ease of customization, portability and scaleability make Avaz far superior to a low-tech version such as PECS.
Please browse the Avaz FAQ - for more details about Avaz.
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