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Getting started

FST is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app. It helps people with speech or language difficulties — autism, aphasia, temporary impairment in a medical setting — express themselves through simple visual grids, text-to-speech, and tactile feedback.

The app works entirely offline: no internet connection, no account, and no sign-up are required. All customizations and history are stored locally on the device.

The main screen

On launch, FST shows a large message display screen. This is the central screen of the app:

  • When no text has been entered, a prompt message appears in the center.
  • As soon as text is entered, it is shown in very large characters, automatically resized to fill the whole screen. This makes it possible to show a word or sentence to another person, even from a distance.

Entering a message

At the bottom of the screen are the following buttons:

  • Grids (the grid icon, on the left) — opens the list of communication grids; tapping an entry opens that grid.
  • Keyboard — opens the input field to freely type a word or sentence. The text appears immediately, large, on the main screen; a clear button in the field erases it in one tap.
  • Speaker — reads the message aloud. The keyboard's Send key does the same when you submit the text. The button stays available once the keyboard is hidden, to repeat the message with a single tap; it only appears when Sound is enabled in the settings. Like a selection in a grid, each reading is recorded in the history.
  • Emergency (red triangle) — triggers the visual and audible alert (see the Emergency alert section).

When the input field is open, tap anywhere on the display area to hide it and return to the full-screen message display.

Opening the communication grids

The communication grids open from the main screen through the Grids button, bottom left, or through a long press (context menu) on the message display area. Both offer:

  • Yes / No
  • 1 to 5 (numbers)
  • Now / Later / Maybe
  • Needs
  • Emotions
  • Pain scale
  • Routines

Each grid is described in detail in the Communication grids, Pain scale and Visual routines sections.

Voice and touch feedback

Each selection in a grid triggers, depending on your settings:

  • a spoken reading of the label (text-to-speech in the system language);
  • a haptic response (vibration);
  • the logging of the event in the local history.

Voice, vibration, and reading speed are configured in Settings (see Customization).

  • The Settings button (gear icon) at the top of the main screen opens the app settings.
  • From each grid, the standard back button returns to the main screen.
← Previous Customization Next → Visual routines