Complete guide to Pictalk Buddy: our visual agenda app, sequences, and life journal with pictograms and images
What is Pictalk Buddy?
Pictalk Buddy, our agenda application, sequences, and life journal for individuals suffering from cognitive disabilities or neurodevelopmental disorders that make them more anxious and less autonomous in daily life. For example, autism, ASD, DYS, trisomy 21.
We were inspired by the paper weekly planner on our fridge as well as more traditional agenda applications. The app also offers sequences (or procedures) and very soon, a life journal.
Pictalk Buddy allows vocal feedback via a speech synthesis voice and provides a pictogram search engine ARASAAC, Sclera, Mulberry, Parlerpictos, and OpenoMoji. Importing images from your photo library is also possible. Pictalk Buddy features notifications to foster autonomy.
Installation
The app is available on Android and on iOS. It is also accessible via your web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.) at this address: https://agenda.pictalk.org/
No account creation is needed to start using Buddy. Once installed, it works offline to view events.
How to use it?
First use
During your first use, you will be guided through an onboarding process. At the end, you are invited to create an account to save your content.
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After this step, you will have access to the four sections of the app:
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Agenda Module |
Sequences Module |
Life Journal Module |
Settings |
Agenda Module
The Agenda module is the core of Pictalk Buddy. It offers a clear and intuitive view of daily, weekly, or monthly events using customizable pictograms and images. Designed to promote user autonomy, this module also includes advanced features such as event repetition, detailed sequences integration, and vocal content reading.
Understanding the interface
By default, day's events are displayed vertically. Simply scroll/drag down to see tomorrow's, the day after tomorrow's events, etc. Each day has its own color; the color theme can be changed in the settings.
As shown in the screenshot, past events are grayed out. Upcoming events (e.g., “Return Home”) are shaded in gray. This minimizes cognitive load for the user when viewing the day.
To change the display direction or switch the visible calendar, click on the three dots in the upper right corner. You can then select or deselect a calendar. Print the current week or change the display mode: 1) infinite vertical view, 2) day by day, 3) week by week on tablet or computer.
I quickly modified the start of the event “Return Home” to illustrate how it displays when ongoing.
A line of the same color as the event indicates the elapsed time within the event. When the line is full, the event is finished. A white dot with a yellow ball appears when sequences or tasks are to be validated, e.g., Sequence: “Prepare Backpack.”
If you click on an event, you access:
- A blue button to read the event aloud
- The detailed time slot (start time, end time)
- All images related to the event
- A countdown timer if the event lasts less than an hour
- A GPS point with a shortcut to Google Maps
Creating an event
Creating events is simple and essential for effective use of Pictalk Buddy.
Each event includes multiple customizable properties:
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Title (visible directly in the Agenda view)
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Detailed description
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Start and end date and time
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Pictograms or custom images
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Ability to include step-by-step sequences
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Repetitions and alarms for better routine
- Task or event to promote autonomy
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Optional address to assist with travel
Each event can be read aloud using effective speech synthesis, enhancing accessibility and independence.
Sharing a calendar (Plus or Pro required)
With Pictalk Buddy, you can easily share your calendars with other users. Thanks to Plus and Pro subscriptions, you can create separate calendars (family, school, specialized care, etc.) and share them individually with specific groups via QR code or email. Each shared calendar ensures privacy while enabling coordination with close ones or supporting professional teams.
The sequences module
This module allows creating visual step-by-step sequences, useful for guiding users in daily activities like brushing teeth or work-related tasks such as maintaining garden equipment.
Understanding the interface
You can duplicate, modify, delete, and export sequences. Soon available: printing these sequences.
Creating a sequence
Creating a sequence with Pictalk Buddy is quick and intuitive. Each sequence has a clear title and consists of several precise steps. Each step can include an image (pictogram or photo) or a video (Plus or Pro required), along with a personalized audio recording (Plus or Pro required) or automatic speech synthesis. You can categorize your sequences with tags like Kitchen, Hygiene, Health, among others, facilitating management and quick search. It is now possible to automatically generate a complete sequence using artificial intelligence, significantly simplifying the creation process.
Sharing a sequence (Plus or Pro required)
Sharing a sequence is simple and effective with Pictalk Buddy. Each sequence can be exported as a file or QR code. This QR code can be scanned directly from the app by other users, facilitating the exchange of best practices among families or professionals.
The Life Journal module
This upcoming module will allow maintaining an interactive digital journal, called a life notebook, including photos, videos, and audio files to enrich sharing experiences and memories. It will also facilitate communication between families and supporting professionals.
Settings
To accommodate the widest range of needs, Pictalk Buddy offers numerous customization options.
- Adjustable interface size (normal, large, XL)
- Color settings adapted for various vision impairments (protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia)
- Precise configuration of speech synthesis (voice choice, speed, pitch)
Features Plus and Pro:
The Plus subscription offers up to two calendars, ideal for managing a family calendar and a second for school or specialized care, thus protecting your privacy.
The Pro subscription allows management of 5 profiles/users or more, with features ideal for professional structures like schools or IMEs, enabling easy and secure sharing of calendars, sequences, and life journals with pedagogical teams and parents.
Creating sequences
You can create an unlimited number of sequences and steps, linking them to events.
Multi-calendar and sharing
With Plus and Pro features, you can create separate calendars for different environments (family, school, external activities) without risk of confusion or privacy breaches.
Printing
Printing the week planner with pictograms (Monday to Sunday) is possible to provide maximum multimodality to users. We are also considering offering a monthly print option.
Other tutorials
The TechLab of APF France Handicap (managed by Aurélie RÉGENT) has created a great guide about Pictalk Buddy (formerly Agenda CAA) at this address: https://techlab-handicap.org/produit/agenda-caa/
Resources for inclusive school have also produced a tutorial of the previous version of the app available here: https://ressources-ecole-inclusive.org/agenda-caa/