Asterics AAC

Overview

Asterics AAC is a web-based augmentative and alternative communication app for building customizable grids. Grid elements can combine labels or images with spoken output, sentence building, and word prediction. The range of access methods and layout options lets users shape the interface around how they communicate and interact.

Beyond communication, grid actions can connect to running AsTeRICS Framework models, openHAB devices, and programs or devices that provide an HTTP REST API. The app also includes ways to search for and play web radio, control YouTube videos within the app, and play podcasts.

The AsTeRICS Foundation, founded in February 2017, works to bring project results to people with disabilities, organize workshops, and coordinate projects. For more options, see AAC Communication Software.

Key features

Customizable communication grids

Grid elements may show labels or images, speak an element label or custom text, collect selected words into a sentence, and offer word predictions. Layout customization is fully customizable, and the symbol system is hybrid.

Multiple ways to select grid elements

Users can select elements with touch, a mouse, a keyboard, an external switch, scanning, hovering, microphone input, or AsTeRICS Framework events such as eye or head movement. Direction, Huffman, and sequential input are also supported.

Speech and connected services

Speech output uses computer voices, with available voices depending on the platform and browser. Grid actions can control supported smart-home devices and software through AsTeRICS Framework models, openHAB, or an HTTP REST API.

Media and offline access

Asterics AAC can search for and play web radio, control YouTube videos inside the app, and play podcasts. After the first browser visit downloads the app to its cache, it can be reopened and used offline.

Synchronization and privacy

Registered users can synchronize grids across devices. Personalized data for online users is end-to-end encrypted with the user’s password, which the foundation says means it cannot access the data in unencrypted form. Users who work offline keep personalized data locally in the browser. Online user data is deleted after 365 days without a login.

There is an important account-recovery limitation: if an online user loses their password, neither the password nor account data can be recovered. The documentation recommends downloading backups.

Help

The documentation says users can open help at the relevant section by clicking the help icon or pressing F1.

Pricing

Asterics AAC is free and open-source. Its Free plan costs nothing. There is no free trial, and the app will always remain free and open-source. Cross-device synchronization depends on funding for server costs.

Platforms

Asterics AAC runs in web browsers on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its browser-based design supports reopening the app offline after the initial visit has cached it. Registered users can synchronize grids across devices when online.

Who it's for

Asterics AAC is for people seeking customizable augmentative and alternative communication grids, including users who need different ways to select grid elements or use speech output. Its options also suit people who want communication tools alongside supported smart-home controls and media playback. The choice of computer voices varies by platform and browser, and online account users should keep backups because lost passwords cannot be recovered.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Customizable grids support labels, images, sentence building, and word prediction.
• Offers a broad range of access methods, including switches, scanning, microphone input, and Framework events such as eye or head movement.
• Can be used offline after the initial browser visit caches the app.
• Online personalized data is end-to-end encrypted with the user's password.
• Includes integrations for supported devices and services, plus radio, YouTube controls, and podcasts.
• Free and open-source.

Cons

• Voice availability depends on the platform and browser.
• Lost passwords and account data cannot be recovered for online users.
• Online user data is deleted after 365 days without a login.
• Cross-device synchronization depends on funding for server costs.

Alternatives

Other AAC communication apps to consider include Cboard, Jellow, Speech Assistant AAC, TD Snap, SymboTalk, Spoken, Niki Talk, and Weave Chat AAC.

Verdict

Asterics AAC combines flexible grid-based communication with several selection methods, speech, offline use, and optional synchronization for registered users. Its smart-home integrations and media tools add functions beyond communication. It is free and open-source, but online users should download backups because account recovery is not possible if a password is lost. Those choosing the app should also consider that synchronization depends on server-cost funding and that available voices vary by browser and platform.