General App Questions
How do I purchase your apps?
You can purchase our apps through your tablet or device directly from the App Store (for Apple devices: iPad®, iPad mini™, or iPhone®) or Google Play store (for Android™ devices).
Which apps are available for purchase on Android™ devices via the Google Play Store?
The following apps are available for download on Android devices: PECSTalk™, PECSTalk™ Lite, Working4™ and R+ Remind.
The following apps are coming soon to Android: iHear PECS®: Animals™ and Wait4it™.
Which apps are available for purchase on Apple devices via the App Store?
The following apps are available for download on Apple devices (iPad®, iPad mini™, and iPhone®): Working4™, Wait4it™, and R+ Remind.
The following apps are available for download on iPad® and iPad mini™ ONLY: PECSTalk™, PECSTalk Lite™ PECS IV+, and iHear PECS®: Animals™.
Do I need an internet connection to run your apps?
An internet connection is only necessary for the following:
- Purchasing and downloading our apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
- Sending emails to appsupport@pecs.com via your Apple or Android device when using our apps
Which languages for your apps are available?
PECSTalk™ | English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Russian |
PECSTalk Lite™ | English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Russian |
PECS IV+ | English, British English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Russian |
iHear PECS: Animals | English |
Wait4it | English |
Working4 | English, Japanese, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese |
iPraiseU | English |
R+ Remind | English |
Do you have demonstration videos available for your apps?
Where can I find more information about your apps?
If I have trouble with the apps and the list of Frequently Asked Questions doesn’t answer my question, what should I do?
Send us an email at appsupport@pecs.com for additional assistance.
What is Pyramid's Mobile App Privacy Policy?
Apple, App Store, and Apple Devices
Are your apps available for purchase through the Apple Volume Purchase Program (VPP)?
What is the Apple School Manager and Apple School Business programs through Apple?
All apps on the Apple App Store are automatically available for volume purchase through Apple Business Manager and Apple School Manager, which is where businesses and educational institutions download apps for volume distribution. Business and Institutions enrolled in these programs receive a 50% discount on apps when purchasing in quantities of 20 or more.
Learn more about Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager Programs on Apple’s websites.
How do I purchase multiple licenses using the Volume Purchase Program for Education (VPP)?
For more information read the Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager User Guides.
How many Apple devices can be connected via the same Apple ID?
Ten (10) devices (no more than five of them computers) may be associated with the same Apple ID for purchases at one time.
In addition, Apple’s Family Sharing features allows for you and up to five other family members the capability to share access to App Store purchases. Learn more about Family Sharing through Apple.
What is Guided Access?
Guided Access helps you stay focused on a task while using your iPhone or iPad. Guided Access temporarily limits your device to a single app and lets you control which app features are available.
You can use Guided Access to:
- Temporarily restrict your iOS device to a single app
- Disable areas of the screen that aren’t relevant to a task, or areas where an accidental gesture might cause a distraction
- Disable the hardware buttons
How do I set up Guided Access to disable buttons that I don’t want my learner to use on the apps (Apple devices only)?
Review Apple’s website for more information how to use the Guided Access feature.
ANDROID, GOOGLE PLAY STORE, AND ANDROID DEVICES
The language I wish to use for text to speech is missing on my Android device.
On certain Android devices you will need to switch the text to speech service engine to use the Google text to speech engine.
If using a Samsung Galaxy Device:
- Open your device Settings.
- Swipe to and then tap General management.
- Tap Text-to-speech.
- Choose the Google text to speech engine
For all non-Samsung Galaxy devices, or if the above instructions do not work try:
- Open your device Settings
- Select Accessibility and then Text-to-speech output
- Choose the Google text to speech engine
You may need to contact your device manufacturer if none of the above instructions work for you.
What is Screen Pinning?
Screen Pinning, also called App Pinning, is a feature available on Android devices (similar to Guided Access on Apple devices) that allows you to lock down a single app on Android smartphones or tablets. As long as the app is “pinned” to screen, users cannot access any other app on the device.
Screen Pinning allows the user to disable hardware buttons like home buttons, volume buttons, and touch input in certain areas of the screen. A passcode may also be set to block users from disabling the screen pinning feature.
How do I enable Screen Pinning (Android devices only)?
Follow these directions to enable Screen Pinning on your Android device:
- Go to “Settings” on your Android device.
- Open “Security and Privacy,” then select “Other security settings”.
- Search the “Pin App” option and enable it.
Select the app you want to pin and tap the recent button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold. Tap the icon above the app and select ‘Pin this app’.
PECSTalk™
Where can I find more information about PECSTalk™?
Visit pecstalk.com.
Is there a demonstration video available?
Yes, watch it here.
How can I learn more about the features available in PECSTalk™?
Read through our Getting Started Guide here.
Are trial versions of PECSTalk™ available?
Yes, a trial version of PECSTalk (PECSTalk Lite) with limited functionality is available for free download via the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
When is it appropriate to transition a learner from a PECS Communication Book to PECSTalk™?
In order to determine if your learner is ready to transition to a Speech Generating Device, we recommend that you review the following flow chart and article developed to answer this question:
How many images can be loaded into each book within PECSTalk™?
Each book within PECSTalk can support up to 30 tabbed pages. Each tabbed page can have 3 additional pages with up to 28 pictures on each page (30 x 3 x 28= 2,520 total images per book). If your learner’s vocabulary has exceeded 2,520 pictures, you will need to set up another book within the app to accommodate additional vocabulary.
How many languages are supported with PECSTalk™?
PECSTalk supports 14 languages: English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, and Simplified Chinese.
Does PECSTalk™ offer multiple voice options?
PECSTalk does not include multiple voice options. However, it is possible to adjust the speed and pitch of the speech synthesizer. Below are instructions to follow in order to make adjustments to the speech synthesizer within the app:
- Tap the lock icon in bottom left-hand corner to enter Communication Mode.
- Tap selected profile (Drag or Drop; Drag; Tap or one of your custom profiles)
- A Dialog box with multiple options will appear. Tap on Speech Synthesizer.
- Another dialog box will appear. Adjust the Speed and Pitch of the voice up or down.
- Type text into the text box and tap Play to listen to the adjusted voice.
- Once you have achieved the desired voice, tap the back arrow at the top of the dialog box.
- Tap the Start Communication button to enter Communication Mode.
Is it possible to back-up the app and restore?
Yes, PECSTalk now offers local and cloud backup.
App Backup
- Tap the three dots located in the center of PECSTalk
- Select Backups
- Select Create Backup
- The app will create backup locally
Share a Backup with another person or device
- Tap the three dots located in the center of PECSTalk
- Select view backups and choose a backup
- Select Share
- You can share backup via email or cloud services such as Dropbox.
Restore a Backup
- Tap the three dots located in the enter of PECSTalk
- Select Import Backup
- Choose location where the backup file is located
- Tap on the file
- Backup files should be loaded on the app.
Is it possible to add “NO” symbols on top of images that are currently unavailable?
Yes, within PECSTalk universal “NO” symbols may be added on top of any image to show that the item is currently unavailable.
- Select gear icon on the lower right corner of the image
- Tap on ‘No’ Overlay and turn it on/off for the universal no image.
Is it possible to import images from the web for use within the PECSTalk app?
Yes, it is possible to import images from the web into the app. Follow these instructions:
- Close the app and open Safari.
- Search for the necessary image via Safari.
- Once you locate the desired image, take a screen shot of the image using your device. The screen shot should now be accessible via your camera roll.
- Open the app and import the image via the import from photo library feature.
Is it possible to change the name of a book within the app?
Yes, it is possible to change the name of a book within the app at any time. To change the name of any book, follow these instructions:
- Tap on the book icon with the squiggly lines around it at the top left of the screen where all the books are listed. This icon will turn yellow once tapped.
- To change the name of the book, tap on the current name of the book. The rectangle that the text is in will turn yellow. You can now delete the name or input a new name.
My learner keeps tapping on the lock icon and using the code to unlock the app when in Communication Mode. How can I resolve this issue?
Can I transfer the books I’ve created in the PECSTalk app from one device to another?
Yes, it is easy to back up books created within the app and send to other devices, even across platforms. Books may be shared between multiple Android Devices and Apple iPads.
Can my PECSTalk™ app be synced between two different devices?
Books created within PECSTalk may be shared across multiple devices using the backup and restore feature. The app does not support real-time synching between multiple devices.
What are the system requirements needed for PECSTalk?
PECSTalk is now available on Android Smart Tablets and Apple iPads.
Android Requirements
Any Android tablet running Android 12+ or greater, with at least 4 gigabytes of onboard RAM and 32 gigabytes of storage. In addition to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 CPU or equivalent. The Samsung series of tablets A8 or higher is recommended.
iPad Requirements
Any iPad with at least 32 gigabytes of onboard storage, “8th generation” or newer with the A12 Bionic chip CPU or newer (“M” series of CPUs preferred)
What are the differences between PECS IV+, PECSTalk, and PECSTalk Lite?
The features for all 3 apps are outlined below:
PECS IV+ | PECSTalk™ | PECSTalk™ Lite |
Available for iPad (iPadOS) | Available for Android Tablets & Apple iPads | Available for Android Tablets & Apple iPads |
14 Languages | 14 Languages | 14 Languages |
1 voice | Voice to match language (1 voice) | Voice to match language (1 voice) |
Access to 1,000 Pics for PECS images | Access to the full Pics for PECS image library (~3,000 images) | Access to ~1,000 Pics for PECS images |
One time purchase | One time purchase | 21-Day Free Trial |
Upload and create custom images | Upload and create custom images | Upload and create custom images |
No easy back up options | Back up to and restore from a cloud service or tablet & share across devices | Backup capabilities disabled |
Dedicated Sentence Starter Page with up to 10 pages | Dedicated Sentence Starter Page with 10 scrollable pages | Dedicated Sentence Starter Page |
Up to 30 Insert Pages per Book | Up to 30 Insert Pages per Book, each with 3 scrollable pages | Up to 5 Insert Pages, each with 3 scrollable pages |
Up to 28 images per page | Up to 28 images per page, with scrolling capabilities | Up to 28 images per page, with scrolling capabilities |
Each book can hold up to 840 images (30 insert pages x 28 images to a page) | Each book can hold up to 2,520 images (30 insert page x 28 images per page, each with 3 scrollable pages) | Book can hold up to 420 images (5 insert page x 28 images per page, each with 3 scrollable pages) |
Increase up to 7 Velcro strips per page | Increase up to 7 Velcro strips per page | Increase up to 7 Velcro strips per page |
Profile customization | Profile customization | Profile customization disabled |
Ability to add category name and icon to tabbed pages | Ability to add category name and icon to tabbed pages |
Ability to add category name and icon to tabbed pages
|
Picture Selection options: Drag or Tap, Drag, Tap, or custom |
Picture Selection options: Drag or Tap, Drag, Tap, or custom |
Picture selection options: Drag or Tap only |
Track learner usage | Track learner usage | Learner usage tracking disabled |
Ability to create bilingual books |
|
|
Ability to add Universal No Overlay to images |
PECS IV+
Where can I find more information about PECS IV+?
Is there a demonstration video available?
How do I set up my first book in the PECS IV+ App?
How can I learn more about the features available in PECS IV+?
Read through our Getting Started Guide here.
Are trial versions of PECS IV+ available?
A trial or free version of PECS IV+ is not available. However, there are some demo videos of the app available online that you might find helpful here.
When is it appropriate to transition a learner from a PECS Communication Book to PECS IV+?
How many images can be loaded into each book within PECS IV+?
Each book within PECS IV+ can support up to 30 pages with up to 28 pictures on each page (840 images total). If your learner’s vocabulary has exceeded 840 pictures, you will need to set up another book within the app to accommodate additional vocabulary.
How many languages are supported with PECS IV+?
PECS IV+ supports 15 languages: English, British English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Russian.
Is PECS IV+ being developed for use on the Android™ platform?
Pyramid has plans to develop the PECS IV+ app for the Android platform in early 2023.
Does PECS IV+ offer multiple voice options?
PECS IV+ does not include multiple voice options. However, it is possible to adjust the speed and pitch of the speech synthesizer. Below are instructions to follow in order to make adjustments to the speech synthesizer within the app:
- Tap the lock icon in bottom left-hand corner to enter Communication Mode.
- Tap selected profile (Drag or Drop; Drag; Tap or one of your custom profiles)
- A Dialog box with multiple options will appear. Tap on Speech Synthesizer.
- Another dialog box will appear. Adjust the Speed and Pitch of the voice up or down.
- Type text into the text box and tap Play to listen to the adjusted voice.
- Once you have achieved the desired voice, tap the back arrow at the top of the dialog box.
- Tap the Start Communication button to enter Communication Mode.
Is it possible to back-up the app?
At this time, the only way to back up the app to an outside database in order to ensure that all data (user pictures, profiles, and books) is protected is to back-up your entire device using iCloud. Please follow the Apple guidelines on Backing up and Restoring Apple devices:
Is it possible to add “NO” symbols on top of images that are currently unavailable?
This feature is not currently available within PECS IV+. We suggest that the unavailable items/pictures be moved to a special insert page reserved for unavailable items. This is one strategy that we recommend for low-tech PECS Communication Books as well when “no” symbols are not available.
Is it possible to import images from the web into the app without using the web search function within the PECS IV+ app?
Yes, it is still possible to import images from the web into the app. However, it takes a few more steps. In order to import images from the web (without using the web search function available within the PECS IV+ app), please follow these instructions:
- Close the app and open Safari.
- Search for the necessary image via Safari.
- Once you locate the desired image, take a screen shot of the image using your device. The screen shot should now be accessible via your camera roll.
- Open the app and import the image via the import from photo library feature.
Is it possible to change the name of a book within the app?
- Tap on the book icon with the squiggly lines around it at the top left of the screen where all the books are listed. This icon will turn yellow once tapped.
- To change the name of the book, tap on the current name of the book. The rectangle that the text is in will turn yellow. You can now delete the name or input a new name.
My learner keeps tapping on the lock icon and using the code to unlock the app when in Communication Mode. How can I resolve this issue?
Can I transfer my PECS IV+ app from one device to another?
If you have backed your device up using iCloud, you can sign into the new device using the same Apple ID and restore your settings from the previous device. This will only work if you are using the same Apple ID on both devices. There is currently no way to transfer the PECS IV+ app from one device to another on devices using different Apple IDs.
Can my PECS IV+ app be synced between two different devices?
At this time there is no way to sync the PECS IV+ app between devices.
Our school uses a MDM to distribute apps. Will the PECS IV+ app work with MDM?
At this time, the PECS IV+ app will not work with MDM (Mobile Device Management). The PECS IV+ app requires a single user to login using an Apple ID, therefore making the app incompatible with MDM.
How do I change speech pronunciation within the iPad (example, so ‘I’ is pronounced accurately)?
Below are the steps required to change the pronunciation:
- Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech (or Settings > Accessibility > Voice over > Speech depending on your iOS version)
- Go to Pronunciation
- +
- Type ‘I’ in the phrase section
- Type ‘i’ in the substitution section. In newer iOS versions, instead tap the microphone icon and speak the phrase the way you would like it pronounced.
- Toggle off ‘Apply to all apps’
- Scroll through the list of apps under ‘Apply to’ and select the PECS IV+ app
What are the system requirements needed for PECS IV+?
iPad Requirements
Any iPad with at least 32 gigabytes of onboard storage, “8th generation” or newer with the A12 Bionic chip CPU or newer (“M” series of CPUs preferred)
Does the app run on the new iOS 17.x?
The app does run on the new IOS 17.x. Users reported an issue with pictures stacking on top of each other on certain iPad Pro devices. If you are experiencing this problem, please download the latest version of the app from App Store at no extra charge.
Now that PECSTalk is available is it possible to transition from using PECS IV+ to PECSTalk?
Current PECS IV+ users should NOT download PECSTalk from Apple at this time. In the near future, Pyramid will be rolling out a transition process that current PECS IV+ users will be able to follow to transition to the PECSTalk app for FREE while maintaining all their books and data from the PECS IV+ app. The transition process will require current PECS IV+ users to download an upgraded version of PECS IV+ in order to save and backup their current books and data stored in PECS IV and then download a separate app called PECS IV+ to PECSTalk to complete the transition process.
Once available, Pyramid will be offering the PECS IV+ to PECSTalk transition process at no charge for 90 days. After the 90 days, PECS IV+ users will still have the ability to transition from PECS IV+ to PECSTalk. However, after the 90 days, PECS IV+ users will need to pay $29.99 USD (or equivalent) to transition from PECS IV+ to PECSTalk. More detailed information will be shared in relation to the transition process over the following weeks. Please note any PECS IV+ users that download PECSTalk directly from the Apple App Store without following transition process will be charged full price for the app.