FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is azahar?
- How to install Azahar and the applications?
- How is the program started and what steps need to be followed?
- How to personalize Azahar?
- Who can use Azahar, or who is designed for?
- What devices can run Azahar?
- How can I exit from Azahar?
- What images and sounds can be introduced into Azahar?
- What if I don't hear any sounds in Azahar?
- How can I change the application screen background color?
- ¿Puedo introducir imágenes de mi cámara dígital en Azahar?
What is azahar?
Azahar is a software platform that allows the installation and the use of software applications on mobile phones and portable devices. It's aimed at people with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) and Intellectual Disabilities. However, it can be useful for other people that have difficulties using conventional devices, and in general for any person needing support.
How to install Azahar and the applications?
In the 'Downloads' section, of the Azahar website, the platform installer can be downloaded for the corresponding operative system. The Azahar applications are also located on this website. The Azahar applications are not operative system dependent and work on every Azahar supported system. In short, the steps to install Azahar are: (1) Download the platform installer for the appropriate operative system (Windows, Windows Mobile) (2) Run the installer. If the process has been successful, the platform will be installed, and any desired application can be added.
How is the program started and what steps need to be followed?
The steps that need to be followed to use Azahar and its application are: (1) Install the Azahar platform . (2) Install the desired applications. (3) Download the teaching guide to personalize the applications. (4) Download the corresponding Pedagogical Guide. It's important, before starting to personalize Azahar, the teaching guide is read carefully to understand the teaching tool, which allows the personalization of the different applications. It's also important, that before using any application, the corresponding pedagogical guide must be read, in order to formulate a personalized plan according to the needs and preferences of the person to use Azahar.
How to personalize Azahar?
Azahar can be personalized according to the needs of the users. The person responsible for personalizing the applications will be the teacher. Download and consult the teaching guide for further information. The personalization of Azahar is achieved through the teaching tool. A teacher can correspond to a family member, an educator or a friend of the user. The 'teaching tool' allows the management and the personalization of any aspect of the applications. The teacher must consider the preferences, needs, likes and dislikes, and the sensory and cognitive profile of the user, before personalizing the application, in order that the application is easy to use.
Who can use Azahar, or who is designed for?
Azahar has been created with people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and/or cognitive disabilities in mind. However, it is useful for anybody that has difficulty carrying out any function performed by the applications of Azahar. The people Azahar is relevant for include people who due to their condition and /or barriers found in the technology and/or in the context, have difficulties in: (A) Managing their music. In this case they would be candidates for the the Music application. (B) Communicating orally every aspect or need of daily living may prove difficult, therefore people can access the HOLA application, a communicator through simple images or sentences built from images as communication via images is much more accessible (C) Communicating personal preferences and daily activities and so on. In this case the person can use the GUÍA PERSONAL, 'a tool so people around me can get to know me'. (D) Understanding and managing the concept of time and/or use conventional clocks. A group having these difficulties can benefit from the TIC_TAC application. (E) Managing SMS from a mobile phone to another mobile phone, this group can use the MENSAJES application.
What devices can run Azahar?
Before downloading the platform, it is necessary to know the operative system on your device. Regarding functionality, supported operative systems are: (A) Laptop (including Tablet PC or UMPC) Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. (B) Smartphone or PDA, Windows Mobile 6 (or higher)Los dispositivos en los cuales se asegura un óptimo funcionamiento ya que las aplicaciones se han testeado en estos terminales, son los siguientes:
- Acer neoTouchS200, Acer beTouch E101, Acer beTouch E200
- HTC Touch 3G , HTC Touch Pro 2, HTC Touch, HTC P3600
- LG GM750
How can I exit from Azahar?
To avoid any user of Azahar accidentally exiting the program, a special keyboard combination has been included that can be accessed by the Tutor. This combination, device independent, consists of pressing the cursor keys in the following order: left, right, left.
What images and sounds can be introduced into Azahar?
The Teaching application allows the creation and modification of Multimedia Images. In this way, the user can introduce any sounds and images that they wish. Image formats allowed are: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG and SVG. Sound formats admitted are MP3 and WAV. For efficiency reasons, the use of JPG and GIF for image formats and MP3 for sound formats are recommended. If you wish to introduce or modify images, consult the Teaching Guide.
What if I don't hear any sounds in Azahar?
In specific windows versions, the installation of a Microsoft library is needed to hear sounds in Azahar. This library can be downloaded by clicking on this link. Microsoft vcredit library (2.6MB). executable file is downloaded, run it and follow the displayed instructions
How can I change the application screen background color?
The background colour of the application can be changed by modifying the background colour of the launch icon, for example when viewing a clock, song or any application element, the background colour can be set by pushing on the object. The icon background color can be defined in the teacher application, in the 'Gallery' tab of every application. Enter in 'See images' section. Choose the image to be changed, click on the 'Modify' button and choose the icon background colour. By doing this the chosen color will be the background color of the application. This function is used to increase the comprehension of the user.
¿Puedo introducir imágenes de mi cámara dígital en Azahar?
Si, en Azahar se pueden introducir imágenes de varios formatos (JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG). Estos formatos son los más usados. Sólo hay que tener cuidado con las imágenes de grandes dimensiones y los teléfonos móviles. Azahar trata de forma automática las imágenes introducidas, para que tengan la resolución adecuada. Sin embargo al introducir imágenes de grandes dimensiones puede provocar que el teléfono móvil se quede bloqueado, así que en este caso es aconsejable reducirlas previamente con algún visor de fotografías.
