A global company boasting its U.S. presence in Lower Burrell hopes to build a world where no one is left without a voice.
The founders of Smartbox developed software that enables people who can’t speak to communicate with others, said Michele Rimmel, senior vice president of operations for the company.
“Since 2000, they’ve invested in creating alternative communication devices to put their software in, to allow people different methods of access to communication,” she said.
Lower Burrell is Smartbox’s only U.S. location, between GameStop and H&R Block in the Hillcrest Shopping Center since 2022. Before that, Smartbox’s base was in a strip mall near where Leechburg Road and Edgecliff Road split.
Rimmel of Allegheny Township said that she met Smartbox’s founders in 2016 as they were looking to launch a U.S. presence. She suggested a location close to home and wasn’t necessarily looking for a storefront, and Lower Burrell fit the bill.
“It’s exciting to see Lower Burrell become the home to unique businesses such as Smartbox,” Mayor Chris Fabry said. “As retail declines across the country, businesses like Smartbox are vital to our area. It’s great that they see value in being here.
“It’s great to know that a product that helps so many is made right here in Lower Burrell.”
In Lower Burrell, employees manufacture iOS-based devices that look like iPads, install software and ship them to the company’s network of U.S. and international partners to provide the technology to people in more than 50 countries.
“We are building a world where no one is left without a voice,” Rimmel said.
Among those who can use the devices as a communication mechanism are autistic people, adults with ALS progression or people who has suffered strokes and are unable to speak, Rimmel said.
Often, families see a speech language pathologist, who may direct them to use Smartbox’s software.
“We have a variety of different devices for people with different abilities,” said Jake Rump, a technology support specialist with the company.
The technology
People can control the devices by touch, a “switch” where they can press or use muscle movement or their eye gaze to make selections on the device. Eye gaze technology uses cameras that allow those with physical disabilities to control a computer using just eye movements.
“It’s able to track your eyes and where you’re looking at the screen,” Rump said.
Rimmel said people who would use that software would be able to have the device mounted on a wheelchair.
“They would use the eye gaze as their means of communication,” she said.
The device has different keyboards and grids with words, phrases and symbols for people to use to communicate. They can direct their eyes to certain words on the devices to form sentences.
Rimmel said the software is a more effective and efficient than core boards, which typically were used in the past. Core boards have words and phrases arranged across a paper, and a speech language pathologist would go row by row to find the words for a person to communicate with them.
“It was extremely long and not a way to do things,” Rimmel said.
The software also includes games called “Look to Learn” that children can play using eye gaze. That aims to get children to understand how to use the device by training their eyes to improve their choice-making skills when it comes to selecting words off the grid to form sentences.
“Sometimes, it’s easier to get them engaged with a game,” Rimmel said.
Access to communication
People who are unable to speak but can control muscle movements can use the “switch,” which connects to the device, and tap their finger on what they want to select as the technology scans over the grid.
When the scan highlights the part of the screen that the person wants to select, they tap their finger on the switch to select that word or phrase.
“We want everyone to have the ability to communicate, just like the rest of us, in every way, shape and form,” Rimmel said.
The devices are more akin to a laptop, Rump said. They have access to the internet and more accessible versions of popular apps, such as YouTube and Facebook. It also has full phone and email capabilities.
“It’s super customizable,” Rump said. “It depends on your cognitive abilities and the time you spend on the device.
“It’s incredible to watch them breeze through the computer, just like anyone else would.”
Customer support and repairs are available at the Lower Burrell location. There are about 12 employees there, Rimmel said.
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“Giving someone access to communicate is very important,” Rump said. “The faster we can do that, the better.”
Smartbox’s background
Smartbox started as a small, family company when founders Paul, Alyson, Barney and Dougal Hawes set out to provide an alternative form of communication for people in the United Kingdom, Rimmel said.
The company has since grown, and now the Smartbox family includes augmentative and alternative communication providers Smartbox France, KMD in the Netherlands, REHAVISTA in Germany and Talk to Me Technologies in Iowa.
The need for such equipment grows every day, Rimmel said, be it for babies born without the ability to speak or people falling ill or being in an accident and losing their ability to communicate.
She said the company’s goal is to expand its reach.
“We’re trying to make people aware this is out there,” Rimmel said. “We think there’s a lot of people that have not yet been reached and that could use this device. We hope to continue to grow.”