Step-by-Step Device

A simple, single-switch augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that stores a sequence of pre-recorded voice messages and plays them back one at a time with each button press. Step-by-step devices are categorised as "low-tech" or "mid-tech" AAC because they require minimal cognitive or physical effort to operate — the user simply presses a single large button to advance through the message sequence. They are commonly used in educational settings to help non-speaking individuals participate in storytelling, share news, or take turns in conversation. However, their limited storage capacity and the fact that messages are overwritten when new ones are recorded make them unsuitable for long-term narrative archiving.