In the 2010s, the Assistive Technology industry underwent a massive transformation driven by two factors: the ubiquity of mobile tablets (iPad) and the transition to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
5.1 Tobii Dynavox Acquisition Mayer-Johnson was acquired by Tobii Dynavox, a leader in eye-tracking technology and SGDs. This acquisition signaled a shift in philosophy. The Boardmaker software was no longer just a desktop publishing tool; it was to be the content engine for high-tech devices. boardmaker cd
5.2 Boardmaker Online and the Death of the CD The launch of Boardmaker Online marked the beginning of the end for the Boardmaker CD. This cloud-based platform allowed users to create materials on any device with a browser. It offered features impossible on a CD: real-time collaboration, shared global libraries, and instant play on iPads. The transition was not without controversy. The subscription model (paying monthly/annually) replaced the one-time purchase of a CD. For many districts, this shifted budgeting from capital expenditure (CAPEX) to operational expenditure (OPEX), creating financial strain despite the improved functionality. In the 2010s, the Assistive Technology industry underwent
Boardmaker CD democratized AAC. Before it, creating a communication board meant hand-drawing symbols or cutting out magazine pictures. Boardmaker gave any teacher with a computer and printer the ability to produce professional, standardized visual supports overnight. The Boardmaker software was no longer just a
Many early PECS users learned their first requesting skills with boards printed from Boardmaker CD. It became the clip art of special education.
Boardmaker CD was the industry-standard software for creating printed visual supports. The CD contained a massive library of Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) — simple, line-drawn images with consistent styling. You installed the software from the CD, inserted the disc to run it, and printed directly to a local printer. There was no cloud, no login, and no subscription.