New Updates in Grid

We’re delighted to share several major updates to Grid, designed to make communication even more powerful, flexible and safe for users of all ages and abilities. These updates were part of the Grid version 99 update. To access these new features make sure your software is up-to-date.

Seamless Chat Switching

A brand-new command, Chat Switcher, makes it easy to move between two concurrent conversations with a single tap — perfect for multitasking, pre-planning, or returning to a draft. 

• The Chat Switcher command can be added to any grid set (symbol- or text-based).

• Chat Switcher is now a standard feature built into the latest version of Fast Talker. Simply add a new version in Grid to start using it straight away.

• Once installed, select the Chat Switcher cell to toggle between two chat writing areas (your original chat remains intact until you close the set). 

• Available on both Windows and iPad. 

Updates to the Super Core Vocabulary Sets

The established symbol-based vocabulary sets Super Core have also been refined and extended. To access these changes you will need to get the latest version of Super Core by going to Menu > Add grid sets > Symbol communication.

Enhanced features include:

Extended maths and English grids – now including more advanced concepts.
New ‘silly words’ grid in the Child vocabulary – encouraging younger users to play around and have fun with language in the same way as their speaking peers.
New activities, such as sports, gaming and TV. The TV and Film topic is also now available in the Child vocabulary under Topics.
Updated play activity phrases – to make them more applicable for a wider range of activities.
Updated “help” and “autism” symbols across all symbol sets.
Ensuring all users have access to biological terms for genitals – age appropriate genital vocabulary is now accessible via Topics > Body > Genitals in both Child, Teen and Adult vocabularies, so that any user can refer to body parts correctly. Reviewed and reorganised sex and sexual health grids in the Teen and Adult vocabulary – ensuring consistent locations of vocabulary to support motor planning, as well as providing vocabulary for consent directly on the sex grid.
Personalisation made easier: blank cells are now available by default for users to type their own labels and add symbols.

Expanded Widgit Symbol Library: New & Improved

The Widgit Symbols library in Grid has received a major expansion: over 2,000 new symbols, plus improvements to many existing ones across key vocabularies.

Highlights include:

• A richer health & medical symbol set (to support users discussing bodies, treatments, mental health).

• Updated family & relationships symbols that reflect a broader range of roles and identities.

• New vocabulary and symbols for everyday life: sexuality, relationships, safeguarding; movement, actions; animals & nature; food & cooking; learning; society & law; transportation; arts & music, and more.

• Improved symbol-searching: when typing or writing with symbols, the suggestions are now more accurate and ordered by relevance.

Important Update to Adult Symbols

In recognition that some symbol sets may include content that’s sensitive or age-specific, Smartbox has introduced a clearer set of rules for handling “adult-content symbols” in Grid.

Key changes:

• There is a setting: Show Adult Symbols (Settings → Symbols). By default, this remains off, especially with symbol sets used by children. When off, any symbol marked as “adult” is replaced by a pixelated icon rather than the image.

• Symbols that fall in this category include: explicit sexual activity; extreme violence; drug misuse; criminal activity or extreme self-harm.

• Importantly — the symbols are not removed, the symbol name will still be visible at all times. 

• Some symbols will always remain visible in less graphic form — e.g., genitalia (in non-sexualised context), symbols relating to sexuality/gender, menstruation, childbirth, toileting functions. This ensures people using AAC are able to communicate about their health, describe experiences and ask for help. 

• These changes will roll out gradually over the coming months, starting in Grid version 99 for Windows & iPad.