Smartbox Assistive Technology

Smartbox is a company that develops assistive technology, including hardware and software, for children and adults with disabilities to aid communication and foster independent living. The company's journey began in 2000 when the Hawes family—Paul, Alyson, Barney, and Dougal—founded the company to offer alternative communication solutions in the UK. Initially focused on developing its flagship Grid software, Smartbox has since expanded its offerings to include a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Dougal Hawes has been with the company since 2004 and now serves as the Group CEO.

Smartbox's core products are centered around its Grid software, an AAC platform available on Windows and iPad that enables users to communicate with symbols or text, control their environment, browse the internet, and access social media. The software is used by over 50,000 people worldwide and facilitates the speaking of over 20 million words each week. The company also manufactures its own hardware, including the Grid Pad communication aids, which are designed for users with complex needs and support various access methods like eye gaze, pointers, and switches. In recent years, Smartbox has been expanding through acquisitions, including the German AI eye-tracking specialist GazeFirst, US-based Talk to Me Technologies, and Australian AAC provider Zyteq. In October 2020, Smartbox was acquired by the CareTech Group, a UK-based provider of specialist care and support services.

The company's business model involves the direct sale of its specialized hardware and software solutions. It serves a global market, with its products available in over 30 languages and supplied to more than 40 countries through a network of partners and direct sales. The Smartbox Group employs nearly 500 people and has offices in the UK, the US, and subsidiary AAC providers in Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia.

Keywords: assistive technology, augmentative and alternative communication, AAC, communication aids, Grid software, speech generating devices, disability technology, eye gaze technology, environmental control, special needs solutions, adaptive technology, nonverbal communication, accessibility hardware, symbol-based communication, text-based communication, assistive hardware, independent living technology, computer access for disabilities, disability support, adaptive communication.