A global company proud of its American presence in Lower Burrell hopes to build a world where no one is left without a voice.
Smartbox’s founders developed software that allows people who can’t speak to communicate with others, said Michele Rimmel, the company’s senior vice president of operations.
“Since 2000, they have invested in creating alternative communications devices to put their software in so that people can have different ways of accessing communications,” she said.
Lower Burrell has been 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 the split of Leechburg Road and Edgecliff Road.
Rimmel of Allegheny Township said she met Smartbox’s founders in 2016 when they were looking to launch a U.S. presence. She envisioned a location close to home and not necessarily looking for a storefront, and Lower Burrell fit the bill.
“It’s exciting to see Lower Burrell become home to unique businesses like Smartbox,” said Mayor Chris Fabry. “With retail in decline across the country, companies like Smartbox are vital to our region. It’s great that they find it valuable to be here.
“It’s great to know that a product that helps so many people is made right here in Lower Burrell.”
At Lower Burrell, employees manufacture iOS-based devices that resemble iPads, install software and ship them to the company’s network of U.S. and international partners to deliver 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 could use the devices as a communication mechanism are autistic people, adults with ALS progression or people who have had a stroke and cannot speak, Rimmel said.
Families often see a speech therapist who can encourage 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 at the company.
The technology
People can control the devices by touching them, a “switch” they can press, or by using muscle movements or their gaze to make selections on the device. Eye gaze technology uses cameras to allow people with physical disabilities to control a computer using only eye movements.
“It can track your eyes and where you’re looking at the screen,” Rump said.
Rimmel said people using that software would be able to have the device mounted on a wheelchair.
“They used the eye gaze as a means of communication,” she said.
The device has several keyboards and grids of words, sentences and symbols that people can use to communicate. They can focus their eyes on certain words on the devices to form sentences.
Rimmel said the software is more effective and efficient than the core boards, which were typically used in the past. Core boards have words and phrases arranged on a piece of paper, and a speech therapist goes row by row to find the words that help someone communicate with them.
“It took an extremely long time and was not the way to do things,” Rimmel said.
The software also includes games called ‘Look to Learn’ that children can play using eye gaze. This aims to help children understand how to use the device by training their eyes to improve their choice skills when it comes to selecting words from the grid to form sentences.
“Sometimes it’s easier to get them involved in a game,” says Rimmel.
Access to communications
People who cannot speak but can control muscle movements can use the ‘switch’ that connects to the device, tapping their finger on what they want to select as the technology scans across the grid.
When the scan highlights the part of the screen the person wants to select, he taps the switch with his finger to select that word or phrase.
“We want everyone to have the ability to communicate, just like the rest of us, in any way, in any form,” Rimmel said.
The devices look more like 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 skills and the time you spend on the device.
“It’s incredible to see them blow through the computer just like anyone else would.”
Customer support and repairs are available at the Lower Burrell location. There are about a dozen employees there, Rimmel said.
“Giving someone access to communicate is very important,” Rump says. “The sooner we can do that, the better.”
The background of Smartbox
Smartbox started as a small family business when founders Paul, Alyson, Barney and Dougal Hawes wanted to provide an alternative form of communication to people in the United Kingdom, according to Rimmel.
The company has grown since then and now the Smartbox family includes augmentative and alternative communications providers Smartbox France, KMD in the Netherlands, REHAVISTA in Germany and Talk to Me Technologies in Iowa.
The need for such equipment is growing every day, Rimmel said, whether it’s for babies born without the ability to speak or people who get sick or have an accident and lose their ability to communicate.
She said the company’s goal is to expand its reach.
“We’re trying to make people aware that this exists,” Rimmel said. “We think there are many people who have not yet been reached and could use this device. We hope to continue to grow.”
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
