What is a .VOCA file?
A .VOCA file is a special kind of file used for helping people communicate, especially children who find it hard to express themselves using words. This file is made by an app called PhotoVOCA, which works on iPhones and iPads. Imagine a board where you can stick pictures or symbols that represent different things or actions. Children can point to these pictures to show what they want or how they feel. A .VOCA file is like a digital version of this board.
When you create a communication board using the PhotoVOCA app, it saves this board as a .VOCA file. This file is not just a simple picture; it's more like a packed box (.ZIP) that contains several things inside. It has audio files, so the board can speak or make sounds when a picture is touched. It also has .PNG images, which are the pictures you see on the board. Plus, there's an .XML manifest, which is a list that tells the app what's inside the box and how to put the board together on the screen.
The .VOCA files are made in a format called PhotoVOCA 3.0. This is just a newer version of the way these files are put together, updated from the first version that came out in 2010. Even though it's newer, it's built on the same idea but with some extra features that make it better.
To open a .VOCA file, you would usually use the PhotoVOCA app on an iPhone or iPad. However, the app is not available anymore. But, there's still hope because these files can also be opened by other programs designed to help with communication, known as Assistive Technology Communication applications. These applications are part of a group called Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) or Speech Generation Devices (SGD), which are tools that help people communicate when they can't do so with their voice.
In simple terms, a .VOCA file is a digital helper for communication, packed with pictures and sounds, that can be used on electronic devices to help children communicate without needing to speak.
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