My DPS by The Language Express, Inc., the makers of The Social Express.
My DPS(Digital Problem Solver) is an application that focuses on emotions and coping strategies using animated videos. It is a customizable app as well, allowing you to add your own pictures and coping techniques.
Features:
There are 8 feelings included in this app.
*Bored
*Happy
*Surprised
*Mad
*Annoyed
*Sad
*Frustrated
*Scared
There are four coping strategies.
*Use Positive Self-Talk
*Take Five Deep Breaths
*Take a Break to Calm Down
*Remind Myself to Keep Negative Thoughts In My Head
Using the app
Upon opening the app, you are taken to a main screen that includes a song about feelings as well as calming music. You simply touch the screen to start. You are then prompted to scroll through the app to choose a picture that shows how you feel. The animations are well done and there is text on each of the eight pictures describing the emotion. Once you choose the feeling, you are then directed to choose a coping strategy to calm down. You may choose from one of four strategies. When the coping strategy is chosen you are taken to a short animated video of a social scene depicting the character utilizing the coping mechanism. Written praise and verbal reinforcements are given at the end of each video.
To customize the app you simply press the plus sign on any page and you can take a picture or choose one from your camera roll. You can add your own pictures of feelings or coping strategies and include any text you want. You have the option to delete pictures as well.
My DPS is a fantastic app that teaches valuable skills relating to emotions and coping strategies. This app is easy to use and customize to show a range of emotions. The animations and video quality are nicely done. The music is a nice touch as well. After reading my review, Marc Zimmerman,CEO-Founder of The Social Express, informed me that he wrote all of the music. You can find his songs on LimeGreen Limousine. A portion of all proceeds go to Autism Research.
Wishlist
It would be great to have spoken text for non readers. The pictures of emotions may be difficult to understand for those who struggle with recognizing emotions. Spoken text would also make it easier to select a coping strategy for those who can't read. It would also be nice to have the option to add video as well as pictures for the coping strategies.
Find The Social Express:
thesocialexpress.com
My DPS in iTunes
The Social Express on Facebook
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Jessica, I read this as my daughter is having an explosive emotional episode over tinker toys in the next room. Thanks for the review and now I know it is certainly something that would be of use for her.
ReplyDeleteI have the social express and I'm looking forward to adding the DPS to my collection! THis is such a great developer!
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ReplyDeleteVery Nice blog and would love to win a copy of social express for Buddy.. thanks for offing it.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like an app that would really help my kids with difficulties coping. Thanks for creating such great apps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for running this giveaway Jessica! My kids love The Social Express and we would love to have this to compliment the program. :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting tie-in to the app itself. Like that you can add your own strategies. But if the character models the strategy you choose, I'm curious how it reacts when you choose a custom one. :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great app to work on social skills, that will really keep kids' attention!
ReplyDeleteIt would be great to add pics of items from my son's own 'toolbox'. ride your bike, run a lap around the house, swing....
ReplyDeleteI have been looking at this and really wanting it. I have the The Social Express for my classroom, and would like to have this to go with it for our ipods. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome. With 3 kids on the Autism Spectrum, need I say more:) Looks like it would be great for my guys.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching Brandon this week with the loss of his grandfather and social interactions wow.... This is something that could help him tremendously. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThis definitely looks like something I can use with several students. Using different avenues to explore the feelings of a couple of kids has yielded some good results; however, there are still several that struggle with the expression. This looks like an opportunity.
ReplyDeleteBonnie B here. Thank you for doing the review of this app! Knowing this information has helped me to understand just how much this app can help Tad! Hoping I am lucky enough to win it, but if not it will be at the top of my wish list!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your review. I have been looking at this app for awhile and think that it would be helpful to start this with adam and lily. thank you for the opportunity to win this app.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review. I would love to add this for my son who needs to see things visually to "get it" sometimes
ReplyDeleteKris
Hi! This is a great review! I really, really need this for my kids at school!
ReplyDeleteYour review is great Jessica! It made me want this app even more after reading it! I would really love to get this for my son since it is very hard for him to express the correct emotion at the right time as said in previous comments, he needs to see it 'visually'. Thank you so much for reviewing and for doing the drawing!
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