Nearly all adaptive switches are momentary, meaning they only make something happen for the moment they are being pressed. When you stop activating the switch, the toy or device will stop. Some switch adapted toys will continue to play for a short while after the switch is released. These are generally toys that sing a song, go through a story or counting, etc. These are the toys that if you were to press the ON button located directly on the toy, the toy would go through a series of actions before stopping. So, for those toys you can activate and release the adaptive switch and the toy will continue through it's action then stop. For toys that do not continue the action on their own, you need to use a switch interface if you want a switch adapted product to continue to ‘go’ after you release the switch.
There are two main types of switch interfaces, one for battery operated toys/devices, and one for toys/device that are plugged in to an electrical outlet.
An example of a switch interface for battery operated toys is the Switch Latch Timer (SLAT). By using this between the toy and the adapted switch, you can set it so the toy continues to latch mode (play after the adapted switch is released and continue until the adapted switch is activated again), or to timed mode (activate and release your adapted switch and the toy will continue for a predetermined amount of time). To locate all our SLAT devices, type the word SLAT into the search bar on our website.
An example of a switch interface for toys/devices that plug into an outlet is the PowerLink. It also has the same latching and timer capabilities. SLAT interfaces cannot be used with CD players or other toys/devices that do not have an On/Off button or switch. It also does not work well for toys that have their own internal timer, such as those you push to make play and that stay on for a predetermined amount of time (like to sing a song or play a series of sounds) and go off on their own. If you are unsure if a SLAT will work with a specific switch adapted toy or device, please contact us.
PowerLink Switch Interface
SLAT Switch Interface