If I Were in Charge of Research and Development at an AAC Company...

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• prices would reflect what the device costs to research, develop, manufacture and distribute - not the highest price health insurance or medicaid will pay
• every device would weight less than 4 pounds
• a carrying handle would be integral to every design
• every device would be durable enough for 16 hours a day of daily use every where they might be used
• devices would automatically back up - their to the "cloud" or to an external hard drive or other computer
• there would be a small display showing what the user is working on so the communication partner is in the know or there would be, at the very least, an LED light that signaled a message is being created and to wait
• all devices would have hot swap batteries (kudos to the Zygo Optimist for being the first in the field and to the Tobii for using on all their C series devices)
• all devices would have external volume controls
• their would be a search feature to make finding and linking boards less of a chore
• instant skype or video chat with tech support on the device 
• front and rear video/still cameras with adjustable aim (I have more pictures of ceilings taken by my Tobii user!)
• everything integrates with everything - compose your message and then speak, text or email it all from the same place (Dynavox does this well in the InterAACt software)
• consistent symbol set use within communication board software (no mixed sets)
• built in user communities where users can talk to other users while using their devices
• a means to strip personal information from boards and board sets to be able to share them confidentially
• AAC companies working with curriculum companies so that board sets relating to theme unit or subjects can be purchased and installed
• integrated access to the web regardless of access method (yes, I know that is a big dream)
• speech banking for those with progressive disorders so that early implementation can be for banking speech which is then available when needed for the user
• high tech PODD sets (that I don't have to make myself)
• online board/page creation and back up
• quick printing of the board/pages on the device to make manual backups
• integrated alternative assessment features
• DAISY/AMIS reader (good job Dynavox)
• integrate with Bookshare
• glare proof screen
• data collection and analysis on device use, access, language used, etc.
• water resistant designs
• usb ports, lots of them, and not in hard to reach places
• bluetooth/SMS/MMS/E-mail/wi-fi all built in (most devices have this in the "open" version)
• instant on and instant off features
• media features in the communication software that allow full control over media (flip through album covers, choose songs and movies, etc)
• plenty of memory for storing music, movies, etc