Reading Tools

In this category, you will find assistive tools that enhance the reading experience: These can be tools to help with vision by enlarging or manipulating text, or by having the text read back to you using Text-to-Speech software. We also have a few options that combine both of these functions, and more.

Table of Contents

Text to Speech and General Tools

• Features:

Free version: 

• Only available as a desktop application that allows you to turn any type of selectable text into speech. If you can copy and paste the text, it will work! You can either enter or paste the text in the included box within the application, or you can use the Miniboard function to have any selected text read back without having to copy it. 

• NaturalReader also has free profiles on their mobile application, but due to voice profiles that are highly distracting and unusable, we do not recommend the mobile application for the free tier. 

• Advantages: 

• Works great on a Mac computer, includes all voices your system supports and sounds natural

• Free and works with all selectable text

• Includes functions that allow you to quickly read material without having to use complicated methods

• Disadvantages: 

• As it uses voices that are included within your computer, Windows computer users may have “robotic” voices which may be distracting 

• If your text is not selectable, like a scanned page from an old book, NaturalReader’s Free version will be unable to convert the text to speech

• Lockdown browser and similar measures on Brightspace will not work with NaturalReader. 

Paid version: 

• NaturalReader’s paid version includes a desktop application, a mobile application, an online platform, and a browser extension: 

• All applications support “Natural” voices which sound better than the offerings provided in the free version 

• The online platform allows you to access NaturalReader everywhere: On library computers, phones and more! 

• The paid version also allows you to convert your scanned (or not selectable files) to readable text without issue 

• Use the mobile application on the go and convert text to mp3 files you can listen to anywhere. 

• Advantages: 

• There are a lot of options for different kinds of platforms: Everyone can use it whether they use Windows, Mac, or a Chromebook! 

• Every type of handout or class material can be turned into speech 

• Different types of natural sounding voices allow you to select the profile that sounds best for you 

• Disadvantages: 

• The paid version costs between 59.99 and 110 dollars every year as a subscription 

• Tier-based system of voice profiles makes making a choice difficult, some texts might sound better in one voice and other text might sound better in another voice profile! A good combination should be tested by the student to obtain the best results. 

Features:

1.     Text-to-Speech: Read & Write can read aloud text from documents, websites, and other digital content. In the paid version, it also allows you to read from unselectable text like old, scanned documents or pictures.

2.     Word Prediction: When writing, Read & Write provides word suggestions as you type. This assists with spelling and vocabulary, making it quicker and easier to construct sentences and complete assignments.

             For a solution with better word prediction capabilities, check out WordQ!

3.     Highlighting and Annotations: You can highlight important information within documents or webpages using different colors. You can also add personal annotations, comments, or summaries to help with comprehension and revision.

4.     Vocabulary Support: With Read & Write, you can access a built-in dictionary and picture dictionary to look up definitions and visualize word meanings. This feature promotes vocabulary development and enhances understanding of unfamiliar words.

5.     Study Tools: Read & Write offers tools such as text and voice notes, voice highlighting, and the ability to create and practice flashcards. These features help with active recall, improving learning by reviewing and remembering key information.

6.     Translation: Read & Write can translate text into various languages, helping you understand content in your preferred language.

Features:

Read:

• • Open a readable text from Kurzweil, PDF, Word, etc.

  • Using the yellow toolbar (reading toolbar) format the reading style of the document.

Study:

• Open the document you need to study.

• Use the green toolbar (page thumbnail) to use the following; highlighting, sticky and text notes, footnotes, voice notes, column notes.

Write:

• Open a document or new page from the main toolbar.

• Begin writing and Kurzweil will automatically read the words back to you. To change the font, use the blue toolbar (document thumbnail).

Brainstorm:

• Choose a template or create your own to brainstorm ideas

• In Brainstorm mode, (yellow button on the blue toolbar – document thumbnail), use the Quick take button to create thoughts. Click inside a shape to type and edit. Click “Link” to link thoughts. Click “Arrange” to organize the thoughts. 

Outline:

• Choose a template or create your own to form an outline. 

• In Outline mode (yellow button on the blue toolbar – document thumbnail), use the “Topic” and “Subtopic” buttons to create topics and subtopics. Press “Return” to create a same-level topic. To promote or demote a selected topic, click the Left or Right arrow button. To reorder topics, click the Up and Down button.

Features:

• Screen Reading: Narrator uses text-to-speech to read aloud the content displayed on the computer screen. It vocalizes text in documents, emails, web pages, and other applications.

• Navigation Assistance: Narrator helps users navigate through Windows applications and interfaces. It announces the currently selected item, available options, and keyboard shortcuts as well.

• System Notifications: Narrator provides spoken alerts and notifications for various system events, such as battery status, incoming emails, calendar reminders, and error messages. 

• Braille Display Support: Windows Narrator supports Braille displays and can translate on-screen text automatically.

• Customization Options: You can adjust the speech rate, volume, voice type, and pitch to optimize the spoken voice.

Getting Started:

1. Enable Narrator: To enable Narrator, press the Windows key + "Ctrl" + "Enter" simultaneously. Alternatively, you can open the Start menu, go to Settings, select "Ease of Access," and click on "Narrator." Toggle the switch to turn Narrator on.

2. Navigate Windows and Applications: Once Narrator is enabled, it will start reading aloud the content on the screen. Use the keyboard arrow keys to navigate through menus, options, and controls. Narrator will announce the focused item, allowing you to interact with it.

Vision Tools

Features:

Magnifier features:

• Powerful zoom windows: 8 different zoom windows allow you to change the magnified view according to your needs. 

• Enhanced screen colors: Innovative color controls improve screen clarity and reduce eyestrain. Options include inverted brightness, black and white, blue dye, yellow on black, etc. 

• Visible pointers and cursors: Change size and color of the mouse pointer to make it easy to see. Special allocators make it easy to find and follow the mouse pointer and text cursor. 

Reader features:

• Complete screen reading: Speaks all program controls (menus, dialog, views, messages, etc.) and automatically reads documents, webpages and emails within a parent application. Additionally, it can read while creating and editing documents. 

• Mouse echo: Automatically reads text that you point to.

• Background reader: allows you to listen to documents, webpages, email, or any text while simultaneously performing other tasks. 

• Zoomtext recorder: Allows you to turn text from sources into audio recordings that you can listen on your computer or transfer to your mobile device for listening on the go. 

Features:

• Full-Screen and Picture-in-Picture Modes: Zoom provides two primary viewing modes. In full-screen mode, the entire screen is magnified, providing a larger view of everything on your desktop. Picture-in-Picture mode allows you to create a separate magnified window that can be moved around the screen, allowing you to focus on specific content.

• Smooth Zooming and Follow Focus: Zoom allows you to adjust the level of magnification gradually. It also provides follow focus, which automatically tracks the location of the mouse cursor or active focus point, ensuring that the magnified area remains in sync with your actions.

• Customizable Options: Adjust settings such as the magnification level, zoom style (full screen or picture-in-picture), and follow focus behavior according to your visual requirements.

• Keyboard and Trackpad Controls: You can use specific key combinations to activate and adjust the zoom level. Additionally, you can also use trackpad gestures to zoom in and out or control the magnified area.

How to enable Voiceover?

1.   Press Command-F5. If VoiceOver is on, pressing the keys turns it off.

2.   Use Siri. Say something like: “Turn VoiceOver on” or “Turn VoiceOver off.” 

3.   If your Mac or Magic Keyboard has Touch ID, press and hold the Command key while you quickly press Touch ID three times.

4.  Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Accessibility in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Click VoiceOver on the right, then turn VoiceOver on or off.

How to use JAWS: