read&write toolbar - Modes

Video Guide: click on the YouTube icon to watch a video on how to switch between toolbar modes.

Playback controls – it is useful to have r&w read out loud writing that the user has created so that it can be reviewed for errors. This may be useful to detect spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, errors in sentence structure, or incorrect word choices.

Settings – this icon will open up the preferences window where a user can customize their experience and set up the program in a way that meets their individual learning needs. For more information, reference the Settings page.

Dictionary – when a word is highlighted in a program, clicking the Dictionary tool will bring up the definition. The dictionary can be customized within the settings pane allowing for toggling between a basic or advanced definition, toggling between the build-in or web dictionary (internet connection required) or adding customized words and definitions.

Picture Dictionary – there may be occasions, particularly for users whose language skills are less advanced, where a picture may provide a better representation of the meaning or concept of the word. With a word highlighted, click the picture dictionary icon to bring up a simple pictorial representation of the word. Note that not all words will have a picture associated with it.

Playback controls – it is useful to have r&w read out loud writing that the user has created so that it can be reviewed for errors. This may be useful to detect spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, errors in sentence structure, or incorrect word choices.

Translate – this tool may be useful for students whose native language is not English or it could be used to assist students taking a foreign language course. The translate tool requires an active internet connection.

Settings – this icon will open up the preferences window where a user can customize their experience and set up the program in a way that meets their individual learning needs. For more information, reference the Settings page.

Daisy Reader – this option allows users to open and read a book in Daisy format which is an audio substitute for print material and contains advanced features over a traditional audio file.

Word Prediction – this tool assists students who may struggle with conventional spelling or who might have physical access difficulties. When students input one or more letters of a word, a list of suggested words that correspond to the letter sequence will appear. In combination with the dictionary tool, students can assess whether the word is correct or not. The word prediction tool can be configured for an individual student’s vocabulary level.

Dictionary – when a word is highlighted in a program, clicking the Dictionary tool will bring up the definition. The dictionary can be customized within the settings pane allowing for toggling between a basic or advanced definition, toggling between the build-in or web dictionary (internet connection required) or adding customized words and definitions.

Picture Dictionary – there may be occasions, particularly for users whose language skills are less advanced, where a picture may provide a better representation of the meaning or concept of the word. With a word highlighted, click the picture dictionary icon to bring up a simple pictorial representation of the word. Note that not all words will have a picture associated with it.

Playback controls – it is useful to have r&w read out loud writing that the user has created so that it can be reviewed for errors. This may be useful to detect spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, errors in sentence structure, or incorrect word choices.

Research Folder – this tool allows users to identify, capture and sort information from a website. Information can be embellished with additional images and details all of which can be exported to a Word document.

Translate – this tool may be useful for students whose native language is not English or it could be used to assist students taking a foreign language course. The translate tool requires an active internet connection.

Settings – this icon will open up the preferences window where a user can customize their experience and set up the program in a way that meets their individual learning needs. For more information, reference the Settings page.

Web Search - this is a shortcut that will allow the user to initiate a web search on a highlighted word or phrase. This tool will open the web browser (Google by default) on your computer. Obviously, an internet connection is required.

Spell Check – this tool will identify misspelled words within a document and offer suggestions. Once corrected, the program will automatically adjust future instances of the incorrectly spelled word.

Erase Highlights – Similar to an eraser, this tool will remove all selected highlights.

Vocabulary List – When individual words are highlighted, the vocabulary list tool can be used to generate a list of words with accompanying definitions.

Settings – this icon will open up the preferences window where a user can customize their experience and set up the program in a way that meets their individual learning needs. For more information, reference the Settings page.

Dictionary – when a word is highlighted in a program, clicking the Dictionary tool will bring up the definition. The dictionary can be customized within the settings pane allowing for toggling between a basic or advanced definition, toggling between the build-in or web dictionary (internet connection required) or adding customized words and definitions.

Picture Dictionary – there may be occasions, particularly for users whose language skills are less advanced, where a picture may provide a better representation of the meaning or concept of the word. With a word highlighted, click the picture dictionary icon to bring up a simple pictorial representation of the word. Note that not all words will have a picture associated with it.

Playback controls – it is useful to have r&w read out loud writing that the user has created so that it can be reviewed for errors. This may be useful to detect spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, errors in sentence structure, or incorrect word choices.

Audio Maker – this tool allows users to convert a section of text into an MP3 file which is an digital audio format that can be played on electronic devices such as a phone, tablet, or computer.

Research Folder – this tool allows users to identify, capture and sort information from a website. Information can be embellished with additional images and details all of which can be exported to a Word document.

Translate – this tool may be useful for students whose native language is not English or it could be used to assist students taking a foreign language course. The translate tool requires an active internet connection.

Vocabulary List – When individual words are highlighted, the vocabulary list tool can be used to generate a list of words with accompanying definitions.

Settings – this icon will open up the preferences window where a user can customize their experience and set up the program in a way that meets their individual learning needs. For more information, reference the Settings page.

Web Search - this is a shortcut that will allow the user to initiate a web search on a highlighted word or phrase. This tool will open the web browser (Google by default) on your computer. Obviously, an internet connection is required.

The check-it tool behaves very much like the spell checker but identifies all errors at once in a document rather than navigating the writer one word at a time.

The verb checker allows students to assess whether they have used the correct conjugation of the verb form through a list of questions. The verb checker also ensures that the verb matches the pronoun used.

The similar word checker helps users identify words that may have been used incorrectly because it sounds similar to another word.

The calculator functions pretty much as you would expect. This tool provides support for basic calculations. There is no scientific calculator mode.

The screen masking tool assists readers in focusing only on specific parts of the document and optionally masking other areas to reduce distraction.

On its own, r&w is not compatible with PDF readers such as Adobe Acrobat. However, PDF documents can be open using the r&w PDF reader which can then be read aloud.

The scanner function converts a document into either a PDF for reading aloud, or into a Word document for further editing through the use of a scanner. Without a scanner, the scanner tool can convert or ‘scan’ existing files into readable text.

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