Settings Menu

The five items on the simplified menu represent some of the most commonly accessed features. Toggle buttons appear next to each option allowing users to turn features on or off.

The simplified menu consists of five options including:

1) Speak as I type – when this setting is turned on, the program will read back everything that is typed. Additional settings to further customise the speech tool can be found in the full settings window.

2) Screen reading – this tool assists users who may experience difficulties reading various aspects of the screen including icons, buttons, elements within a program or window pane, or program menus. The screen reader may also read incoming notifications that the computer displays.

3) Continuous Reading – this setting configures the program so that reading aloud does not stop at the end of a reading section but will read until the end of the document is reached.

4) Read the web – this setting allows users to have web content read aloud. Most browsers will require the installation of a plug-in module.

5) Pop-up Dictionary – enabling this feature will open up a small window with a brief definition of any word. Click on the “More” text to open up a more descriptive definition on your internet browser.

To display additional options, click on the text that appears at the bottom of the menu that is labelled, “Show more settings…” The full settings menu opens in a separate window (screenshot 4) that can be resized, minimized, maximized and moved on the screen. The full settings menu is organized by tool on the left column and options and settings related to the tool are located on the right.

The full settings menu covers the following tools:

1) General – this tab is broken down into the following sections

General

This tab contains settings related to the appearance of the program as well as a few other options not related to any specific tool. Within this tab, it is possible to adjust the following:

• Toolbar button size (small, medium or large)

• Toolbar button style (clear vs. colour)

• Option of displaying text descriptor underneath the icon

• Toolbar colour

• Auto launch whenever Windows starts

• Reference Style (APA, Chicago, Harvard, MLA or none)

Features

The features section provides the means to add or remove individual tools from the r&w toolbar based on their icon. Currently, there are 24 icons available to choose from. Some of the tools are related to the same functionality (for example, there are four colours of highlight to choose from). While icons are not identified with a text descriptor, a tooltip will appear if the mouse cursor is held over a specific icon.

Language

Read and write supports both English (UK) as well as French.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Some users may find using shortcut keys to be an easier way to access r&w. Keyboard shortcuts are listed in this section but are not customizable.

2) Check It – this tab configures options related to the Check It tool.

Check It options

Options for configuring the Check It tool include:

• Underlining in Microsoft Word

• Ordering suggestions by context

• Speaking the word when the mouse cursor hovers over a word

• Using the Classic spell check – this replaces the Check It tool with the Spell Check tool

• Contextual menu integration – this will allow users to right click on a Word in Microsoft Word to activate specific actions

Vocabulary

If a document has vocabulary that is specific to an academic field, the user may indicate this to reduce words being flagged as incorrectly spelled.

Spelling Custom Words

This section will list any words that have been added manually to the vocabulary list.

3) Dictionary – this tab configures options related to the Dictionary tool.

This section has only two configurable items – the ability to change the web dictionary that is used (Google, Bing or dictionary.com) and toggling the pop-up dictionary on or off.

4) Highlights – this tab configures options related to the Highlighting tools.

Customizable options include:

• selecting individual colours that can be extracted

• specifying whether highlights are ordered by colour, position or time

• separating colours by paragraph, by page, or not at all

• separating highlights by line, space, tab or not at all

• toggling the option to collect from multiple documents

5) Prediction – this tab configures options related to the Word Prediction tool.

Predictive Window Behaviour

The following adjustments related to the word prediction window can be made:

• Make the word prediction window moves with along with the cursor

• The height of the prediction window adjusts automatically with the number of suggested words

• Predict the next word (based on context)

• Automatically insert a space after inserting a suggested word

• Base predictions on a selected word bank

Prediction Speech

The following adjustments related to speech can be made:

• Speak words in the prediction window when the mouse hovers over a word

• Select between speaking or inserting words in the prediction window when clicked

Prediction Learning

The following adjustments related to the learning word prediction patterns can be made:

• Ensure that words are spell checked before learning

• Learn new words as they are typed

6) Scanning – this tab relates to the use of a scanner to convert physical print into a digital copy

7) Screen Masking – this tool creates an overlay to remove distraction or to assist in tracking while reading.

There are several overlay options that can be applied:

• Tinting the entire screen (often used to reduce glare)

• Underline typing line (provides a visual reference while writing)

• Tint typing line (similar to above but provides shading instead of underlining)

• Change page colour (similar to tinting the entire screen but only applies to the active window)

• Underline cursor (a horizontal line will follow wherever the cursor is moved; this may be useful for reading)

In addition, individual settings can be customized for the overlay selected. Some of these settings include:

• Changing the colour

• Changing the opacity

• Adding a reading line in addition to a background overlay (follows the cursor)

• Changing the colour, opacity and height of the reading ruler

8) Screenshot Reader – this tool allows text that is embedded within an image to be recognized and read aloud

Options include changing how the text is captured (rectangle, freehand drawing, or hovering), where the captured text will be (a window around the image, to a Word document, or using the text reader interface. If Word document is selected, the user has the option of adding it to the end of the current Word document (by selecting the “Add to active Word document” toggle) or to a new document.

9) Speech – this tab allows making alterations to the speech function of read&write

Voice – options relating to the voice used; use the Test Voice button at the bottom of this section to determine if your selected options are suitable

A variety of voices can be used to have text read aloud. Use the pull-down arrow to choose one of the voices offered. It is possible to add additional voices not shown. There is a help article created by TextHelp that will demonstrate how to do this.

It is also possible to adjust the speed in which text is read. Simply drag the voice speed bar to a preferred speed.

If changing the reading speed regularly is important, it is possible to assign the arrow keys to change the reading speed without having to constantly go into the settings menu.

For users who may require longer processing time, it is possible to set a pause in between words rather than have the speech slowed down.

Finally, the pitch can be changed for users who may have difficulties hearing specific frequencies.

Pronunciation

The text to speech engine is powerful but it is not always accurate and some words are sometimes mispronounced. It is possible to instruct the program how to correctly pronounce a word by manually adding it. During this process, type in the original word and click on the purple play button next to the original word to hear it pronounced. Type in the phonetic pronunciation and confirm that it reads properly by clicking the purple play button next to the phonetic word. You may need to experiment before getting the desired results. Words that have been added can be edited or deleted.

Auto Read

In addition to the quick settings in the simplified menu, additional auto read settings can be configured in the following contexts:

• Speak as I type – adjust what is being read back (each letter, word or sentence)

• Screen reading – adjust what is being read back (buttons, lists, menus, text, or other)

• The basic reading unit (word, sentence or paragraph)

Speech Highlighting

While most users will prefer to have the text read and highlighted within the original document, it is also possible to prompt the program to read the text with each individual word displayed at a time on the screen or within the text reader interface. If using either of these choices, additional customization is possible in selecting the font type and size. Finally, the colours used to highlight both the reading unit and the word being read aloud can also be adjusted (with a preview of the selection displayed below).

10) Talk&Type – this tab will allow users to dictate without an internet connection

When selected, additional options appear allowing speech recognition training, add customized words, and to train the microphone used for dictation.

11) Translator – this tab allows the language selection of both the original text as well as the translated text

12) Vocabulary List – this tab adjusts features related the vocabulary list tool including the ability to:

• Show the vocabulary list window

• Hide pictures

• Hide definitions

13) Voice Note – the single option in this tab allows direct insertion of voice notes into the active document