• • • Dragon 'Naturally Speaking'. A well reviewed dictation program which allows you to speak to your word processing program and it will type what you say. 'An invaluable program which I strongly recommend.' (John Bradford) USA | UK

 

• • • ClaroRead. Reads text out loud for you wherever you hover your mouse - Internet Explorer, Word, etc. Supports any computer user who struggles with reading and writing - perhaps due to dyslexia or other situations. ClaroRead.

 

• • Co-Writer Translating thoughts into writing can be overwhelming. Your writing often suffers from phonetic or inventive spelling, lack of richness, limited detail, and incoherence. This word prediction program empowers more written self-expression. "Co-writer is a great instrument. It can be use as a thesaurus and give power words that will strength your writing style while developing a wider vocabulary." (B.R.N., Iraq) Co-Writer.

• • TextAloud - TextAloud uses voice synthesis to convert text into spoken audio. Listen on your PC or create MP3 or WMA files for use on portable devices like iPods, PocketPCs, and CD players. TextAloud

• • IBM ViaVoice is similar to Dragon Naturally Speaking, though less well reviewed: 'Using ViaVoice's Corrections Window is an exercise in frustration' (Guardian, Nov 18 03). ViaVoice Pro USB Edition, Release 10, includes a quality headset microphone with USB adapter.
With Personal Edition, IBM ViaVoice has never been easier to setup. Through the IBM ViaVoice special enabled-word processor, SpeakPad, or through Microsoft Word 2002, 2000, or 97, you can speak your text instead of typing it, and the words appear on the screen. Dictate numbers and dates and they appear in proper format. With the popup window, "What Can I Say?" you can easily see what formatting, correction, and editing commands are available to you. And the more you use IBM ViaVoice Personal Edition, the more accurate your dictation can become. Personal Edition can save you time while making the use of your computer more fun by using your voice. REVIEW.
IBM ViaVoice

• • Kindle 2 Electronic Book - 'One of my students has found Amazon’s Kindle 2 electronic book system very useful because she can load her school English texts and pre-read them in a font size best suited to her reading ability.
Kindle2 also has a text to speech feature so that she can have the book read to her while she follows the text.' (R.P, Hong Kong.)

'The Kindle 2 does away with almost every awkward convention introduced in the original version. The device is now cleanly laid out, very much shaped like a large iPhone; a big rectangle with rounded edges. The keyboard has gone from that unnatural, slanted arrangement to a standard, familiar keyboard layout, and the keys are now small and round instead of rectangular pellets. The next / previous buttons occupy a very similar location, but are much smaller (as opposed to taking up the entire side of the device), so the threat of constantly hitting them is noticeably alleviated. They've also been stiffened up, so even if you do accidentally brush past one of them, it takes a little more effort to engage.

'The screen itself is looks somewhat clearer than the original version, helped largely by the fact that the e-ink display can now show up to 16 shades of gray as opposed to the previous four. You can definitely see those differences in font smoothing and on images (which, incidentally, you can now zoom in on)'. - EnGadget Review
USA | UK)

• • WordTalk - free plug-in developed for use with all versions of Microsoft Word (from Word 97 upwards), which can help people with reading difficulties use Microsoft Word more effectively. It will speak the text of the document and will highlight it as it goes. It contains a talking dictionary to help decide which word spelling is most appropriate. It sits neatly in your toolbar and is highly configurable, allowing you to adjust the highlight colors, the voice and the speed of the speech. WordTalk.

 

• • EasyTutor - Computer users can write, read, view and check text alongside a human sounding voice. Students with literacy problems can achieve improvements of up to 40% in exam scores when learning materials are delivered as combined audio and text. The program has an intuitive toolbar which works seamlessly with Microsoft Word, Excel and Internet Explorer. University students, and adults at work or on work training schemes will all experience the benefits of developing their reading and writing skills with EasyTutor.
EasyTutor.

 

• • Cell/Mobile Phone with Read-aloud Technology -The kReader Mobile is a major advancement in print access for people with learning disabilities. The software, delivered on a multifunction cell phone, allows the user to snap pictures of any printed material and have it read aloud immediately. The first of its kind, the pocket-sized device allows struggling readers to have print read aloud in real time and in real life situations. The latest version is now able to read in a variety of languages. kReader.

• WordQ2 - a software tool used along with standard writing software. It suggests words for you to use and provides spoken feedback to help you find mistakes. Users of all ages who have problems writing and editing can benefit from using WordQ. WordQ was researched and developed at Bloorview MacMillan Children’s Centre, an internationally renowned children’s rehabilitation hospital located in Toronto, Canada.

 

• WordsWork - Wordswork is a multi-sensory approach to improving study skills for older dyslexic learners. It uses graphics, voiceovers, color and humor to develop a variety of language skills which dyslexic students (and others) need to address. Using a "learning style" approach, students are encouraged to identify and use their strengths to overcome areas of weakness. The program includes many exercises to involve users in interactive learning. The wide attraction of the programme results from the sophisticated, yet amusing, approaches used. The program is not intended to teach basic reading skills, but all printed screens are accompanied by "voice-overs", reducing the need for excessive reading.Features: Essay writing; Exam revision; Grammar; Handwriting; Memory; Oral presentation; Punctuation; Reading; Spelling; Time management; Vocabulary building. Article by the author.

 

• Zoomtext - With the ZoomText 9.1, seeing and hearing everything on your computer screen is clearer than ever. ZoomText’s xFont magnification displays high-definition text that you'll recognize effortlessly. Your applications and documents are read aloud by friendly, human-sounding voices through your computer's speakers.

 

• PenFriend - Supportive writing software featuring word prediction (predictive typing), on-screen keyboards, screen-reader speech feedback, etc. Penfriend XP's core strength is in predicting the next word you want to write. It does this using a dictionary of known words, along with detailed knowledge of when they are likely to be used, their grammatical type, words you have used before, and so on. Every time you type a letter, it comes up with a new list of the most likely words which fit your letters. Choosing one is a simple matter of pressing one more button, or clicking on the word with the mouse. If you're not sure how to read it, you can hear it spoken before you choose a word.

• Inspiration - a program that is used to generate ideas for a topic in order to make an essay. The program types a word – and you write another word associated with the first word and another and it builds diagrams.
     For example let’s say you must write an essay about the “highway system”. It puts these words in a box, then it branches out into another box, for example with the words “ministry of transportation”, and another box - “roads”- “vehicles” , each time branching out into more details. (Keppy Guberman, Israel).

 

• BrowseAloud - Free to download, "easy to use with control over the voice, pitch and speed, Browsealoud is there when you need assistance as you navigate the Web. Simply by scrolling your mouse over the text that you want read to you, Browsealoud will read and speak what you require, helping you navigate websites more easily".

 

TechnoDys Technology and Dyslexia Blog - aimed at the dyslexic user and those supporting them (such as parents, teachers and tutors). The blog, run by Dr Ian Smythe, has a new entry every day, already has over 300 useful entries and has been viewed in over 100 countries. This includes everything from free text-to-speech, to how to make your browser more dyslexia friendly, as well as using online reminder systems. It goes well beyond the usual text-to-speech, speech-to-text and concept mapping software by asking what an individual really needs. For example, how do you remember your passwords? Where can I find free online collaborative concept maps, and Where do I find a video on speech-to-text that comes free with Vista? This blog has the answer to these questions and many more. And with the BabelFish click, you can have the blog translated into eight languages.

 

• Chloe - enables users to adapt and personalise computer software programs to their own particular needs. It allows them to easily change screen layouts, colours and fonts as well as being able to listen to text read back via a menu of available voices.
It can be used to type up documents at work; listen to lecture notes after study; make best use of social network sites such as Facebook.

• CapturaTalk - uses high quality, natural sounding voices to read text out loud captured either from a photograph or an electronic document. CapturaTalk is an innovative software package designed to operate on a range of Windows Mobile phones to access information and to support reading whilst on the move. This is ideal for people who require literacy support for disabilities such as dyslexia.

 

• • • ''Web Talkster' - talking browser - Inexpensive - 'One of my students is more computer literate than I am. He just loves his computers. I told him about the download for Web Talkster. He went home and downloaded the program and started trying it out. He thinks it is the best aid ever. He now can get a lot more out of the internet than he did before. He uses it for everything from reading his email to even reading his assignments. He worked out a way of importing his assignments into netscape so he can have it read to him. He said that it took a little time to get used to the voice sound but once he did he had no problems. This aid has made him more open to try other aids such as using a tape recorder to get his ideas out as it takes a long time to write them down he tends to forget what he wanted to write.' (J. H., NSW, Australia).

 

• ReadPlease - Free - "Shatters the myth that computers must sound robotic and monotonous. Just imagine having web pages and e-mail read aloud to you. If you are finding there is just too much on-screen reading with all of this technology, then you will love using ReadPlease".

 

.• Franklin Spell checkers - 'invaluable.'

• Study Skills software (students and college) .

 

• Wizcom Infoscan Pen - mobile scanner for data transfer, ideal for scanning, storing, defining, hearing and transferring printed text to a PC, laptop or PDA. The InfoScan TS Elite can scan up to 500 pages of text at a time, provide word definitions from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and read scanned text aloud in English from within the notes application. The InfoScan is the perfect tool for students, researchers and business people who need to scan data when they are away from their computers. The pen can also be used to scan text directly into any Windows-based applications.
USA | UK

 

• Visual Tracking Magnifier - helps with reading, in particular many dyslexics who experience pattern glare and/or fixation problems.

 

 

• Keyboard Stickers - Hi-visibility - Keyboard stickers in packs with high contrast letters, numbers and punctuation. These keycap stickers are useful for those who need to see the letters on the keyboard more clearly or have certain keys marked out to aid typing. They tend to rub off eventually so buying more than one set may help.
EmpTech.

 

• Ultimate Speed Reader - encourages the user to increase reading speed in a variety of ways. A typical training session lasts about 30 minutes, and begins with 'Reading Warm-Ups,' which are essentially limbering drills for the eyes and brain. Moving on, the user strengthens 'Eye Movement' skills by following along with highlighted text that tracks at targeted speeds, as does the 'Newspaper Reading' section which features columnar text. 'Paced Reading' includes longer reading passages at a preset pace, and 'Timed Reading' offers timed sessions so the user can monitor his or her progress. Review.
Ultimate Speed Reader.

 

• Kurzweil 3000 - 'The Kurzweil 3000 is the greatest tool to benefit the dyslexic student. My high school students can bring in a library book or an article, etc. and scan the material one class period and listen/follow along the next period. The students can use bookmarks and change the voice and speed that it reads to their individual tastes. However, its greatest drawback is that scanning each page of text when reading a book is extremely time consuming and takes a large amount of computer space. Therefore, my son finds that he does not use the program as much as he would like to, due to this drawback. (Keppy Guberman, Israel).

 

• Speaking NotePad - Affordable program which will read aloud what is on your computer screen.

 

• ReadPal - New software program which provides a choice of font faces and colored backgrounds for reading web pages, emails and word processing documents.

 

DISCUSSION FORUMS

• Dyslexia Adults Link Discussion Forum - especially for dyslexic adults.

• Dyslexia Advice Line and Discussion Board - 'a useful general discussion forum for parents and teachers.'

• Parenting a child with learning difficulties - provided by LD Online.

 

 

 

Can you help?

If you know of any other books, software, etc., which might be of interest to other dyslexic adults, please put them on our Dyslexia Adults Link Discussion Forum.

 

 

COMPUTER TIP Increase Text Size Quickly increase or decrease the size of text on a web page by holding down the Ctrl (Control) key on the keyboard and scrolling up or down with the wheel on a wheel mouse.