Research shows that Read&Write for Windows improves comprehension levels by 20% (Queens University Research). By clicking on the Play button, you can listen to any text being read aloud whilst each word is highlighted.
This is known as text-to-speech and it improves comprehension levels and word recognition. This is vital for those who struggle with reading or require support with reading. Read&Write for Windows will read text from:
Microsoft Word
Web Pages
PDF files
Inaccessible Flash and Text embedded in graphics of video
Instant Messages
Email
DAISY books
Dragon Recognised text
All content on your screen, including file names and tool tips.
Text-to-Speech
It is easier to understand a block of text by listening to it, particularly if you struggle with reading. Read&Write for Windows reads text aloud to you from any document on your computer. Text can be read using a male or female voice.
You can select your preferred voice and set the pitch, speed and volume to suit your individual needs. Read&Write for Windows now comes with a selection of new Vocalizer Expressive voices and a number of International voices can be downloaded from the Read&Write Essentials webpage.
The software reads text on:
Web pages
Emails
Microsoft Word documents
PDF documents
"With the use of a set of headphones, students can have books from the Academy's e-Library read aloud through Read&Write's text-to-speech functionality; plus items from the internet, worksheets and their own creative writing can be read back to them. Students can also make revision notes and have these read to them, or use the software to help learn poetry or lines for drama productions."
Marion Griffiths, Erasmus Darwin Academy
Screenshot Reader
Sometimes text is difficult to read because it is part of an image or it is on a locked PDF document . Read&Write for Windows has the ability to read this text no matter where it is. The Screenshot Reader will read the text aloud to you with word highlighting. You can then save or edit the text in Microsoft Word.
"My favourite feature on the Read&Write toolbar is the Screenshot Reader because it breaks down the barrier of access presented by locked PDF files which are always about in the university world. It has made it much easier for my students and for us. No more waiting for file conversion!"
Kim Appleton, Queensland University of Technology
Daisy Reader
Read&Write for Windows reads DAISY Books aloud with each word highlighted as it is spoken.
"My favorite option in Read&Write Gold is the DAISY Reader. With the networked Read&Write Gold, we save IT time (and annoyance) and the DAISY Reader video tour is so good that we save assistive technology time too!"
Monica Rathsack, Appleton Area School District
Screen Masking
If you have trouble focusing on the screen or need a visual tracking aid to support your reading, the Screen Masking feature will assist you. It masks out the active or non-active parts of the screen, just like a coloured overlay.
Read&Write for Windows has unique screen tinting options to suit all users including tinting the whole screen, mouse spotlighting, and underlining the point in the document where you are typing. Screen Masking provides unrivalled reading support.
"It is easier for me to read from my screen when using the Screen Masking feature. I found out from my Needs Assessment that yellow and lilac are the two colours that make reading easier for me, so to have this on screen and being able to use a screen overlay is valuable to me."
Amie Swinton, student at Carnegie College & Telford College
PDF Aloud
The PDF Aloud tool will read content on a PDF document with each word highlighted as it is spoken.
"My favourite feature is PDF Aloud; I use this feature to read medical journals in PDF documents. When reading alone, I tend to add in words that aren't actually there or misread text. PDF Aloud helps me to break up large amounts of text for more accurate reading and ensures I do not misinterpret words. When reading, I follow the highlighting, this allows me to read much quicker as this way I do not skip passages or have to re-read lines."
Victoria McKnight, student at the University of Ulster
