Read&Write 9 Speech
Read&Write 9's text-to-speech features offer a simple and accurate way to read documents.The software will read text aloud from websites, PDF documents, Word documents and any other text on screen by word, sentence or paragraph. Selected text can also be spoken aloud as the User types.
Read&Write 9 comes with new Texthelp Voices - Tim and Tina. The voices have been specifically designed for Education purposes to ensure that students have the best listening experience. Words are highlighted as they are spoken for audio-visual reinforcement, increasing word recognition levels. Screen reading of on-screen text, menus and icons is also available.
Fig 1: Read&Write 9 Speech
How is this useful?
Users with literacy difficulties are likely to suffer major problems when reading. Read&Write 9 goes some way to minimising barriers to learning as every piece of text can be speech enabled. The result of this is that Users do not have to struggle to comprehend written information as they can have the text played back to them in an audio format. This audio-visual reinforcement allows struggling users to develop their literacy skills.
The speech facility can also be used by people for whom English is their second language (ESL). Users are likely to find it easier to learn English when using this system as the words can be read and spoken simultaneously. This again acts as a reinforcement measure as the User develops their understanding of the spelling of the words, while also learning how the words are spoken.
Read&Write 9 Phoetic Spell Checker
Read&Write 9 has an enhanced Phonetic Spell Checker to analyse and correct even more spelling mistakes than before.
The User can choose to check spelling as they type or check their completed document. Spelling mistakes will be identified and the Spelling Helper window will provide a list of suggested corrections with the meanings of each to aid the correct choice.
The Phonetic Spell Checker assists the user in correcting the most complex of errors. Colour coded identification of errors helps the User to identify their mistakes.
This feature provides literacy support for users with learning difficulties as all spelling suggestions and dictionary definitions can be read aloud. An error log gives the educator the opportunity to monitor an individual User's progress.
The latest spell checking facility provided by Read&Write 9 has an improved ability to suggest the word a User is looking for. This improvement in the probability of suggested words is likely to further assist the User in their aim to produce a high standard of work.
Fig 1: Read&Write 9 Spelling
How is this useful?
The Phonetic Spell Checker in Read&Write 9 provides Users with the added support they need as the program recognises their unique spelling patterns and makes suggestions accordingly. The result of this is a higher level of relevant suggestions for the User, as the spell checker is uniquely capable of recognising the word the User is trying to spell.
The spell checking facility also provides audio visual definitions of the suggested words, therefore allowing Users to assure themselves that the word they are going to use is correct. This is expected to enable Users to build their vocabulary and confidence.
Read&Write 9 Homophone Support
Read&Write 9's Homophone Checker identifies like-sounding words and highlights them in MS Word. It suggests audible definitions and replacements, assisting the User to apply the right word within the context of their work.
Read&Write 9 has a 'Sounds-Like' feature to allow you to identify and change words that are used in the wrong context. Words such as 'there', 'they're' and 'their' are homophones; they sound the same but have different meanings. Read&Write 9 will provide colour coding of confusable words and will list possible alternatives with audible definitions and sample sentences.
Read&Write 9 has an improved homophone database with the option to select from basic or advanced homophone suggestions. By identifying and providing audible definitions of homophones, Read&Write 9 software ensures that each User identifies the correct word in the correct context.
Fig 1: Read&Write 9 Homophone Support
How is this useful?
Understanding the differences between homophones can be incredibly difficult for Users with learning difficulties such as dyslexia. This educational software package allows the User to work efficiently, safe in the knowledge that the homophones they are using are contextually accurate.
Highlighting the homophones in blue further reinforces the presence of homophones for the User and enables them to develop their understanding of such words. Highlighting homophones is expected to increase the level of grammatical accuracy in the User's text and therefore will facilitate a higher standard of work.
With the support provided in Read&Write 9 GOLD the User is able to understand the correct homophone due to the audio definitions for each word and the link to the dictionary that provides sample sentences.
Read&Write 9 Word Prediction
This feature enables the User to develop their writing skills by providing the tools to construct sentences with ease. As the User types, a list of suggestions will appear in the Prediction Panel. Subject specific or industry related vocabulary can be added to the prediction database to enhance the User experience.
The Read&Write 9 Word Predictor learns the User's style of writing and predicts the word they want to use next. The prediction database has been enhanced with many more new words and improvements have been made to the speed of processing and suggestion accuracy.
Read&Write 9 continues to allow Users to select from context-specific prediction files such as Arts, Beliefs and Books. This further enhances the relevance of the suggestions made by the User. Users can also edit the contents of their custom dictionary and can edit the prediction suggestions to better suit their requirements.
Indicators beside each word show context accuracy. This means Users will be less likely to make a grammatical error, thereby increasing the quality of their work.
The Word Prediction feature of Read&Write 9 has seen great improvements in speed of processing and suggestion accuracy in comparison with previous versions.
Fig1: Read&Write 9: Word Prediction
How is this useful?
Providing Users with word suggestions as they write helps them to complete their work with greater efficiency and accuracy.
Word prediction ensures that Users do not become lost for words or stuck in the middle of the sentence.
The feature can be particularly advantageous for Users who have a small vocabulary, or for foreign language speakers, as definitions of the words can be spoken directly from the dictionary.
Being able to confirm the meaning of the word through speech ensures that each User can develop their use of the language and can therefore be confident that the words they are using are correct.
Read&Write 9 Web Highlighting
Read&Write 9 will read any website, intranet or VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) The Web highlighting feature of Read&Write 9 allows the User to follow the highlighted word as it is spoken. This is of particular use for Users with literacy difficulties or visual impairments when accessing information online and it also aids the User's concentration and comprehension.
How is this useful?
Given the level of importance placed upon the Internet in Education and in the workplace, it is vital that people of all abilities are able to access and utilise information contained online.
The Internet has become one of the most popular channels for completing tasks such as recruitment, communications and research. Through the use of this feature every User is capable of taking advantage of all of the opportunities the Internet offers, by transferring the text to an audio format.
To put it simply, web highlighting makes the web talk.
Read&Write 9 Daisy Reader
The DAISY Standard for Digital Accessible Documents is an open worldwide specification that revolutionises the reading experience for people who are blind or print disabled.
The Read&Write 9 software contains Daisy Reading technology and allows Users to read their Daisy Books while working within the Read&Write program. The Daisy Reader now supports protected daisy books issued by the RFB&D.
Dual colour highlighting allows Users with learning difficulties such as dyslexia to follow each word on the screen as it is spoken. It is also possible to bookmark sections of pertinent text.
Fig 1: Read&Write 9 Daisy Reader
Read&Write 9 Word Wizard
The Read&Write 9 Word Wizard acts as a thesaurus for those times when you are "lost for words". It takes you from the word you know to the word you want.
The Word Wizard provides a great choice of alternative words and provides a list of linking words. Each of the descriptions and sample sentences can be read by Read&Write 9 to help find the word to use.
This feature increases vocabulary, understanding and efficiency.
Fig 1: Read&Write 9 Word Wizard
How is this useful?
Read&Write 9 provides those who suffer from literacy difficulties with an interactive thesaurus allowing them to develop and build their vocabulary every time the program is used.
A User who utilises the Word Wizard will see their vocabulary grow and will be able to produce reports or documents with words that are contextually accurate.
The development of the User's vocabulary will result in an increased confidence in their own ability to select and use words effectively. This is likely to result in a higher standard of work.
Read&Write 9 Study Skills Toolbar
The Study Skills Toolbar in Read&Write 9 is an additional toolbar where sections of text can be highlighted and collated together to produce study notes.
Often when reading notes, books or journals we use coloured markers to highlight pieces of text, which are of particular relevance to the subject we are studying. With the Study Skills Toolbar in Read&Write 9 this same ability is brought to the computer. It can be used within Microsoft Word or Internet Explorer. The Study Skills toolbar can now be used to collect highlights from previously highlighted documents which have been saved.
Within the Study Skills Toolbar, there is also a Summarise tool. This can be used within any Windows based application. The User simply highlights the text they want to summarise and clicks on the Summarise icon, choosing what percentage of the text they want in their summary. The summary is transferred into a new Word document, within which the User can alter the percentage further.
Fig 1: Before and After using Summarise Tool
Read&Write 9 Calculator
Read&Write 9 has an easy to use Basic Calculator. Not only does this provide the most common functions associated with a Basic Calculator but it also provides an audit trail so that each User can see their calculations as they go.
Fig 1: Read&Write 9 Calculator
How is this useful?
The calculator assists those with learning difficulties such as dyscalculia or dyslexia, as the speech enablement of equations and dual colour highlighting of text make mathematical sums easier to read and understand.
The ability to complete equations from within the document a User is working in further increases the speed at which work is completed, while ensuring that levels of accuracy are kept at a high level.
textHELP Read & Write Standard
