Return-Path: <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id j4NLFpG29573; Mon, 23 May 2005 17:15:51 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 23 May 2005 17:15:51 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <003301c55fdc$787e3cb0$800101df@lsgrclark> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Renee Clark" <reneec@FreedomScientific.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-LD:4773] Re: Intonation and Interpretation of Computer read text. X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.6626 Content-Type: text/plain; Status: RO Content-Length: 5023 Lines: 136 Michele, There are many great scan and read programs on the market. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but the best of the bunch do so much more than just scanning and reading. For example, you can do just as you say - view an exact replica of the original document and choose to read just the parts of the text you wish. Beyond that, though, there are study strategies built in to help with focusing on key information, looking up vocabulary with a built-in talking dictionary, embedding notes right in context, jumping to the Internet to get more information on the topic and having the Internet text speak, etc, etc. Some of the aspects you'll want to evaluate are: User Interface - how easy is it to learn the software and get to the functions that are most critical for your son? Visual and Auditory Support - what types of visual and auditory processing support is built in. How do you make modifications to the visual and speech settings? Study Tools - what study tools are included to support comprehension and retention and how do you access them? Writing Support - what tools are available to support the writing process? Interaction with other applications - how do you bring documents into the program, how do you send them out to other applications? Internet access - does the software provide talking access to the Internet? Scanning - how do you get print documents scanned in? What is the process for cleaning up recognition errors? What is the basic structure of the program? - Is it add-on to off-the-shelf applications? Or is it an all-in-one program? How is the text presented (i.e. primarily an exact image of the original document or simultaneous access to a text image of the same document) Which solution best meets your son's needs will be dependent on his level of computer sophistication, what he wants to do with the text beyond just reading, and his simple preferences for which user interface most appeals to him. Many of the companies have demo CDs that allow you to try the software to see which will be the best match for your son. I hope that helps! Renee Clark Western Regional Manager 888-223-3344, ext. 127 reneec@freedomscientific.com www.freedomscientific.com/lsg -----Original Message----- From: nifl-ld@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-ld@nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Michele Anne Craig Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 1:36 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [NIFL-LD:4771] Re: Intonation and Interpretation of Computer read text. Christopher, I would really like to hear about other AT stuff. I thought if there were something that would read a book as you scanned it, it would be a lot more useful than books on tape. For one thing, you could use it the way you actually read. For example, reading captions on pictures or only reading parts of the text. Anything you know about would be good. If others on the list already know about it, just email me off list. Michele > [Original Message] > From: Christopher Lee <christopherlee@mindspring.com> > To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> > Date: 5/3/2005 3:07:00 AM > Subject: [NIFL-LD:4758] Re: Intonation and Interpretation of Computer read text. > > Michele > > I would be happy to point you in the direction of other AT (assistive > technology) products. I also hated the audio books growing up in k-12 > > Christopher Lee > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Michele Anne Craig" <shellcraig@ix.netcom.com> > To: "Multiple recipients of list" <nifl-ld@literacy.nifl.gov> > Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 9:13 PM > Subject: [NIFL-LD:4756] Intonation and Interpretation of Computer read text. > > > > Susan, > > > > I was so glad to see your post about the drawbacks of the technology > > for people if they don't have the infrastructure to support the > > technology. Also the thing you said about students having to > > reinterpret the text into more tonal reading really struck home > > with me. It is the difference between > > the books on tape that you get from the library and the books on tape that > > you get from the Library of Congress. My son is dyslexic, and he recently > > qualified to receive talking books, but he hates them for a few > > reasons -- > > the main one being that because the tapes are made so that you can > > speed them up to listen to the book faster, the readers are > > instructed not to put lots of expression into the reading since this > > would mess up the words when > > you speed up the tape. They also do things like read all the beginning of > > the book -- title pages, table of contents, the whole works! > > > > Listening to one of these almost atonal books is not at all the experience > > of having someone read to you or hearing a professional actor read. > > I > > think > > that it would take a lot of training to learn to use these books in how > > you > > listen. Just as you read for different purposes -- I guess you listen for > > different purposes too. > > > > Michele > > > > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > >
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