My colleague Abi James writes:
We've been distributing the Reading Pen for many years
(http://www.dyslexic.com/rp.htm) and have seen it used successfully by
children, students and adults. Its great for those who need occasional
help decoding words (or even reading out sentences). (We recommend that
it is not suitable for VI or children under the age of 11 because you
need to have reasonable co-ordination and sight to use it. But it has
been used successfully with younger children with additional training.)
There is a technique to using the pen and once you've picked it up you
get a very good recognition rate. In the past, because of the American
pronunciations and spellings it's not been so useful for learning how to
pronounce new words. We have just received stock of the new version with
British speech, so that words are pronounced correctly, and using the
Concise Oxford Dictionary. We've also worked with the manufacturers to
make the menus simpler and more intuitive.
If you or other dis-forum members would like to have a look at the new
Reading Pen then we have a scheme for loaning them out. Please contact
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] if you would like to organise
this. (Our Neil Milliken is coming to see Jonathan Auld at APU on
Friday. I'll ask him to bring one for you to see).
If you want the extra storage facilities mentioned by Mark Boyce (for
storing quotes and other info and uploading them later to a PC), you can
add a Memory Extension kit
(http://www.dyslexic.com/products.php?pid=100). This then adds all the
functionality of the QuickLink Pen
(http://www.dyslexic.com/products.php?pid=36) including many translation
dictionaries (eg French/English).
Regards
Ian Litterick
iANSYST Ltd
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barbara Beckwith [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 06 October 2003 16:41
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [DIS-FORUM] Reading Pen
>
>
> I have just been given some advertising
> blurb on a 'new reading pen' featuring the
> Concise Oxford English Dictionary. It
> apparently reads scanned text and
> definitions aloud through built-in speakers
> and also has an output socket for earphones
> for private listening.
>
> (Can be viewed at www.scanningpens.co.uk)
>
> Has anybody had an opportunity to evaluate
> this or recommended it?
>
> Barbara
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------
> Barbara Beckwith
> Student Adviser/IT
> Access Centre - Student Services
> Ext 3298
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
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