Penfriend XP Version 3
by Penfriend Ltd
Preferred version for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, and NT4. For Windows Me, 9x and 3.x Penfriend W3 is recommended.
World class word prediction, speech feedback, and onscreen keyboard for Windows XP, 2000, NT, ME and 98
Penfriend XP combines terrific performance with a range of well chosen features and surprising ease of use. Version 3 has new lexicons, still better prediction and numerous other improvements. As with all Penfriend Ltd products, it brings dyslexic and physically disabled users benefits including:
- Confidence to write more
By predicting the right word before they have struggled with it, it encourages more adventurous writing and lets people put their thoughts on paper.Whereas a spelling checker spreads red ink on the page and reinforces ideas of error and fault, word prediction shows possible words which are correct and likely when the writer has only just begun to tell the computer about the word.
- Accuracy to write what they mean
By holding a dictionary of correctly spelt words, the writer can know that words shown on the list are appropriate (grammatically and orthographically). Smart punctuation makes sentences look right, and grammatical prediction helps put words in the right order.
- Speed to write more in the time available
Penfriend XP saves key-strokes by typing letters for you. This helps writers to get more on paper in the same time, and to write more before they get tired.In a detailed academic study of supportive writing software by the CALL Centre, Penfriend XP was found to be the most effective word predictor. It saved around 65% of keystrokes (more than any other product), and predicted the correct word by the time the first letter had been typed in around 70% of cases (again, the best).
Penfriend XP can be used with almost any word processor, as it intercepts and simulates messages from the keyboard to the application.
Click here to see Recent Improvements in Penfriend XP version 3.
Features
Word Prediction
- 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.
Speech Feedback
- Penfriend XP comes with speech feedback; the ability to read aloud the words on your screen, including words that you haven’t written yet! Penfriend XP uses Microsoft SAPI5 to produce clear words, and to allow the installation of other ‘third party’ voices.
It can be configured to speak each letter as it is typed, each word as it is completed, and each sentence. It can read words from the prediction list when you point at them, when you choose them, or automatically when they change. It can also read back whole paragraphs (or more) of text from other applications using the clipboard. This might be your document, a web page, an email, or almost anything else.
While speaking text from the clipboard, a window can be shown which follows the voice, highlighting each word as it goes. You can click on a word to hear it again, or to speak a fragment of the text.
Penfriend Portable XP includes SAPI voices from CereProc This is an external link, one of the world’s leading vendors of quality accented text-to-speech engines. The three English voices Heather, Sarah and Katherine are installed using the standard SAPI protocol for trouble-free listening.
Onscreen Keyboard
- For people either with physical disabilities affecting their use of a keyboard, or for those who do not want to glance repeatedly between the screen and keyboard, Penfriend XP offers an onscreen keyboard. Its straightforward design mirrors key features of a conventional QWERTY keyboard, and it uses colours of the user’s choice.
For people with a more specialised onscreen keyboard, Penfriend XP can work with Clicker 5 or Clicker 4 to predict with custom-designed onscreen keyboards which support switch access.
Lexicon Editing
- A major feature of Penfriend XP is the ability to edit lexicons. It also reads lexicons from Penfriend XP version 2.
Penfriend XP version 3 has new lexicons including a 30,000 word lexicon which is more appropriate to adult users.
Penfriend XP doesn’t claim to know all the words you want to write in advance, but it is very good at learning them. Every word you type is analysed, and Penfriend XP can learn those it doesn’t recognise. Depending on your spelling, you might ask for new words to be predicted immediately (as appropriate), or perhaps just to be remembered and then checked by a teacher.
Penfriend XP holds new words in a specially marked list, so that you can easily review the ones it has learnt recently. There are various tools for manipulating these, such as approving only those used several times. If you have a student that has bad spelling you can switch off Predict new words and then see the wrong spellings that have been made. These can then be ‘Banned’ if you never want them to be predicted.
As well as learning new words, Penfriend XP keeps track of the ones you’ve used, and your style of writing. This all helps to predict the right words next time!
Abbreviation Expansion
- As well as predicting words using the letters you type, Penfriend XP can store phrases or other words, assigned to special codes. For example, ‘pfl’ might be an abbreviation for ‘Penfriend Ltd’. When you type the short code and press Space, Penfriend XP can automatically replace it. This can speed up writing of commonly used phrases or even sentences. Naturally, you can control the abbreviations yourself, adding and removing them at will.
Smart Punctuation
- When you finish a sentence, or use almost any punctuation mark, Penfriend XP can help you to get it right. Although it normally puts a space after predicted words, it moves that to after the punctuation, and capitalises your next letter. Little things like this give writers the confidence to put their thoughts on paper.
Integration with Clicker 5
- As well as predicting words directly into your word processor, Penfriend XP can work with Clicker now including Clicker 5.2, from Crick Software to provide its prediction engine without the user needing to interact with Penfriend directly. If you have an older version of Penfriend XP you can download an upgrade to Penfriend XP version 3.1 or later that will support Clicker 5.2; this upgrade can be downloaded by logging onto the Penfriend website via the Web Site link in your copy of the program, then choose Customer Downloads.
View screenshots of Penfriend working with Clicker 5 to provide word prediction
Click here for a Help Sheet on How to Use Penfriend Word Prediction in Clicker 5.
Sensible Options
- Penfriend XP makes its options easy to understand. There are enough to give you the choices you need for the people you work with, but each makes sense, giving you flexibility and comprehension.
The colours of text, in the prediction window and the onscreen keyboard, can be adjusted. The colour of highlighted words, both text and background, can be controlled separately from the normal words. Whether Penfriend XP learns new words, predicts them immediately, applies ‘smart punctuation’, or speaks as you type, can all be decided by you. A document included when you buy the system explains which options would help most.
Further, the options are stored per user rather than for the whole computer. This means you can have several people with different special needs using the same system, but each one gets it configured especially for them.
For a detailed explanation of the options, download the free demonstration and read the on-line help.
Note: For a free demo of Penfriend XP click here to download the demonstration software from the Penfriend website.
Licensing Conditions for Single User and Additional Users on a Single Geographical Site
The Penfriend Single User licence can be installed on one computer; the number of people using each installation is not limited. If you wish to install on additional computers on the same SINGLE geographical site, please purchase additional user licences or a site licence. Alternatively, the Penfriend Portable allows an individual to utilise the program on any compatible computer by plugging in the Penfriend Portable USB stick.
You might also want to check out our Penfriend W3, XP, XL Software Comparison Chart to see which Penfriend software best meets your needs.
Requirements and ResourcesexpandClick to collapse
- Windows
- Operating System: Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, NT4
- Sound card and speakers
View/Download
- Getting started with Penfriend XP (PDF 194 KB)
For more information on "Penfriend XP Version 3" read the following articles:
- Penfriend XP and XL Review in the PATOSS Bulletin, November 2004
- Penfriend XP and W3 Review by Better Living Through Technology (formerly senit.org)
- Penfriend XP and W3 Review by Thomas Wolsey School, UK
- Word Prediction Software Comparison Chart
Penfriend XP Version 3 is targeted at the following age ranges:
- All Ages
Penfriend XP Version 3 is designed to foster development in the areas of:
- Literacy
- Access to computers
Users can access Penfriend XP Version 3 in the following ways:
- Mouse/ Trackball/ Joystick
- Keyboard
- Single Switch
- Multiple Switches
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and technical support visit:
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