A range of intelligent solutions to assist those with reading and writing difficulties

This version is no longer available. Replaced by textHELP Read&Write 8

Read & Write Version 7.1 is a discreet, integrated solution for any person with literacy needs. It has been designed as a “floating” toolbar that will help improve reading and writing skills, with features such as speech feedback, phonetic spell checking, word prediction and homophone support to cover every aspect of the learning spectrum.
Read & Write Version 7.1 works within any of the Windows based applications such as word processors, Email, Internet, Spreadsheets or databases.

CORE FEATURES AND BENEFITS include:

• Speech Feedback
  Text can be read back by each word, sentence, paragraph or selected text and spoken as it is typed. Choices of adjustable voices are available. Words can be highlighted as they are spoken for audiovisual reinforcement, increasing word recognition levels. Screenreading of onscreen text, menus and icons is also available. Click here for more details.
• Phonetic Spell Checker
  Colour coded identification of errors helps the user to identify their mistakes. The phonetic spell checker assists the user in correcting the most complex of errors. All spelling suggestions, and dictionary definitions can be spoken. An error log gives the educator the opportunity to monitor individual users progress. Specialised dictionaries are included. Click here for more details.
• Homophone support
  To eliminate the confusion of “like sounding words” (homophones) the software provides colour coding of the confused words, and lists possible alternatives with audible definitions and sample sentences. Click here for more details.
• Logs
  The logs are individualised per user. They will record spelling mistakes by date and type. This gives the educator the information needed to monitor the progress of individual students and adapt their Individual Education Plans accordingly.
• Multi Profile Function
  Allow many users to save and access their individual settings on one machine. A cost effective way of providing the support of textHELP Read & Write Version 7.1 to many students.
• Extensive Dictionary
  Version 7.1 now comes with textHELP’s own commissioned dictionary giving easier to understand definitions and has options allowing the user to choose basic or advanced definitions of words.

  180,000 words are provided with alternative suggestions, developing the user’s creative writing skills. Each word has a description and sample sentence, all of which can be spoken. Highlighting the words in MS Word and collecting them at the end of the session can collect any new words that are looked up. Click here for more details.

• Word Wizard
  For when a User is just “lost for words”, it takes them from the word they know to the word they want. Click here for more details.
• Word Prediction
  Reduce the time and increase accuracy when trying to form words and sentences. As the user types the first letter of the word, suggestions are made in the prediction list; phonetic based suggestions are also available. Child, teenage and adult dictionaries are provided. Classifications include Science, Commerce and Politics, Creative Writing, Social Science, and Arts/Leisure. Correctly spelled words are learnt as the student types and can be suggested. Word Prediction reduces the user’s number of keystrokes substantially increasing sentence construction. The level of accuracy of each suggested word is indicated according to the context of the sentence being constructed.

  Version 7.1 has a new expanded phonetic map to deal with the ‘mirror letters’ (e.g. d&b, p&q, etc.) commonly used by students who are struggling with reading and writing. Click here for more details.

• Clipboard History
  The clipboard history feature of Read & Write (v7.1) allows you to store any item you have viewed in your clipboard for use at a later time. The clipboard stores the last ten pieces of information accessed by you in a visible list for easy retrieval. Click here for more details.
• Web Highlighting
  The new web highlighting feature of Read & Write (v7.1) allows you to experience dual colour highlighting with audible feedback in HTML documents. This is of particular use for those with literacy difficulties when accessing information online and also aids their concentration and comprehension. Click here for more details.

1. Multi Tasking – Works in any Windows based application so you can have different applications all running at the same time and use Read & Write with any one of them.
2. Simple Calculator
   Read & Write Version 7.1 has an easy to use simple calculator. Not only does this provide the most common functions associated with a simple calculator but it also provides an audit trail so that each user can see their calculations as they go. Click here for more details.
3. RealSpeak voices
   Version 7.1 comes with RealSpeak V4 Solo voices – which give a more realistic sounding human voice and load in a fraction of the time taken by previous voices. Australian RealSpeak V4 voices are available with textHELP Read & Write programs from March 2005!

   Listen to onscreen text read back by the most human sounding voice available. By incorporating these features Read & Write provides support for creative writing, promoting independence and increasing accuracy of work created. This all leads to a much more motivated learner who achieves the results they deserve. Click here for more details.

4. Teacher Toolkit
   Manage your students’ profiles with the entirely new Teacher Tool Kit. With more and more impetus for providing support within the exam or assessment environment, Read & Write Version 7.1 provides a new resource for choosing which features are active in the program whilst still allowing the students to have reading and writing support. Using a toolkit that can only be accessed by an authorised user, teachers can customise Feature Sets which enable them to switch on or off any of the features of the program. Click here for more details.

Quote from the UK-based DYSPEL Project for improvement of literacy skills of young offenders with dyslexia:

“Read & Write is user-friendly, in that it does not require extensive initial training. It can be used immediately and provides our clients with a feeling of success that motivates them to continue and progress. It is not intimidating and most of our clients find it quite entertaining, which also promotes and encourages positive learning. It is a flexible tool that can be managed by clients at different levels and who work at different paces – thus accommodating differential learning. In addition, it is multi-sensory and includes very important auditory feedback.” (Dyspel, 2001)

Technical Support

Spectronics is happy to provide technical support for all products we sell to you. It may also help to know that you can find helpful information through:

• the Technical Support section on the textHELP website


• or by taking a look at our growing collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on this Spectronics website.

Click here for a chart comparing the various features of textHELP’s programs – to help you see at-a-glance which program is best for you.

Click here to read more about the enhancements built into textHELP Read & Write Version 7.1 released in January 2005!

Click here to use our textHELP Upgrades Calculator to quickly see how much it will cost for you to upgrade your current textHELP programs to Version 7.1 with Australian and UK Voices!

System Requirements:

The following are the minimum requirements needed to operate Read & Write:

• Pentium 350MHz Processor


• Windows 98, 2000, XP, ME or NT4


• Internet Explorer 6 or later (available on the Installation CD)


• Sound Card and Speakers


• CD ROM drive


• 256 MB RAM


• 400 MB Free Disk Space

NB: Previous versions of Read & Write and WordSmith must be uninstalled before installing Read & Write Version 6.0

View/Download:

• Read and Write v7.1 Training Guide UK – (PDF 1.7 MB)
  
• Read and Write v7.1 Beginners Guide Quick Start UK – (PDF 163 KB)