ClaroRead PLUS V5

Softwarefor Reading and Writing Support

ClaroRead is a highly effective multi-sensory software solution for supportingany computer user who struggles with reading and writing - perhaps dueto dyslexia or other conditions. It is designed and crafted by experts,and provides a quality text to speech tool that is simple touse. 

ClaroRead provides text to speech support tools that allow computer users to read and writeindependently. By making a computer speak any text with a human voice,text documents can be proofed out loud along with web pages, e-mailsand any other text. ClaroRead can reduce reliance on teachers,partners, support staff and parents by giving its user the opportunityto achieve the same standards as everyone else.

Available in Standard, PLUS andPremium versions, ClaroRead is easy-to-use and provides the perfectintegrated text to speech tool for use with Microsoft Office 2003 and2007. ClaroRead works on the Windows Vista operating system, as well asWindows XP. 

The range of additional voices in over 20 languages is also helpful forthose learning a second language

ClaroRead Standard is closely integratedwith Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer, practically any text can bespoken aloud by this powerful software.

With ClaroRead PLUS, you can also scan anypaper document, convert any PDF file and have it spoken back withcomplete clarity.

With ClaroRead Premium you also receiveClaroRead PLUS, a portable version of ClaroRead Standard on a USBMemory Stick, as well as our Mindfull concepts mapping tool.

ClaroRead can be quicklycustomised to individual needs and abilities, by students or tutors.

ClaroRead Features and Benefits
Text to Speech Features, WordIntegration, Colour, Font & Spacing, Homophones, Dictionary,Word Prediction, Scan Paper & PDF, Sc+BI307reenRuler, Claroview, USBVersion, Works with Vista.

Make your PC Speak with a HumanVoice
ClaroRead speaks back text asit is typed, allowing a student to check and proof-read their workquickly and easily. Text can be spoken at any point by highlightingindividual sections of text and pressing Play - great for proofreading.
Close integration withMicrosoft Word 2003 and 2007, and Internet Explorer 6 and 7 means youcan click and play at any point in a document or web page.

A choice of male (RealSpeak Daniel) and female (Emily and Serena)human-sounding voices give clarity and dispense with the roboticquality of most computer voices.

The inclusion of the IndianEnglish voice Sangeeta and British English voice Serena along withclassic British voice Jane in ClaroRead PLUS 2008 gives more listeningoptions for all users.

Spoken words can be trackedusing a custom colour selection. Any accessible text under the mousecan be spoken if needed.

A unique feature allowsClaroRead PLUS to echo back words and phrases dictated into any textprocessor or email application using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8, 9and 10. (any version).

Make Audio files from textdocuments for listening to on your PC or a portable audio player.Simply Select and Save - great for revision or listening on the move.Audio quality has been further improved for 2008.A Text to Speech PronunciationDictionary is available to modify the way words are pronounced ifneeded.

NEW!- Speak This Word:Allows the user to hear a single word spoken back in their desiredvoice, simply by holding the CTRL button ClaroRead 2008 will speak theword under the mouse pointer.

NEW!-More Voice Choice:
ClaroRead 2008 includes 5 English voices with the excellent new BritishEnglish voice Serena. The add-on language range has been furtherextended to over 25 languages.

NEW!- Sentence Review Mode:
Allows the user to review their work sentence-by-sentence simply byclicking the Play button on the ClaroRead toolbar. To read the nextsentence just click Play again (or press the hot key). Excellent forreviewing Word documents at your own pace.

Integrationwith Microsoft Word 2003 & 2007
ClaroReadprovides a singletool bar for use in Microsoft Word that combines a homophone and trickyword dictionary, font and spacing commands, a thesaurus , spell checkerbutton and a save to audio function. All have clear graphic icons forease of recognition.

Font and Colour Changing
When working in Microsoft Word,ClaroRead’s Font Button allows youto modify the font size, type, and colour of the whole document veryeasily.

You can:

• Increase or decrease the font size.
• Change the font to one of 3 popular fonts with one click. The fonts can be chosen in the newClaroRead Advanced Settings Editor.
• Change the colour of the text of a whole document and change the background colour of your PCeasily.

Spacing
Text character, line andparagraph spacing using Microsoft Word menus requires some detailedknowledge. ClaroRead makes it simple to space out text, both in Wordand on web pages using Internet Explorer 6 or 7. Pressing the SpacingButton when working in Word or Internet Explorer will help you:

• Expand spacing
• Change line spacing
• Changes the number of points(spaces) after the end of each paragrap

Homophonesand Tricky Words - Helping Choose the Word
Homophonesare words that are pronounced alike even if they differ in spelling ormeaning, suchas "pair" and "pear".ClaroReadHomophone features will:

• Markin colour all the homophones and confusable words in a document. Usingthe new Advanced Settings Editor, you can also add additional trickyand confusable words.
• TheCheck Feature will listalternative words that sound the same, along with the meaning of eachword.
• Mark homophones incolour asyou type.
• NEW! - Word with Pictures
  One thousand extra pictures included in ClaroRead 2008,helping users to select the correct homophone or choice of wording.Pictures can be turned on or off.

CheckWord - a single button press
ClaroReadprovides a single Check Button for use in Microsoft Word that combinesa homophone dictionary, thesaurus,reference dictionary andspellchecker, making the checking of your text and documents easier andmore comprehensive.

If a word is a homophone the Homophone Check Box will appear, alongwith meanings. If the word has alternative words with the same orsimilar meaning, the Meaning Check Box will appear. You can then drilldown further to see the dictionary definition. You can SpellCheckindividual words or the whole of your document at any point.
The Check Boxes are fully speech enabled, so hovering the mouse overthe words will make them speak. We also have over 1000 picture icons tohelp with word meanings.

Scan paper & Convert PDF files into Word (ClaroRead PLUS only)
Powerful optical character recognition (OCR) technology means that any paperdocument or PDF file becomes accessible. Through the integration ofOmnipage 15 OCR engine, textbooks, photocopies and handouts are easilyconverted into Word documents. The text can then be spoken out byClaroRead or edited. PDF files can also be unlocked and edited, openinga wealth of material for accessibility to every student, regardless ofthe format.

This feature works using all scanners with TWAIN or WIA compatible scanners.

Word Prediction
ClaroReadcontains a word prediction feature, which can be useful for certaincomputer users. ClaroRead uses a base prediction dictionary consistingof the most frequently used words in the English language. Thedictionary learns as you type, and rejects words that don't pass theautomatic spellcheck.

The Prediction List willautomatically appear by your cursor during typing. Alternatively, youcan dock the Prediction windows anywhere on the screen to use it as areference.

The ClaroRead Advanced Settings Editor now allows the creation ofmultiple Prediction Dictionaries, by importing words from existingdocuments. Ideal for creating subject and curriculum specificdictionaries, it puts the tool into the hands of the teacher. Buildingon the popularity of our Save to Audio feature in all versions ofClaroRead, we have now enhanced this to produce Save to Video. It isnow possible to convert any text into a video with a high quality"voice over" synchronised with the text. You can change the text coloursettings to your preferences and the video can be produced to suit awide range of popular mobile devices with video screens - iPhone, iPodTouch and Nano, Nokia and Walkman phones and of course Media Playersoftware. It is quick and easy to do, allowing you to take yourdocuments and webpages with you on the move.ClaroRead has alwaysallowed PDF files to be spoken aloud, and also converted into MicrosoftWord format with the PLUS edition. We wanted to give the user moreoptions for PDF files to be spoken aloud, so we produced a standaloneAccessible PDF reader, which is available as a free download foranyone. The Claro Accessible PDF Reader will convert accessible PDFFiles into a web page style retaining the original format and layout ora simple text only view. You can then change any of the colour, fontand spacing using the built in controls, and ClaroRead will speak backthe text aloud.

ClaroRead Extras - NEWFEATURE!
For 2008 there are more applications and utilities (ClaroRead Extras)to enrich the toolkit available to you. We have still concentrated onEase of Use, so many of the Extras are neatly tucked away. However, youhave the peace of mind knowing that the feature is there should youneed to turn it on for a particular task or assignment. Existing andfuture ClaroRead users can visit the ClaroRead Extras website fromClaroRead to obtain product updates, free downloads, add on productsand support information.

ClaroRead Extras neatly groups together a range of accessibilityutilities such as; ClaroView screen colour filter, ScreenRuler

This product is Vista and Windows 7 compatible