Disability Advisory Service TextHelp Read & Write 9 Gold Version 1.2 March 2013
Contents Accessing Text Help Read & Write on a PAWS computer... 4 Introduction... 5 The Toolbar... 6 Toolbar Buttons... 7 Customising your settings & viewing the video tutorials... 8 Setting Up the toolbar display options... 9 Reading Text... 10 Adjusting the Speed and changing the voice... 11 The Spell Helper... 12 Using the dictionary... 13 Checking for Homophones... 14 Converting text into sound files... 15 Using the Standard Calculator... 17 Using the scanning facility... 18 Scanning Multiple Documents... 18
Aims & Objectives To introduce the first time user to Text Help Read & Write software. This is program is designed to help computer users with reading and writing Difficulties. Help with proof-reading Hear text read aloud Check Homophones Use the dictionary Use the speaking Calculator Convert text into sound files Use the scanner Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 3
Accessing Text Help Read & Write on a PAWS computer This workbook is designed to familiarise you with some of the basic features of the programme. * At the time of writing a new Paws network is being tested soon to be rolled out so access procedures may change. Login to PAWS by Pressing CTL + ALT + DEL Type in your Paws Login username press Tab Key at the next window Type your PAWS Password press enter 1. Click on the start 2. Click on programs 3. Click on accessibility applications 4. Click on Text Help Read & Write 8. Text Help Read & Write has built in video tutorials of all it functions which are available from its tool bar drop down menus Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 4
Introduction Read & write 8 Gold is designed to provide help to computer users with reading and writing difficulties. It can read text aloud and help you construct words and sentences. It has also many other features, such as advanced spell checking, document scanning and internet tools, to name but a few. Basic Exercises these exercises will help you learn some the basic skills you need to set up and use the different Read & Write 8 Gold facilities Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 5
When you start Text help Read and Write the starter splash screen will appear briefly followed by the tool bar The Toolbar The Tool Bar The tool bar appears in the centre of the screen but can be dragged to any position on the screen. It can also be docked to one of the four sides of the screen. This is done by dragging the toolbar. The most common position is at the top of the screen. Once the tool bar is docked to your preferred side it can be unanchored using the anchor for this workbook however drag the toolbar to the top of the screen. Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 6
Toolbar Buttons Spell Check Word Dictionary Word Wizard Show Prediction Homophone s Sounds Like Hide Calculator Rewind Speech Play Speech (Homophone) Homophones Pause Speech Forward Stop Speech Speech Maker Daisy Speech Reader Pronunciation Scan Fact Finder Fact Folder Fact Mapper Tutor Speech Input Help Read and Undock the Write Menu Toolbar Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 7
Customising your settings & viewing the video tutorials Take a look at the table above and take a note of what each does, if you have difficulty remembering what a does hover your move over a to see its associated tooltip. There is also a Watch the video tour of every located next to every main on the tool bar on the drop down list. is used. The tour explains how the works and how it Click on the drop down list to the right of the and make sure the Show tooltips on toolbar option is selected. You will know that it has been selected if you can see a tick beside it: If you hover your mouse over the you will see a tooltip. Click on the drop down list to the right of the. You will see a list of options that allow you to setup up how you want the Spell Check facility to work. Note Anytime you want to setup a facility to suits your needs the dropdown menu to the right on of a has many option you can adjust to suit you needs Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 8
Setting Up the toolbar display options Tool bar s visibility window Choosing toolbar appearance and size fun or professional Show homophones in MS Word Get homophone suggestions Hide homophones in MS Word. Now that you have docked the toolbar to the top of the screen you can practice by changing how it works. By selecting which icons you would like to see displayed along the toolbar. By checking all boxes in the toolbar visibility window you will see all s displayed on the toolbar You have the option to select large icons and small icons with or without text in a fun or professional format Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 9
Reading Text Before we begin this section, type this Shakespearian famous quote into a blank MS Word document. Also check that your speakers are switched on. "To be or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?" From Hamlet (III, i, 56-61) Along the tool bar look for the icon resembling a play text you wish to hear and press the play. Next to the play highlight the is a drop down menu the voice and the speed. go to speech options and from here you can change Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 10
Adjusting the Speed and changing the voice Drop down list of voices Adjust speed track bar to change speed of voice Test the voice If a Microsoft voice is selected change it to one of the better professional Scansoft voices such as Daniel or Emily they are far better. You may want to alter the speed of the playback, to do this adjust the speed track bar to your preferred preference. Then click on test the voice Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 11
The Spell Helper Type the following text into a blank MS Word document: There are deliberate spelling mistakes in the text that you must enter letter for letter. After the crop duster's old pickup puled away and its tail lights disappeered down the road towards Bannack, I sat on my suitcase and looked arround me. It was dead quiet adn empty black, except for the Montana starlight arround me. Click on the on the toolbar. You see the Spell Helper window displayed. Make sure your speakers are turn on. Word list box Check more to next error Make sure the move to next error after solving this one box is checked. To let the Spell checker to move the next error go through the text correcting And selecting the correct suggestions that the spell checker makes. Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 12
Using the dictionary Word box Definitions Inflections / Synonyms Type the follow text into a word document: Strangers are just friends waiting to happen. Highlight the word happen on the dictionary toolbar drop down menu you have the option to choose which definitions you wish to display in the definition results window select basic. Click on the search In the definitions window you have the opportunity to highlight the first definition and press the play to hear the result as a spoken high quality voice You will also have the opportunity to click on the advanced where you can choose Different kinds of happen, Words related to happen and Phrase which contain the text happen Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 13
Checking for Homophones Homophones list box Word meaning list box Type the following text into a blank Word document Put the magazine here clothes the window pleas. Click the show homophones on the toolbar. The homophones in your text are highlighted in blue. They will be displayed in the window They are : here, clothes, and pleas. Make sure the Move to next homophone after this is checked. If you would like to hear the word meaning read aloud click on the definition and click the play Select close from the Homophones list box Click the replace. Go through the document checking the correct word and meaning is correct. Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 14
Converting text into sound files Change the voice to Emily or Danel Highlight the excerpt of text taken from William Shakespearian you typed earlier: "To be or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them?" Hamlet (III, i, 56-61) Click on Speech maker on the tool bar You will need to make a few adjustments in the voice settings window. Adjust the Speed to 50 % Adjust the Volume to 50% Test the voice by pressing the test the voice, then click Next A third window will appear called file settings: Choose Mp3 and click on the Save As. Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 15
Making sure you save the file to you my documents folder and not the D:/ user area Then click finished to create your sound file. Browse the directory where you create it press F5 to refresh the directory if it is not there. Sound files created by R&W are normally Quick time files. Double click to open the file and press play. Converting text files to and audio file especially at revision time is a handy revision tool. You could for example write in a word document that contains 50 questions and answers, then use the Speech Maker to create a audio file Mp3 which you could save to a memory stick and upload to a computer, Mp3 player, IPod or mobile that plays Mp3 and listen to those 50 questions and answers on a pair of headphones. Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 16
Using the Standard Calculator Input Display Trail audit Click on the Speaking Calculator the right side select Standard Calulator on the drop list by the side of Click on the following s 5+9+4= You should hear the spoken result of the sum entered Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 17
Using the scanning facility Performing a fast scan into Microsoft Word from a Dragon Room. Place you document into the scanner. Click on the drop down list select scan to Word. You also have the option to scan to PDF or HTML if you so wish. Click on Scanner on the tool bar the scanning facility will scan the document into Word. This type of scan is recommended if you want to edit the document. If your Document has pictures in it the scanner will not recognise the images but should be able to scan most of the text. If you are happy with your results and now can get the Play back to read it Scanning Multiple Documents Click on the drop down list on the toolbar and select scanning options Click on 300 Dpi adjust the following settings Select Multiple pages with 60 in delay (secs) in text box Move the brightness scale up + 20% a Move the Contrast scale + 20% Click OK Course title June 2007 www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/ir/subject/xxx Page 18
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