Penfriend Ltd
30 South Oswald RoadEdinburgh, EH9 2HG
United Kingdom
Telephone: 011-44-131-668-2000.
Fax: 011-44-131-668-2121.
Web: http://www.penfriend.biz.
Email: sales@penfriend.biz.
Products manufactured by Penfriend Ltd (listed alphabetically)
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PENFRIEND NA
Penfriend NA is a word prediction and abbreviation expansion program designed for use by individuals with fine motor, upper extremity, and learning disabilities. This voice output utility program can be used with almost any word processor program. Every time the user types a letter or letters, the program provides a list of the most likely words which fit those letters. The list appears in a new window, with user-selectable text and background colors. The user picks one of these words by pressing a button or clicking with the mouse. The program can read words from prediction lists when the user selects them, or it can read them automatically. The program can also read words as they are typed, and read back whole paragraphs of text from a clipboard. The program includes an on-screen keyboard. New words typed by the user are held in a specially marked list, so that they can be checked for spelling. Users can also choose to have new words used immediately for word prediction. This program also integrates with Clicker by Crick Software, providing prediction to Clicker while making Penfriend switch accessible. COMPATIBILITY: For use with IBM and compatible computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows Vista/XP/2000/NT and 15 megabytes RAM.
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PENFRIEND XL
Penfriend XL is a voice output screen reader, text magnifier, and word prediction program designed for use by individuals with dyslexia or low vision. The spoken text is transferred automatically to the clipboard where it can be magnified for users with visual impairments. An icon in the clipboard enables the user to switch the screen reading on and off with a single click. Web pages can be read in a variety of European languages with native voices. The program speaks back text as the user writes. The device can be configured to speak each letter as it is typed, each word as it is completed, or each sentence. It can read words from the prediction list when the user points at them, when they are chosen, or automatically when they change. It can also read back whole paragraphs (or more) of text from other applications using the clipboard. While speaking text from the clipboard, a window can be shown which follows the voice, highlighting each word as it goes. The user can click on a word to hear it again, or to have a fragment of the text spoken. This can be used in conjunction with the screen reader to enlarge and highlight words being read from web pages or the desktop. The program comes with English voices from CereProc (Heather, Sarah, and Katherine), which are installed using the standard SAPI protocol. The program's screen reader can read and highlight alterative spellings, synonyms, and dictionary meanings available in Microsoft Word. OPTIONS: French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Swedish versions; North American version including English and Spanish. COMPATIBILITY: For use on IBM and compatible computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, 2000, or NT 4.
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PENFRIEND XL-NA PORTABLE USB STICK
The Penfriend XL-NA Portable USB Stick is an accessibility software module holding a word prediction, abbreviation expansion, screen reader, and on screen keyboard program designed for use by individuals with dyslexia, low vision, or upper extremity or other physical disabilities. This unit provides the literacy support features of Penfriend XL-NA for use on an unlimited number of computers, one at time. It requires no installation and can be taken between classrooms, work sites, and other locations. To start, the user plugs the unit into a USB port, then double clicks on the icon that appears onscreen. The software includes a screen reader, text magnification, word prediction, and on-screen keyboards. It predicts and screen reads in Microsoft programs such as Internet Explorer and Word and non-Microsoft programs such as Firefox. It is compatible with Clicker (see separate entry), and used with Clicker it is switch accessible. It has word prediciton in nine lanaguages including Spanish. COMPATIBILITY: For use on IBM and compatible computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT.
