Closing the Gap With the AceReader Pro Reading Efficiency Software
By Ruff, Miriam; Closing the Gap, Vol. 28, No. 5, pp. 17-21Publication Date: December 2009/January 2010
Article describes features of the reading software program AceReader Pro that can aid students with a variety of disabilities in attaining reading proficiency. The software, which is available for PC or Mac, includes (1) a text-to-speech (TTS) function, which comes with a male and female voice, enabling students with print disabilities to listen to the words on the screen; this function can be used with text display to pronounce highlighted words; (2) the ability to adjust the text’s presentation speed as well as to regulate the amount of text displayed at one time, known as bursting; (3) Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) mode, in which words appear in the central part of the screen, for users who are unable to move their heads or eyes; (4) custom options allowing users with low vision to set font color and size as well as the number of words displayed at a time; (5) key mapping, or setting a single key to replace the need for using the mouse; (6) the ability to import material from a Web site or file so that it can be read with the TTS feature; and (7) an extensive Help mode built into the software. The AceReader Pro can be downloaded for a free 30-day trial at http://www.acereader.com/.
Assistive Products Discussed: ACEREADER PRO
Published by: Closing the Gap, Inc. (Website:http://www.closingthegap.com)
