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Specs

Features

Ease
of Use

Sample Screen

Sample Audio

Road
Test

Title: HELP Read
Company: Hawaii Education Literacy Project
Price: Free
Type of Computer: PC
Requirements: Windows 3.1 or later, at least 4 MB RAM, 2 MB hard disk, sound card and speakers
Availability for Trial Run: Download from: http://www.helpread.com/

Features:
• The materials to be read must be chosen, and often supplied, by the instructor as in clipboard text copied from a word processing document, from our link Library, or from web pages.
• Meant to help the reader read along while the software reads the text
• A freeware offering
• Primary purpose to enable computer users to read more from the computer screen without as much eye strain
• Includes a library of downloadable books Back to Top

Ease of Use

Clear, complete teacher documentation	Tutorials available in the form of Menus Help and Shortcut Keys; also a downloadable Help file.
Easy to set up program	Download and Setup directions are provided on the website; File needs to be unzipped and then the user must locate the Setup.exe to start the installation
Easy to exit from program	File --> Exit
Audio is effective	The voice is a horrible, resonating robotic voice and becomes rather humorous to the listener.
Choice of voices	The reading screen displays the Reading Volume, Pitch, and Speed settings while the text is actively being read. The same controls are found in the Read drop-down menu. The website claims "There is no rule of thumb but generally we find that boys listen closer to higher pitched voice settings and girls listen a little closer to slightly to moderately lower pitched voice settings."

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Sample Screen:

Sample Audio: Click here Back to Top

Road Test: Does one get what one pays for? I think this illustrates this software. Here are the steps for use:
(1) Select the text to copy.
(2) Copy the text by using method of choice.
(3) Start the HELPRead program.
(4) The selected text will be read.
(5) Once program has been opened, then the minute text is copied, the software begins reading it. (It might be nice to give the user a choice as to whether or not the text should be read.)
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