What are Reading Systems?

Reading Systems are typically made up of hardware (scanner, computer, monitor and sound card), Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software and a reading/filing program. This system provides an alternative to reading printed text. The scanner converts the hard copy text into a digital image, which is then converted to a text file, making the characters recognizable by the computer.

Using a speech synthesizer, the computer then reads the words back and simultaneously present the words on the screen. A disabled person would find it difficult to independently use the scanner, and hence assistance may be required to use such a system.

Using the computer’s sound card, these systems can read aloud the text on screen (document, Web page or email). A scanner and OCR software (such as Freedom Scientifics’ WYNN or Kurzweil 3000) adds the feature of reading printed text.

Reading systems include options such as highlighting a word, sentence or paragraph using contrasting colors. To improve understanding of a sample of text, a reader may choose to have only one word at a time appear on the screen. To increase reading comprehension for people with specific learning disabilities, the size of the text displayed on the screen can be increased and text color can also be changed.