Examples of Reading and Writing Devices

Reading and Writing Devices as Assistive Technologies

Low Tech Reading and Writing Devices

Many low tech reading and writing Assistive Technologies can be found in a typical school supply store.  Writing devices such as Pencil Grips or Oversized Pencils can be used by individuals with low manual dexterity to help them get a more comfortable grip on writing utensils.  Clipboards and Slant Boards can hold paper in place at a particular angle that makes it easier for an individual who cannot turn their wrist to write on a flat horizontal surface, or a person who has a hard time holding their paper in place while writing.  Writing Guides, such as raised line paper or signature cards (used by a person with a visual impairment, this is a card the size of a credit card with a cutout for the individual to place on top of a signature field on a piece of paper and sign), help an individual write within a given amount of space.  Reading devices such as Highlighters and Sticky Notes provide structured learning support and reminders of key concepts when used in conjunction with learning strategies.  Reading Guides provide assistance with reading printed materials by moving them along the page and following only one line of text at a time.  Page Magnifiers are used to magnify the text on a print materials, with the increased size making it easier to read.

Mid and High Tech Writing Devices

An example of a mid tech tool used for writing is the Digital Recorder.  Digital recorders are used by individuals while taking notes or preparing to write, and allow for collection of audio to ensure none of the content is missed due to any difficulty with writing.  High tech Assistive Technology Devices for writing come in the form of software, apps, and hardware devices. Note taking apps such as Evernote and Notability provide an electronic notebook that can be shared and linked to other applications such as reminders.  Word Prediction software and apps function similarly to the predictive text used on smartphone devices, where the device guesses the current word being typed based on phonetic spelling and previous words used.  Advanced word prediction tools, such as Co:Writer Links to an external site. (demonstrated in the video to the left) also allow for word banks to be preloaded, giving instructors the ability to add vocabulary used in the context of a written assignment.  Speech Recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking Links to an external site. allow for an individual to dictate into a word processing tool or control the computer without the use of their hands, but require a quiet space and multiple hours of training the technology to recognize an individual's speech accurately.  When paired with a digital recorder, a well-trained speech recognition tool can transcribe an audio file into a text document.  Smart Pens such as the Livescribe Links to an external site. pens use a combination of software and hardware to record audio and synchronize it to notes on both special paper and note taking tools such as Evernote.

Mid and High Tech Reading Devices

MP3 Players, Audio Books, and other audio playback devices are some mid tech devices used as Assistive Technology Devices for reading.  If an individual has difficulty accessing printed materials, sound files and audio books are an alternate format that may be accessible to them.  High tech devices come in both hardware and software forms.  Text-to-speech is used to read digital text aloud, and is a fundamental function of reading software packages.  Text-to-speech is included in some writing supports such as Co:Writer and Dragon Naturally Speaking as well.   Many Literacy Software packages, including Kurzweil 3000 Links to an external site. (demonstrated in the video to the right), WYNN Links to an external site., and Read and Write Links to an external site., aim to replicate the functions of multiple tools in a single package, including text-to-speech, highlighting and notes, digital reading guides, concept mapping, word prediction, and many other features. DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) is a format that can be used with specific DAISY playback devices and some literacy software packages, and includes bookmarking and navigation directly in the file format, along with the functions of the specific tool used to access the DAISY formatted file.