Age group for which this tool is beneficial:
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

To what category does this tool belong?
High-tech tools (requires power supply and lots of training)

Skills strengthened with the help of this tool:
Academic

How does the tool work?
Your child can use this technology to load any printed text from books, newspapers, magazines, or homework assignments into a computer program. From there the text can be accessed from the computer's memory, and manipulated by a word processor or converted into computer-synthesized speech. More powerful programs allow students to convert whole pages, and ultimately whole books, into a computer's memory to be spoken aloud in a computer-generated voice.

What is the benefit to the user?
These devices allow a student who is unable to read fluently the opportunity to scan any printed material of interest. Otherwise she would be limited to material that has been recorded by a human reader.

Other information to consider:
Students can learn to use these systems in a few sessions.

The above content was researched and written by Frank Sopper.