ClaroRead Plus UK V4 for Mac
ClaroRead Plus UK V4 for Mac. Includes ClaroView, ScreenRuler and ClaroCapture and Readiris Pro 11 for Mac.
ClaroRead for Mac V4
Version 4.1 released — ClaroRead for Mac V4.1 was released on 1st September 2009.
ClaroRead is a highly effective multi-sensory software solution for supporting individuals who struggle with reading and writing. Designed with maximum simplicity, adaptability and flexibility, users of any age and level of ability will have a world of information unlocked through ClaroRead.
As ClaroRead is closely integrated with Microsoft Word and Safari, practically any text can be spoken aloud by this powerful software. ClaroRead can assist in delivering high quality documents through using the proofreading capability. With ClaroRead Plus, it is possible to scan any paper document or convert a PDF and have it spoken back with complete clarity.
Users can also benefit from the addition of included visual tools that colour, highlight and focus on difficult to read text as it is spoken by the computer. Words can be spoken back as they are typed, ensuring the accuracy of written papers, tests and study notes.
Available in Standard and Plus versions, ClaroRead is easy-to-use and provides the perfect integrated text to speech tool for use with Microsoft Word 2004 and 2008. ClaroRead for Mac V4 works on Mac OSX 10.4 and above.
The range of additional voices in over 20 languages is also helpful for those learning additional languages.
ClaroRead for Mac V4 Features and Benefits
ClaroRead for Mac V4 contains a range of features including:
- Text to Speech helps users who have difficulty reading and writing.
- Microsoft Word integration allowing users to carry on using their prefered document writing software package whilst having additional functions through ClaroRead.
- Font & Spacing helps to arrange and colour the user's Word document.
- Homophones, Spellings and Meanings functions ensure users have used the correct words.
- Word Prediction helps users with typing.
- PDF convertor enables users to scan documents into accessible formats to be read back by ClaroRead.
- ScreenRuler, an on-screen ruler, follows the mouse focusing the eye on the active area of the screen.
- Claroview, a screen colour overlay, tints the computer screen for easier viewing.
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What's New in ClaroRead for Mac V4?
New For V4 - Visual Highlighting
The new focus sentence feature greys or dims out sentences in MS Word not being spoken by the ClaroRead voice. This is helpful for focusing the eye on the text, and also tracking the position in a document. The Word Trail feature makes words colour progressively as they are spoken by ClaroRead. This mode allows effective word by word highlighting, with minimal visual disruption. Any colour can be chosen to highlight the text.
New For V4 - Research and Capture Information
The new ClaroCapture program included with ClaroRead for Mac V4 can collect text from any document and web page, grouping it as a project file. The research file can be sent to Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. It can also extract highlighted text from Word documents. A great study skills tool.
New For V4 - Scanning Paper and Converting PDF files
ClaroRead Plus for Mac V4 now comes with a Scan button to launch the Readiris Pro 11 OCR software. The highest quality Optical Character Recognition is now included in ClaroRead Plus, making it ideal for scanning or converting books, articles and other content to become accessible, readable and editable.
Improved For V4 - Word Check Window
The Check window now integrates homophones, spelling suggestions and meanings in one window whilst working in Microsoft Word. There is also a Dictionary Lookup button which grants direct access to the Mac’s Dictionary. Any spelling corrections made in the Check window are remembered, and can be reviewed later under the Check tab in the Settings pane. This information can be used to build a personal correction list which inserts the personal corrections above all others in the Check window.
New For V4 - High Quality Voices
Claro has always aimed to offer the highest quality voices for inclusion with ClaroRead. ClaroRead for Mac V4 UK Edition now ships with two high quality Acapela female voices Lucy and Rachel and two CereProc voices: British English William and Scottish Heather.
New For V4 - ScreenRuler for Mac
ClaroRead for Mac V4 now comes with ScreenRuler. ScreenRuler provides an on-screen ruler that tracks the mouse pointer to help focus on a particular area of the screen.
New For V4 - Word Prediction
ClaroRead for Mac V4 now includes a Word Prediction function which learns as the user types and can be trained from Word documents or the clipboard. There are a range of different settings for customisation under the Prediction tab in the Settings pane.
New For V4 - Scan Settings
New to ClaroRead for Mac V4 is the Scan Settings feature. This feature enables users to select which scanning software will by used by ClaroRead for Mac.
New For V4 - Extras Button
The Extras button on the toolbar includes other software applications bundled with ClaroRead including ClaroView, ScreenRuler and ClaroCapture. There is also a link to the Mac’s calculator giving quick access to the application.
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ClaroRead for Mac V4 UK Edition includes:
- Acapela British English Lucy
- Acapela British English Rachel
- CereProc British English William
- CereProc Scottish Heather
It is possible to add on any of the other Acapela voices for an additional license fee — please contact us for a quote for the voice and language combination preferred.
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- Integration with Microsoft Word 2004 & 2008
ClaroRead for Mac V4 provides a single toolbar for use in Microsoft Word that combines a homophone and dictionary checker, font and spacing commands, a thesaurus, spell checker and a save to audio function. All have clear graphic icons for ease of recognition.
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When working in Microsoft Word, ClaroRead’s Font button can modify the font size, type, and colour of the whole document easily.
Pressing the Font button when working in Microsoft Word will:
- Increase or decrease the font size.
- Change the font to one of 3 popular fonts with one click.
- Change the colour and highlight colour of the text of a whole document easily.
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Text character, line and paragraph spacing using Microsoft Word menus requires some detailed knowledge. ClaroRead makes it simple to space out text in Microsoft Word.
Pressing the Spacing button when working in Microsoft Word will:
- Expand character spacing.
- Change line spacing.
- Changes the number of points (spaces) after the end of each paragraph.
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- Homophones and Tricky Words
Homophones are words that are pronounced alike even if they differ in spelling or meaning, such as 'pair' and 'pear'.
ClaroRead Homophone features will:
- Mark in colour all the homophones and confusable words in a document. Using the Check tab in the settings, additional tricky and confusable words can be added.
- The Check feature will list alternative words that sound the same, along with the meaning of each word.
- Word with Pictures: Over two thousand pictures included in ClaroRead, helping users to select the correct homophone or choice of wording. Pictures can be turned on or off.
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- Check Word - a Single Button Press
ClaroRead provides a single Check button for use in Microsoft Word that combines a homophone dictionary, thesaurus, reference dictionary and spellchecker, making the checking of the text and documents easier and more comprehensive.
If a word is a homophone, the Homophone Check window will appear, along with the words meanings. If the word has alternative words with the same or similar meaning, the Meanings Check window will appear. Clicking on the Lookup button will display the dictionary definition from the Mac's Dictionary. Individual words or the whole of the document can be spell checked at any point.
The Check window is fully speech enabled, so clicking on a word orsuggestion will make them speak. We also have over 2000 picture icons to help with word meanings.
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- Scan Paper & Convert PDF files into Word
With ClaroRead Plus V4 the powerful Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology means that any paper document or PDF file becomes accessible. Through providing a full copy of Readiris Pro 11, textbooks, photocopies and handouts are easily converted into Microsoft Word documents. The text can then be spoken out by ClaroRead or edited. PDF files can also be unlocked and edited, making a wealth of material accessible to every student, regardless of the format.
New to ClaroRead For Mac V4 is the Scan Settings feature. The Scan Settings feature allows the scanning software to be chosen for use by ClaroRead for Mac. Please note: this feature will only be available if Readiris Pro or Omnipage Pro X is installed on the Mac.
In the Scanning Section it is possible to select the scanning software that will be used by ClaroRead. When the Scan button is clicked on the ClaroRead toolbar, the chosen scanning software will be launched. Users who select Readiris Pro will have the option to setup Readiris for ClaroRead. The Scanner Preferences button allows the scanner to be linked the scanning software. Users who select Readiris Pro will also have the Scan Type option available to them.
The following options can be chosen:
- Quick - When the ClaroRead's Scan button is clicked, Readiris will launch and perform the scan automatically according to its settings.
- Advanced - When the ClaroRead's Scan button is clicked, Readiris will launch allowing the document to be configured before scanning.
To use a Plustek OpticBook 3600 scanner with ClaroRead for Mac, please contact us and we will let you know how to order the driver on Claro Software downloads support page
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ClaroRead for Mac V4 contains a Word Prediction feature that can be useful for certain computer users. ClaroRead uses a base prediction dictionary consisting of the most frequently used words in the English language. The dictionary learns as words are typed, and rejects words that don't pass the automatic spellcheck.
The Prediction window will automatically appear during typing.
Under the Predict tab in Settings, prediction dictionaries can be created by importing words from existing documents. Ideal for creating subject and curriculum specific dictionaries, it puts the tool into the hands of the teacher.
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For ClaroRead for Mac V4 we are adding more applications and utilities (ClaroRead Extras) to enrich the toolkit available. We have still concentrated on ease of use, so many of the extras are neatly tucked away.
ClaroRead Extras neatly groups together a range of accessibility utilities including ClaroView screen colour filter, ScreenRuler reading ruler, Mac Calculator and ClaroCapture.
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- ClaroCapture (included with all ClaroRead editions)
The new ClaroCapture program included with ClaroRead for Mac V4 allows text to be collected from any document and web page, grouping it as a project file. The research file can be sent to Microsoft Word or PowerPoint. It can also extract highlighted text from Microsoft Word documents. A great study skills tool.
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- ScreenRuler (included with all ClaroRead editions)
ScreenRuler is a separate application that is included with all versions of ClaroRead for Mac V4. ScreenRuler is an on-screen ruler that allows part of the Mac screen to be highlighted in a horizontal band.
ScreenRuler will assist anyone with viewing and concentrating on text or objects. It provides a strip or ruler across the screen that can edit the contrast, ruler size and grey or dim the background.
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- ClaroView (included with all ClaroRead editions)
Our tinting product ClaroView is included with ClaroRead for Mac V4. ClaroView act as a coloured overlay for the Mac.
