Comparison Matrices: Scan-to-Read
Programs
|
Program |
Kurzweil |
Read & Write
Gold |
Wynn |
Claro Read |
|
Approximate Cost (check for updates) |
3000 Color Pro (full or USB):$1495 3000 Learn Station: $395 |
Read&Write 9: $365 Read&Write Gold 9: $645 |
Wizard (Reading, Writing, OCR software): $995 Reader (Reading and Writing): $375 |
Standard: 129 Euro Plus: 159 Euro Premium: |
|
Manufacturer |
Cambium Learning Technologies |
TextHelp |
Freedom Scientific |
Claro Software |
|
Main Features |
Reading,
Writing, Note Taking/Studying tools, test taking assistance |
Reading,
Writing, Note Taking/Studying tools |
Reading
and Writing, Study skills |
Reading
and Writing skills |
|
Reading: Text-to-speech, talking dictionary
and thesaurus, |
Reading: Text-to-speech, phonetic and
homophone support, daisy reader, screen reading, PDFAloud |
Reading: Text-to-speech, Talking dictionary and thesaurus, supports Daisy and NIMAS books |
Reading: Text-to-speech, Screen Ruler
Reading Bar, |
|
|
Writing: text pad, Brainstorming,
word prediction, spell check, |
Writing: speech enabled word
prediction, fact finder, online fact mapper, speech input |
Writing: Full File editing, Word
Prediction, Outlines, Spell Check, homophones |
Writing: Basic word processing, Word
Prediction, Homophones, Font and Color changing, Spell Check, Typing
Echo, Claro View |
|
|
Note Taking/Studying: high lighting, Bookmarks,
Text and Voice notes, Footnotes, Bubble notes, Sticky notes, column notes, extract
annotations, |
Note Taking/Study tools: Dual Color
highlighting, |
Study Skills: Bookmarks,
Highlighting, text and voice notes, highlights on Web, extract highlighting
from Web, Can include
notes/highlighting of documents when printing |
None |
|
|
|
Other features: speech enabled calculator, online translator. For schools: Test Maker, PDF accessibility editor, Create Lexiflow ebooks |
Other features: compatible with WebCT Screen Reader: Will read webpages (with highlighting), hyperlinks, Talking Online Form Completion |
|
|
|
Strengths |
· Very good OCR, Virtual Printer, Comprehensive · Allows students to access almost all curriculums in digital formats. · Is available without scanning feature for cheaper version. · Brainstorming features · Comes with Classic Literature CD · Stacked toolbars allow user to see all features at once. · Display can be customized (colors etc.) · Available in several languages |
· Scan into different formats, Scan from paper or saved image, · Reads Dragon Recognized text · Wider range of readability than Kurzweil. · Does not require a lot of RAM to run · Automatic updates |
· Good OCR · Similar features as Kurzweil, but cheaper. · Reads the Internet- Strong web access features. · Converts files to MP3 or WAV files. · Outlining features · Daisy and NIMAS book support · Uses less RAM than Kurzweil to run · Can use with multiple file fotmats – PDF, .doc, etc. |
· Convert scans (in Word) into PDFs · Good for basic text-to-speech needs · Screen reader plus text-to-speech · works well on Internet · Available in 20 languages · Exporter Function |
|
Weaknesses |
· Doesn’t read well on the Internet without using virtual printer. · Expensive. · Often has more features than will be used by client. · Study skills features can only be used when the file is in KESI format. · Does not read (well?) Read-only files (PDF and Daisy) · Uses a lot of RAM to run · No automatic updates |
· Inferior OCR · Limited study tools. · Toolbar does not show all features at once – user must set up bar with frequently used features. |
· No Mac version · Inferior Brainstorming features than Kurzweil. |
· Basic screen reading and writing support · No study skills |
|
Platform(s) |
Mac, Windows |
Mac, Windows |
Windows, |
Windows, Mac |
|
USB? |
Yes |
Yes- R&W Gold Mobile |
|
Yes |
|
Website |
||||
|
Work with OO and MS Word? |
OO: Word: |
OO: Word: |
OO: Word: Yes |
OO: Word: Yes (2003; 2007) |
|
Works on Web? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Some Kurzweil/RW Gold comparison from: this Landmark College Web page