Reading Pens
"If you can use a highlighter, you can use this tool. It's easy."
The Reading pen is the world's only portable reading device for
dyslexic users. It is a revolutionary "assistive technology" tool for
individuals dealing with reading disabilities, e.g., dyslexia, and
literacy issues.
Individuals with learning disabilities often have difficulty reading
printed words, but they have no problem recognizing words if they can
hear them. The Readingpen serves as a personal reading comprehension
tutor, enabling users to scan, hear the text and definitions read aloud
with the product's integrated Text-to-Speech mechanism, and see their
definitions on the products LCD screen, anytime and anywhere. Guided
by an easy-to-read menu, the user can control the volume, pitch and
speed at which the word will be read aloud.
The product's features have been designed for improving the user's
reading experience. The Readingpen is currently available in German,
English (US and UK), Dutch and Swedish.
The Readingpen is easily upgradeable and expandable for the entire
family. With the WizCom Memory Extension Kit (MEK), your Readingpen
becomes a multi-functional scanning tool.
Please note: The Readingpen is not recommended for persons with
low vision or impaired fine motor control. Our
Scan and Read software products are better for them.
- How can the Reading Pen help someone with a learning disability/dyslexia?
- The Reading Pen can help a person with a
reading difficulty work around the problem by speaking words they don't
know. Many persons with learning disabilities/dyslexia can comprehend
written text without difficulty if they hear the words spoken aloud.
You can use the Reading Pen to:
Gain motivation to read more books as you will no longer needs to “bother” other people with the pronunciation and meaning of the words.
Gain momentum in your reading speed, with the help of the scanner that spares you the interruption caused by difficult words.
Derive confidence and pleasure in being able to read independently and enjoy the flow of uninterrupted reading.
- What does the Reading Pen do?
- Reads words aloud anywhere;
Displays syllables;
Spells the word out loud;
Contains over 200,000 definitions from the American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition;
Displays and reads aloud word definitions from the built-in speaker or earphone;
Allows user to access words within a definition and look them up in the dictionary as well;
Allows user to speak one section of a definition at a time;
Works on printed material in a wide range of fonts and letter sizes;
Keeps a history of scanned words;
Scans inverted and hyphenated text;
Adjustable for left or right handed users.
- Where can the Reading Pen be used?
- Because of its small size, light weight
and durability, the Reading Pen can be taken almost anywhere.
- Who should use the Reading Pen?
- Any person (adults and children) who
needs help recognizing certain words in text can benefit from using
the Reading Pen. This includes persons with learning difficulties,
dyslexia, literacy problems and those learning English as a second
language.
Very young children, persons with visual impairments and individuals with fine-motor problems may experience some difficulty in using the Reading Pen. However, this needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
- How can I achieve the most accurate scanning results?
- The
secret is to hold the Pen
“correctly”. Holding it a certain
way at the right angle and speed and
allowing for enough space before and
after the text will give you good
scanning results. Hold the Pen
firmly, as you would hold a
highlighter, while the Pen’s tip
is at an angle of between 75 and 90
degrees to the page. Leave enough
space before the first word scanned
(about a centimeter), otherwise the
first letter/s may be cut off and
then the word will not be found and
you will end up with
gibberish. Maintain the same
scanning angle while you scan the
line and make sure the text is
centralized between the rollers at
the tip of the Pen (directly under
the white lines)Scanning more slowly
is best.
- QuicktionaryII helps expand your vocabulary. By retaining the last 80 words scanned, it assists you in learning the words and understanding the text.
- Perfect for language students, English
as Second Language students, travelers, and
people working in multi-lingual
environments.
FAQs
- How can I achieve the most accurate scanning results?
- The
secret is to hold the Pen
“correctly”. Holding it a certain
way at the right angle and speed and
allowing for enough space before and
after the text will give you good
scanning results. Hold the Pen
firmly, as you would hold a
highlighter, while the Pen’s tip
is at an angle of between 75 and 90
degrees to the page. Leave enough
space before the first word scanned
(about a centimeter), otherwise the
first letter/s may be cut off and
then the word will not be found and
you will end up with
gibberish. Maintain the same
scanning angle while you scan the
line and make sure the text is
centralized between the rollers at
the tip of the Pen (directly under
the white lines). Scanning more
slowly is best. You can try the
same text at different angles and
may get a better scan if you scan
from right to left rather than the
other way round. You will soon be
able to get a feel for the best
angle fairly quickly. You should
wait till it finishes 'Reading'
before scanning again. If you jump
to the next line before it finishes
processing the original scan, it
will not provide good results.
If you have a Reading PenII, QuicktionaryII, or a SuperPen (and are using the Quicktionary application), you may get inaccurate results if you have accidentally turned on inverse mode. If you see an "A" on the right hand side of your display in "Ready to Scan" or "Scan in [language]" mode, this means you are in inverse mode and must turn it off to scan regular text.
To turn off the "A", which is inverse mode, please do the following:
Turn on your Pen, so it is "Ready to Scan"
Press "ESC"
Press the down arrow till you highlight "Preferences"
Press "ENT"
Scroll down to "Inverse" - you will see a checkmark in front of it. Press "ENT" to remove the checkmark.
Press "ESC" to go back to scanning mode.
The "A" should NOT be there.
Another reason why scanning would be inaccurate is if you'd selected the "Numeric" option.
If the “Numeric” option is on, it is only possible to scan digits. Depending on which application you are in (usually in "Scan to PC" mode), go into the Scanning options (press ESC) and press ENT. When the check mark appears beside the option, it signifies that the option is running. To turn it off, press ENT again. Press ESC to exit the edit menu. - Are there any scanning limitations?
- 1. The
Pen allows you to scan printed text
of 6-22 points in size (up to 8mm)
in a wide variety of fonts and in
all colors on contrasting
backgrounds, except red on white,
white on red, blue on black and
black on blue.
2. The Pen will not recognize handwriting, cursive fonts, mathematical symbols or other symbols specific to a profession. If you wish to capture these items as a bitmap picture file, please use the Image Capture application. If you are scanning numerals, there is a preference setting which will provide better recognition. It also recognizes commas, periods, parentheses, capitals, hyphenations, and other forms of punctuation. It will place a space at the end of each line scanned so you can continue to keep the integrity of a sentence. Key words: limitations, colors, colors, mathematical, symbols, scanning, fonts, background, red, white, black, blue, Image Capture, numerals, numeric - Can the Pen recognize handwritten text?
- The Pen
cannot recognize handwritten text as
it does printed text. However, if
you wish to scan handwriting, small
icons and highly stylized fonts that
the QuickLink or InfoScan
applications would not normally
capture, you can use the Image
Capture application, which can be
added onto the Pen, FREE OF CHARGE,
if you have a flash card with enough
memory inserted in the Pen's battery
compartment. The application does
not INCLUDE handwriting
recognition. Handwriting is
captured as a picture file and if
desired, can be edited by a desktop
graphics application. This is
particularly helpful for students
who need to scan handwritten notes,
genealogists wishing to acquire data
from original documents, and
attorneys and other professionals
who wish to capture signatures.
The Image Capture application is downloadable at
ftp://ftp.wizcomtech.com/AddOns/ImageCapture_Pens250_251+DTupd.exe
Please SAVE the file on your computer rather than downloading it directly from the site.
If you plan to capture any significant amount of handwritten text, we strongly recommend getting the memory extension kit (MEK) since even small graphics take up a lot of memory. (Graphics take up about 70K per line, so you could only scan about 30 lines of graphics before you'd have to download to your computer.) - Can the Pen scan a Microfilm/Microfiche/PC Monitor?
- The Pen
is not able to scan off Microfilm,
Microfiche, nor monitors due to the
backlighting. There is NO Pen to our
knowledge that can do so.
- How can hyphenated words be scanned?
- In order
to scan a hyphenated word (in
Quicktionary or Reading Pen scanning
mode), please do the following: from
the input scanning screen (“Scan in
[language]”), press ENT to enter
edit mode. The black line will
disappear. Now scan the first half
of the hyphenated word (including
the hyphen). Then scan the second
half of the word. Scroll down to
"Go" and press ENT The translation
will appear on the screen.
- How many lines can the Pen scan?
- The Pen
scans one line at a time. If you
intend to scan a book, we recommend
you purchase a flatbed.
In terms of display, there are three lines of text that you can see on the display screen (400 dpi).
You may edit the text on screen by using the quick erase-rescan feature or by using the Character Bar, or the Opticard, whichever method appeals to you most. - How steady must your hand be in scanning in straight lines, or does program compensate for minor transgressions?
- The Pen
certainly compensates for minor
transgressions, so you do not have
to scan perfectly
straight. However, the smoother you
scan, the better results you will
achieve. The Pen is great for people
who cannot type well due to poor
eyesight or lack of keyboarding
skills, but it is not particularly
accurate for people who have very
shaky hands. No matter who you are,
it still takes a little practice at
first - practice makes perfect!
- What type of text can the Pen scan?
- The Pen
will scan printed text that is 6 -
22 points in size. (Six points is
the small print you see on the
bottom of contracts, and 22 points
is about a ˝ inch high.) The Pen
provides the best results when there
is strong contrast, such as black or
blue text on white paper. It will
not scan red on yellow, but it will
scan red on black. It will capture
stylized text including bold,
italic, inverted, underlined, as
well as caps-small caps, but it will
not maintain that style -- it just
turns it into regular ASCII. Used on
very glossy paper, or laminated
documents, the Pen should be held
more vertically to reduce glare. You
should also make sure that the
wheels make firm contact with the
item you are scanning in order for
it to capture the data accurately.
If there are pictures on the
background and the text is not
clearly defined, you may not get
good results.
- How can I remove the Inverse option (the letter A appears on the Quicktionary/ReadingPen input scanning screen)?
- The
Inverse preference should be used
only when scanning light-colored
text on a dark background.
To toggle Inverse on or off:
For QuicktionaryII users:
Press ESC from the input scanning screen.
Scroll down to Preferences and press ENT.
Press ENT to toggle the option ON/OFF (the option is ON when there’s a check mark next to it).
For Reading Pen users:
Press ESC from the input scanning screen.
Scroll down to Options and press ENT.
Press ENT to toggle the option ON/OFF (the option is ON when there’s a check mark next to it). - How can I adjust the auto-shut off time?
- From the
Pen Main Menu, scroll down to
“Preferences” and press ENT. Scroll
to “Auto Shut-Off Time” and press
ENT. Scroll to the automatic
shut-off time you want using the up
or down arrows. Press ENT.
- How can I set the “Speak by section” option?
- The
highlight option, set to the ON
position by default, will highlight
each word as it is spoken. The
speech in this mode is in a slower,
word by word pace. You can choose
to turn the highlight option off, in
which case, the speech is in a more
natural pace.
To set the “Speak by section” option, do the following:
1. From the “Ready to Scan” screen, press ESC to reach the “Reading Pen Menu”.
2. Press the down arrow to highlight “Preferences” and press ENT.
3. Scroll down to “Speak by Section” and press ENT.
The check mark indicates that the option is ON.
Press ENT to toggle the setting ON or OFF.
- How do I access the cross-reference feature in the Reading Pen?
- You can
look up a meaning of any word in the
definition.
After having scanned the text, scroll the Dictionary screen until you reach the word you want to define and press ENT to activate highlight mode.
Highlight the word you want to define using the arrows and Press ENT.
To return to the original word, press ESC. - Why does the Pen turn off when I don’t use it?
- The Pen
is set to turn itself off
automatically after a given period
of idle time (i.e., when it is not
being used) in order to protect both
the Pen and the batteries. You can
change the Auto-Shut Off Time to a
longer
General
- Can a proper name be spoken out loud?
-
Sometimes a word will be scanned
accurately but will not be
spoken immediately. When this
happens, the message “Word Not
Found” will be displayed on the
Pen’s screen, since the Pen
searches the dictionary for the
word first and may take a moment
longer to bring the word to the
display. Although the Pen will
not provide the definition for
these words, it can speak them
out loud. To do so, press the
left arrow (pointing to the
power ON button).
- Can people with fine motor/eye-hand coordination difficulties use the Reading Pen?
- This
depends on the severity of the
problem. Some individuals with
fine-motor problems may have
difficulty manipulating the
Reading Pen. This needs to be
investigated on an individual
basis as it differs from person
to person.
-
- How do I check the battery status?
-
Please be advised, that in the
interest of keeping your Pen in
its best condition, please check
the battery level often and
replace the batteries if need
be.
Scroll down from the Pen Main Menu to “Information”, press ENT, scroll to “Battery Status”* and press ENT.
*In the QuickLink-Pen Elite, this function is called "View Battery Status". - How long do the batteries last?
- Like
any battery driven electronic
device, battery life depends on
how much you use the Pen,
whether it is on all the time,
or whether you just use it
occasionally. For 'standard'
usage, the 2 "AAA" batteries
should last about a month. Your
data is saved on the flash
memory card, so you don't lose
it even if your batteries run
out! You can check the battery
power, and the Pen will notify
you when your batteries are low.
If you wish to use rechargeable
batteries, we recommend using
these two types: Radio Shack
NI-Cadm, and GP Ni-Me-Hydr.
- Is the Pen adjustable for left-handed usage?
-
Yes. It is a simple preference
change on your Pen to make it
left-handed. From the Pen Main
Menu, scroll to Preferences,
press ENT. Scroll to
Right/Left-handed; press ENT;
select Left-handed; press ENT
(the screen should flip over);
press ESC to get back to the
Main Menu
- Should I add more memory to the Pen?
- You
should not need more memory for
the QuickLink Pen unless you are
adding third party applications
or language dictionaries. The
QuickLink Pen, in its present
configuration, holds up to a
1000 pages of data, and you can
flush that data to your computer
when you QuickLink it to the
computer. A 4MB upgrade (MEK) is
available now. The 6 and 8 MB
upgrade is available via special
order (please contact our
support team FIRST – in the U.S.
contact usa.support@wizcomtech.com
and in the rest of the world
contact intl.support@wizcomtech.com).
The SuperPen already contains a 4MB memory extension card, on which you can carry approximately 2 one-directional dictionaries at once. You may, however, remove the dictionaries you've installed and add new ones instead at any time.
Adding more memory to the QuicktionaryII or Reading PenII enables the Pen to carry additional dictionaries and enhance the Pen's capabilities to add the QuickLink applications (Notes, Address Book, Internet Links, Tables, Scan to PC, QuickLink) to scan, store and send printed text. - What does the 97% accuracy mean?
- Data
will be captured at
approximately a 97% OCR accuracy
rate based on what size and type
font you are scanning. If you
are scanning regular words in a
regular font of a normal size,
in a smooth scanning motion,
about 97% of the information you
scan will be correct. It is not
100%. Some words may not be
fully recognized by the speller
because the letters may be
smeared or truncated. You can
easily make quick corrections by
using the Opticard, the
on-screen editing functions, or
put it through a spell checker
once you transfer it to your
computer.
-
- What is the advantage of using the Reading Pen rather than a printed dictionary?
- The
Reading Pen allows you to look
up a word without having to put
down your book or newspaper. In
addition, it presents you with
the definition within seconds as
well as providing you with the
words’ pronunciation.
- What is the auto-shut off time?
- The
auto-shut off time is a setting
according to which the Pen
automatically shuts off after 60
seconds if you do not scan or
press any key. The Pen turns
itself off automatically after a
given period of idle time (i.e.,
when it is not being used) to
protect the Pen.
- What is the Opticard?
- The
Opticard, located on the back of
your Pen case, is a keyboard
whose keys are bar codes. In
Opticard mode, when you scan a
bar code key on the Opticard
keyboard, your Pen enters the
character it represents at the
cursor of the display. You can
use the Opticard to edit scanned
text and to manually enter data.
-
- Where can I find the Pen version?
- Turn
the Pen on, scroll down from the
Pen Main Menu to “Information”
and press ENT. Scroll down to
“About” and press ENT.
There are 2 numbers relating to the Pen version: the GENERAL Pen version which can be found on the first line and the OPERATING SYSTEM version (Pen OS v.) which can be found below it*. When referring any queries to our support team, please mention BOTH numbers.
*On older Pen versions, the Pen Operating system version is located at the end of all the text in the “About” menu (please scroll down to the bottom of the text to check the operating system version). - Where can I find the Pen’s serial number?
- The serial number can be
located in 2 ways.
1. Open the battery compartment and look under the batteries.
2. Turn the Pen on, scroll down from the Pen Main Menu to “Information” and press ENT. Scroll down to “Serial Number” and press ENT.
-
- Will the Reading Pen help someone who is visually impaired?
- This
depends on the severity of the
problem. In general, the Reading
Pen is not designed for persons
with visual impairment. They
have to be able to see the line
of words in order to scan the
pen over them. If they can not
do that we recommend our
Scan
and Read software products.
- Will the Reading Pen read the definitions?
- Yes. Once you are viewing the definition, press the ENT button quickly. The cursor will move to the beginning of the first definition. Then do a 'long press' on the ENT button (about 2 seconds). The first definition will then be read aloud. To hear additional definitions, scroll down to the beginning of each and do a long press on the ENT button.
Scanning
Operating the Pen
Readingpen Basic Edition - US & CanadaProduct Page
The Readingpen® Basic Edition is an assistive reading
device that is designed specifically for school age reading
levels. Featuring American Heritage Children's Dictionary
and Children's Thesaurus, it provides a simple and easy way for
people with reading difficulties, learning disabilities or
dyslexia to get immediate word support when they are reading.
Features and Specifications 
Define: Recognizes over 240,000 words, featuring the
American Heritage® Children's Dictionary and Thesaurus. Defines
words within the definition (cross reference) for added clarity.
|
The
only pocket sized reading device that helps
increase comprehension - designed specifically
for adult/college reading levels