ReaderPen | C-Pen | Reading support | Human reader alternative | Classroom aid

Product Information

Notable reading pens on the market include the C-Pen Reader Pen, C-Pen Exam Reader, OrCam, and the Wizcom ReadingPen. A concern that parents of students with dyslexia have often have is that a reading pen (or other assistive technology) is kind of “cheating,” that their child will become dependent on it and that their reading will suffer in the long run. Reading pens have been marketed to parents as a cool bit of assistive technology for dyslexia. Essentially a pen that reads text out loud to you, over the last few years these scanning pens have become fairly popular with parents of students with reading difficulties. About the size of a highlighter, they’re portable, relatively accurate and, to be honest, can be quite handy for both students and adults with dyslexia.

Braille alphabet was a popular reading language for near-blind or legally blind readers. However, it has fallen out of favor as technology progressed due to its challenging learning curve and low availability. It may be a surprise that most visually impaired and legally blind people don’t read Braille. In a similar vein, while there are some reading pens that claim to be able to scan kindles and others digital e-readers, user complaints tend to indicate that it doesn’t work that great yet. Things to consider before buying a reading pen Can reliably place the pen on the little space before a word begins and then scan a text from side to side without jittering too much Braille displays and embossers are another type of reading aid that blind individuals can use to access written content. These devices convert digital text into Braille, allowing users to read the text through touch. They can be connected to computers, tablets, and smartphones, making it easier for blind individuals to access digital content. Audiobooks and podcasts Record Voice MemosThe built-in microphone allows you to easily record audio, such as voice memos, meetings or lectures. The audio files are then saved in the device so they can be retrieved and listened to any time. You can also upload the audio files to your computer, giving you added convenience.Reading aids, such as colored overlays, reading rulers, and text highlighters, are also helpful tools for individuals with dyslexia. These aids can help reduce visual stress and improve reading fluency and comprehension.

If, for example, your child will be mainly reading off an e-reader, a tablet, a screen or (badly) photocopied or handwritten notes, a reader pen may not be the best option for you. You can also find lots of really useful information in this short video hosted by Gemma, ‘ Using DocsPlus in exams’, in which she explores DocsPlus’ exam-friendly features and answers some common questions about access arrangements. Multi-Language DictionariesNot sure about a word? Then the C-Pen Reader 2™ contains a range of high-quality electronic dictionaries, including: There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best pen for reading depends on an individual’s needs and preferences. What is a reading pen for dyslexia? It supports several different languages, such as English and Spanish. The app also has bookmarking and speed control features.Reading pens are handheld devices that use OCR ( optical character recognition) technology to scan printed lines of text and read them aloud. They are a great alternative to human readers and valuable for people with visual impairments, dyslexia, and other reading difficulties. They can be an excellent assistive tool for people with age-related vision changes and those without visual or reading impairments who find reading through text to speech more convenient or less straining. The next change I thought was noteworthy was the amendment to the use of computer readers in Maths and Science examinations. The guidance states that computer readers: C-Pen also have over models, such as the LINGOPEN (for EAL students); READERPEN SECURE (for workplace use) and CONNECT (a Bluetooth enabled scanner pen/digital highlighter with embedded character recognition).

After reviewing a number of pen options, we found some pros and cons common to most reading pens that you should keep in mind before buying. Pros Text-to-Speech devices do seem to have a positive effect with dyslexia and reading difficulties This should make these assessments significantly more accessible for students with reading difficulties.People, particularly children and young adults, can have difficult emotions associated with reading difficulties and dyslexia. It’s not at all uncommon for students to be embarrassed or feel that people are judging them for their disability. That these pens tend to look like highlighters and can have headphone attachments means that if your child is sensitive about their reading difficulties, particularly in public, they can use these devices without drawing too much attention to themselves.