Reading

NaturalReader is a text-to-speech (TTS) program that can be used to listen back to Word documents, PDF files and web pages using a synthetic voice.

There are lots of great things about working with text on a computer: you can copy and paste it, make colour highlights, search for words and have the text read out loud. But to do all these things, your computer has to recognize the text as text - not just an image.

Read&Write is a program that contains lots of tools for working with text. Its central feature is text-vocalisation; reading text aloud using a natural sounding, synthetic voice. As well as vocalising the text, the program highlights it so you can follow along.

Read&Write for Google Chrome is a Text-to-Speech program (TTS) that can be used to listen back to text that appears in web pages or in the online word processor Google Docs.

It's really handy to be able to scan documents when you're away from your computer - e.g. in a library, lecture, or meeting. Taking a photo is fine but scanner apps do even more!

If you are aware that you have a specific learning difference (SpLD), such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, you may also be familiar with the terms 'visual stress', 'scotopic sensitivity' or 'Irlen syndrome'. These are all phrases that describe the experience of finding black text on a white background difficult to look at for more than a short period of time.

F.lux is a great tool that adjusts your screen's brightness according to the time of day. Staring at a bright screen, especially at night, is hard on your eyes and it can affect your sleep too. F.lux learns where you are and where the sun is in the sky and matches your screen to your eyes.

Inspiration is a concept mapping tool that supports visual, non-linear thinking. You can create diagrams to explore your ideas, plan essays and presentations, or organise tasks.