For people who struggle with reading picking up a book can be an anxious experience. In the digital age we have text-to-speech on our devices that can take away some of the issues struggling readers face; however, this presents a challenge when faced with printed text. Readers can struggle getting tests, handouts, or books in electronic form.
C-Pen Reader to the Rescue
C-Pen is essentially a hand held device that is a little bigger than a large highlighting pen. It has a screen, buttons, charging port, and 3.5 mm headphone connection.
There company makes three styles
The C-Pen Reader
- Hear both words & whole lines of text read aloud
- Lightweight and very easy to hold
- Look up single words using the dictionary function
- Scan, store & transfer text to your computer for notes. Or you can scan directly to the cursor on a computer for faster note taking or quoting during essay writing
- Functional voice recorder
- Multiple “voices” for text-to-speech
- Has an exam lock feature that schools can set via pin code so students can only use the as a text-to-speech device for tests. This disables other features like dictionary lookup, storage, and voice recording.
C-Pen Exam Reader
- Hear both words & whole lines of text read aloud
- Lightweight and very easy to hold
- Simple to use with simple text-to-speech that can be used for tests and other documents
- The Exam Reader has been approved by The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ)* for use in exams
- Multiple “voices” for text-to-speech
- Can take tests in class with other students
The C-Pen Dictionary
- Hear both words & whole lines of text read aloud
- Lightweight and very easy to hold
- Supports six languages
- Scan, store & transfer text to your computer for notes. Or you can scan directly to the cursor on a computer for faster note taking or quoting during essay writing
- Functional voice recorder
- Multiple “voices” for text-to-speech
Uses for C-Pen
There are so many uses for this technology. For instance, students who struggle with reading can use this device to gain fluency and greater vocabulary while becoming self-sufficient readers. English learners can use this device to learn to read in English. This device could be written into an IEP or 504 to allow students to take tests with their classmates while having a test read to them. Also, students with dysgraphia could use this device to copy text for notes or copy quotes while writing essays. This device is also nice because since you can skip around on the page you can use it for handouts, comics, and other non-book reading. Since there is little delay when scanning, the user can quickly hear a single word in a sentence and then if needed get the definition of that word.
The price is comparable to other scanners on the market at around $250 but I like the design and weight of this model. I also like the headphone jack as this allows the user to use the device in quite settings without disturbing others and gives the user greater privacy.
If you have used this device or have question feel free to leave a message in the comments section.
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