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

Product Information

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. Can reliably hold it at an angle (usually 60-90 degrees) while scanning across text for an extended period of time Having a reading difficulty can seriously limit one’s available opportunities and damage their well-being and confidence. However, the C-Pen helps eliminate the anxiety and embarrassment associated with having to ask for assistance with reading. Instead, it offers those with dyslexia a sense of independence. Because these things weigh around a couple ounces (between 50 and 70 g metric), you can test it at home by taping an AA battery to a good sized highlighter and seeing how your child does with it. This device is useful for learners aged 6 and over. If you’re worried about the pen being a noisy distraction in class, it does come fully equipped with headphones, allowing students to avoid bringing attention to themselves.

Not only are the words read aloud to users as the nib of the pen passes over them, but the Reader Pen can also improve their vocabulary with the touch of a button, through the inbuilt Collins English Dictionary and Oxford French and Spanish Dictionary. Furthermore, the history of any words that are searched for in the dictionary remain stored on the pen, which allows teachers or support personnel to have important conversations with students regarding their understanding of new vocabulary. Who is the C-Pen for? The major downside to all that is that you’re tethered to some kind of device (even if it’s just your phone) and the apps developed by the companies can sometimes be hit or miss when it comes to ease of use. ExamReader is a convenient portable off-line assistive text reader for printed text. Scan text with this state-of-the-art device and have text read out to you aloud in real time. Everything, including the natural speaking voices, is embedded in this off-line device and there is no need for computer or internet connections. ExamReader is specifically designed for use in tests and exams when a student requires reading assistance. No unauthorised material or content can be loaded onto ExamReader and it can *only* be used to support text reading. Level the playing field Introducing C-Pen Reader 2 ™, the next generation of assistive reading tools designed to put even more control into the user’s hands. Whether studying or simply reading for pleasure, this new and improved reading pen features enhanced AI to improve accessibility, and boost reading confidence. A Reading Aid for the Hybrid AgeThose that are designed for students with dyslexia take all this a step further, and have the extra ability to read scanned text out loud for the student. The idea is that it can lessen the difficulties that accompany everyday reading, especially those with severe dyslexia and reading difficulties, encouraging users to read more independently. The Reader pen scans English, French and Spanish, whilst the Exam Reader also offers reading in two additional languages – German and Italian These days there are a lot of assistive technologies out there that claim to make reading easier for students with dyslexia. After all, what parent doesn’t want to increase reading independence and instill a love of reading in their children? A lot of these pens claim to support and translate dozens of languages. However, they are built from OCR technologies that can often make more mistakes with non-Latin characters ( Japanese kanji, for example, is often an issue).

A wide range of research has proved the C-Pen to be effective. One particular study looked at the impact of using the Reader Pen on Year 10 students with literacy difficulties. The researchers found the following outcomes after just 6 weeks of pen use: This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen. When connected to a computer, the Reader Pen can be used to scan text directly into Word documents, meaning students, support personnel or even researchers don’t waste valuable time directly copying out information from one source to another. Additionally, the Reader Pen itself can hold up to 1GB of data, which is useful for students who wish to upload files to their computer later because access is not available at the time of scanning. These devices don’t usually have their own built-in screens, instead connect to and use a computer or mobile device through a company app to display text and make use of all their features.However, because of the extra hardware, stand alone reader pens can be a little more expensive and may not get as many new features with each update as less complex devices. Device Dependent Reader Pens ReaderPen Secure is a convenient portable tool to support independent reading. Scan text with this state-of-the-art device to have the text read out with natural speaking voices. Use built-in highest tier dictionaries to access definitions to secure understanding. ReaderPen Secure does not store any data and thus secure user integrity as well as employer intellectual and confidential material. The digital highlighter – alongside with the text-to-speech function – supports multi-sensory learning and aid language retention. Exciting ReaderPen features

The C-Pen Exam Reader 2™ isn’t just a great investment in a student’s future, it’s also a valuable cost saving tool for schools. This device nurtures reading independence, putting complete control in the learner's hands. Schools that make the switch from human readers to digital readers see a reduction in monthly outgoing costs, leaving them with more resources. FAST SPEAK OPTION Expanded Features of the C-Pen Reader 2: Multiple AccentsUse the C-Pen Reader 2™ to read printed text aloud for you. It features high quality naturally speaking English, American, Australian, British, Irish, Scottish and Indian accents, as well as Spanish (regular or Latin accents) and French voices. 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. How sensitive each device is to things like being held improperly, jittering or shaking or hesitating really varies, with some devices being pretty tolerant and others less so.The concept of the C-Pen is built around the need to help students improve their reading skills, such that in 2015, PISA identified that 18% of 15-year-olds in England still fail to achieve the minimum level of literacy proficiency. Everything is built-in and there is no need or requirement for internet connection. Become independent and efficient 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. As dyslexia advocate and co-founder of the non-profit Dyslexia Advantage, Ferette Eide, eloquently states: “Assistive technology is not a crutch. Assistive technology provides access to higher level information as well as having beneficial effects on remediation itself.” Will a reading pen be right for my child or student?