Features of text reader	Text Assist	Write: Outloud	Screen Reader	eReader	Write Away	Read & Write	Type & Read	Scan & Read	Word- smith	WYNN	Kurzweil 3000
Available on PC and Mac	PC	Both	PC	Both	PC	PC	Mac	PC	PC	PC	PC Mac
Reading rate adjustable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Highlights text as read	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Voice can be changed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Open & read text files & clipboard	Through Word Processor	Yes	Through Word Processor	Yes	Yes	Through Word Processor	Yes	Through Word Processor	Through Word Processor	Yes	Yes
Directly reads text on Internet	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Editor – text alterable	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Alter Text color	word processor	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	In word processor	No	In word processor	In word processor	Yes	Yes
Alter Back- ground color	Word processor	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	In word prediction	No	Yes	In word prediction	Yes	Yes
Spell checking	Word processor	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Homophone help	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Thesaurus or dictionary	No	Dictionary	No	Yes	No	Both	No	No	Both	Thesaurus Dictionary	Dictionary Thesaurus
Features of text reader	Text Assist	Write: Outloud	Screen Reader	eReader	Write Away	Read & Write	Type & Read	Scan & Read	Word- smith	WYNN	Kurzweil 3000
Word Prediction	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes

scanning OCR software	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Graphics compatible OCR	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
highlight & notes to study	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Auto page orientation for scanning	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	yes	yes	yes	Yes
Animated read character	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
keyboard shortcuts	yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cost of text reader	$20	$99	$29	$199	$249	$250	$89	Read & Scan software $89	Read & Scan software $550	Read & scan software $995	Read & scan software $1100- $1995

HelpRead from the University of Hawaii is a free text reader. Information for HelpRead is found on the last page.

The above list is not a comprehensive list of text readers, but a sampling available at Michigan’s Assistive Technology Resource.
If you have any questions about assistive technology, please call MATR at 1-800-274-7426.

Compiled by Esther Fintushel 01/2001.