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ClassMate Reader by HumanWare
The ClassMate Reader is a portable reading system that supports K-12 students who have reading difficulties. It offers many of the same features as the Kurzweil 3000 and WYNN scan/read systems, but in size and design it looks more like a portable gaming system with an LCD screen. Students can listen to an audio version of their textbooks and study materials while following the highlighted text on the screen. Features of the ClassMate Reader include text-to-speech, highlighting, a talking dictionary, text and vocal notes, and easy-to-use audio book navigation. The study features are designed to assist students who have learning disabilities to retrieve information through the use of bookmarks, highlighting tools, text notes, and voice notes.
The ClassMate Reader works with several electronic book formats including the new NIMAS (National Instructional Material Accessible Standard) format, DAISY, Bookshare.org, Audible.com, text, wav, MP3 and audio files. For books in text format, such as those from Bookshare.org, the player provides integrated text-to-speech for reading. It uses a removable SD flash memory card or USB memory stick to store books and electronic texts. It easily transfers files from a computer with a standard USB connection.
Teachers can use the ClassMate Reader to promote independent reading in their students, and the text-to-speech feature provides an appropriate accommodation for classified students during test taking.
For more information or to purchase ($439) the ClassMate Reader go to www.humanware.com or www.donjohnston.com.
