Dolphin release EasyTutor version 8
EasyTutor goes DAISY with the release of version 8
3rd Jul, 2009
Dolphin Computer Access has today announced the release of EasyTutor version 8; Dolphin's advanced reading and writing aid, empowering people of all ages with learning disabilities including dyslexia to improve their literacy skills. EasyTutor version 8 not only provides users with assistance when typing and full access to a variety of documents (including Microsoft Word documents and users favourite web pages), but also now includes full access to talking books through the addition of the world's favourite talking book software player, Dolphin EasyReader, to the EasyTutor offering.
What is EasyTutor?
EasyTutor is Dolphin's advanced reading and writing aid, supporting computer users with Dyslexia, low literacy levels, and people who otherwise experience difficulties with reading, writing and spelling.
EasyTutor provides access to a variety of different document types (including users favourite web pages and scanned paper-based documents)*, reading the content in a clear, human sounding voice and highlighting each word as it is spoken. EasyTutor can also help to build computer users' vocabulary through the use of an intuitive word prediction engine, and an advanced word and homophone dictionary and thesaurus, each containing handy image-based as well as text-based definitions of words.
EasyTutor version 8 now includes Dolphin EasyReader
The addition of the recently released EasyReader version 5.01 to EasyTutor's UK release means that EasyTutor users now have unrivalled access to Talking Books without the need to purchase additional software. Talking Books offer fantastic access to reading materials through highlighted text and audio; a combination which has been shown to increase the exam scores of students with low literacy levels by up to 40%.**
Sir Steve Redgrave, ambassador for the AltFormat.org campaign for alternative format provision, who is dyslexic himself, explains why the inclusion of EasyReader to EasyTutor's offering is so important:
"We're in a digital age; it's now possible to create digital books that could be presented for example as combined audio and text. This type of talking book is proving highly popular with everyone that uses it... Talking books are probably the single most exciting thing to happen to people with dyslexia and now Dolphin EasyTutor supports them with the addition of Dolphin EasyReader to its bank of easy-to-use features."
What's new in EasyTutor version 8?
Dolphin EasyTutor version 8 offers an incredible range of additional features and functionality, justifying Dolphin's decision to move from version 2.02 to version 8.01. Dolphin's Dyslexia Product manager Stefan Pearson explains:
"EasyTutor version 8 is incredibly feature rich, including new functionality such as the Screen Ruler to help users read the text on the screen a line at a time, and also the Study Tools to assist users to present information in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Also, the EasyReader add-in allows users unrivalled access to talking books with the World's favourite software talking book player. With these improvements coupled with EasyTutor's existing reading and writing support, EasyTutor version 8 is an exciting and innovative solution that can make a huge difference to people with learning disabilities."
EasyTutor v8.01 now includes a vast array of additional features including:
- Save as Video: allowing users to save documents as video files to view on a portable media player, or on their PC at their leisure
- Screen Ruler: magnifying a horizontal area across the screen, making it that little bit easier to read through documents a line at a time
- Study Notes: collecting information from documents and webpages, saving it as a project, ready to be imported straight into Microsoft Word or PowerPoint
- EasyReader add-in: EasyTutor now comes with the latest version of the world's favourite software DAISY player, EasyReader*
- Brand new EasyTutor toolbar: The EasyTutor toolbar has been revamped with new, crisp and clear icons. What's more, users can now choose their preferred look and feel of EasyTutor, with three brand new skins to choose from
- And much much more: read the full list of What's New in EasyTutor version 8 on the Dolphin website.
The release has commenced with a UK English and Dutch version, with translations into a multitude of different languages expected over the coming weeks and months. These translations include US English, Swedish, Icelandic, Finnish, Hebrew, to name but a few.
Even with these huge advancements in features and functionality, EasyTutor v8.01 is available for only £159; a credit crunch busting 20% discount from the price of v2.02.
Related Links:
Read the full list of EasyTutor Version 8 Features
Find out What's new in EasyTutor version 8
Download a free 15 day trial version of EasyTutor version 8
* Scanning functionality and the EasyReader add-in are not available on the Dolphin Pen version of EasyTutor. EasyTutor version 8.01 in UK English includes EasyReader version 5.01. EasyTutor version 8.01 in Dutch includes EasyReader version 3.01.
** Source: Effects of Audio Texts on the Acquisition of Secondary-Level Content by Students with Mild Disabilities; Elizabeth A. Boyle, Michael S. Rosenberg, Vincent J. Connelly, Shari Gallin Washburn, Loring C. Brinckerhoff and Manju Banerjee; Learning Disability Quarterly, Vol. 26, No. 3 (Summer, 2003), pp. 203-214; http://www.rfbd.org/mediapr23.htm.
