Simple talking computing for people with sight loss

New in version 6.0 (released: 13/07/2010)

Learn to type

Dolphin Guide's brand new typing tutor is fully accessible and, with 16 lessons, it is designed for the total beginner through to the more advanced keyboard user. It lets you practise as often or as much as you like. Using an accuracy measure, to gauge your progress and improve you computing experience, the Typing Tutor encourages you to improve by offering achievable progression.

Games

Your computer doesn't have to be all work and no play! Dolphin Guide v6 now includes a suite of games for your entertainment; and, just like the rest of Guide, all the games are simple to use and fully accessible for users with little or no sight.  Try:

Classic Hangman - Guess the word within 10 attempts. Choose from 4 different levels of difficulty. We've also included a hint feature for those really difficult words!

Kountdown - Given 6 numbers and a target value, you have to add, multiply, divide and subtract the numbers to reach the target total. Choose from 4 different levels of difficulty.

Anagram - Re-arrange the letters to find the jumbled word. Choose from 4 different levels of difficulty. If you get really stuck, you can even cheat and let Guide show you the answer.

PDFs

More and more organisations now offer their information and documents in a format called PDF. Historically, PDFs were notoriously inaccessible for readers with visual impairments, however Guide version 6 introduces support for this increasingly popular format.   

Guide's PDF viewer and reader makes it much easier to read and save PDF documents and search through them, while all the text is read out to you and magnified. Plus Guide will automatically load the third party PDF document reader onto your computer if you don't already have it available on your PC.

Traditionally, PDF documents don’t allow you to take (cut or copy) the text or images to another application.  However, for some Guide users, this simply isn't convenient.  Version 6 also includes a handy new import feature that makes it possible to move all the information within the PDF, directly into Guide's easy to use word processor.  From there you can read, make changes, merge, print and more; and all in an environment that you are already familiar with.

Open docx Word Documents

Guide Version 6 can now open and read the latest docx documents sent by friends and family who use Microsoft Word 2007 and Word 2010. 

Try 'Easy-Reply-Mode' for Quicker Email

When you want to send an email it can be really frustrating to have to go through loads of steps just to write a reply. In Dolphin Guide v6, replying to emails has now been simplified with the new default 'easy-reply mode' that reduces the number of steps involved when writing a reply.

Voices

As a Guide user choosing the voice that suits you is critical.  Dolphin Guide v6 now includes 3 voices as standard, so you can control which voice reads everything aloud for you.  And, if you already have other synthesiser voices available on your computer, you can even choose to use those.  Additional voices can also be purchased.

Podcast Player

The world of podcasting provides subscribers with a wealth of interesting and stimulating information from a wide range of sources on the Internet. Dolphin Guide v6 now provides even better support for podcast users as it comes with a new option to subscribe to a set of recommended podcasts which are automatically updated through the Internet. This means you don't need to look through the hundreds of podcasts which are available to find ones you'd like to subscribe to. There is also a new search option, making searching through episodes within podcasts quick and easy, simplifying your computing experience every step of the way.

Internet News Reader

If you like catching up with the news through the Internet, Guide v6 now makes this even easier. As with the Podcast facility, Guide v6 now comes with a convenient list of news feed sites which are automatically updated for you through the Internet. This means that you don't need to find or know the web address of news feed sites in order to access a wide variety of useful news, sport and current affairs programmes.

Remote Support

Guide’s Remote Support system enables your local Dolphin Guide distributor to directly access your computer system, should you get stuck or need some assistance.  Rest assured, remote support can only be initiated with your express permission.  Guide version 6 now delivers faster and more secure remote access to your computer.

Simpler Installation

Version 6's improved installer means it's even easier to get started with Guide:

• If you want Guide to run automatically, every time you switch on your computer, version 6 now includes this option which you can select during the initial installation.  Equally, you can decide that Guide shouldn't automatically load. Choosing the right option for you saves time and hassle. 
• New updates to your Guide software will now be automatically shared with you using the new Internet update system.   Ensuring you are always up to date, the updates download in the background whilst you carry on using Guide as normal.  This exciting new feature means you will always have the latest features and functions of Dolphin Guide at your fingertips.

Simpler Email Setup

Set up an email account quickly and easily by just entering your email address, full name and password. The new Auto Setup feature takes away the need for you to have any specialist knowledge in order to get your email up and running. So you can start sending emails straight away, no fuss and hassle free. 

Guide version 6 will also import contacts from Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 to your Guide address book. If you have used other email programs before such as Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail, Guide version 6 is also able to import those contacts.

Multiple Language Support

Guide v6 and its supporting voices, spell checker and thesaurus are now available in many different languages. This means you can now read, write and spell-check emails and letters in French, German or any other language voice you have bought.

Smoother Magnification on the Web

Version 6 of Guide now makes surfing the web even easier thanks to new enhanced magnification that delivers perfectly magnified words and pictures, crystal clear and with smooth edges.  Now compatible with a wider range of web pages than ever before, version 6 will read and magnify more complex and graphical pages as well interactive websites.

Download, unzip & read NLS books

Dolphin Guide introduces new support for US users to download books from the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a division of the Library of Congress. Dolphin Guide can download the digital books available from NLS’s BARD service (Braille & Audio Reading Download) and unzip them, allowing them to be easily transferred to your chosen portable book player.

Read more about Guide's NLS support on the feature page and watch the video introducing Dolphin Guide's support for NLS books.

NOTE: this feature is only available in the US English edition of Dolphin Guide, from version 6.0.26 onwards.

Back to version history list

 

Buy it Try it