Scanning Pens
Quicktionary Reading Pen
Author: Anna Mungovan
Acknowledgements
NSW SPELD (Specific Learning Difficulties Association of NSW Inc.)
generously donated the Quicktionary Pen to the Adaptive Technology Project
to test run and report on its findings. To access information about
SPELD, refer to their website:
http://www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/projects/speld/
The Quicktionary Reading Pen is a new portable reading tool. It is
a hand held device, held like a pen, which allows users to scan individual
words to produce definitions, phrases and idioms of words.
The Quicktionary Pen is supplied with a tutorial video and tape, earpiece,
operational manual and a Quick reference Guide. The Pen also provides
on screen tutorial.
What Does the Quicktionary Pen Do?:
To scan the individual word, roll the pen across the word to enable
it to scan the word. To scan a word, the pen needs to move over the
word from right to left (if right handed) or left to right (if left-handed).
Once the pen has defined the word, the functions of the Pen are;
- Pronounce the word. The pen will pronounce the word aloud. You can
also use the supplied earpiece or connect to CD speakers.
- Display the syllables of the scanned word. This assists an individual
to correctly pronounce the scanned word.
E.g. dic-tion-ar-y
- Display the definitions of the scanned word.
Eg. 'Dictionary'
N.1 A reference book containing alphabetical list of words, with
information given for each word, usually including meaning, pronunciation,
and etymology.
N2. A book listing the words of a language with translations into
another language.
N3. A book listing words or other linguistic items in a particular
category or subject with information about them.
N4. Computer science. A list of words stored in machine-readable
form for reference, as by spelling-checking software.
- The definitions are sometimes wordy and complex. To alleviate this,
you can highlight specific words within the definitions for the pen
to pronounce the word and/or display the syllables.
E.g. (Refer to dictionary definition above). Highlight ' pronunciation'.
This can produce definitions, syllables and pronunciation before
returning to the 'Dictionary' definition.
- Read aloud each letter of the scanned word.
- Edit the scanned word and allow the pen to pronounce the newly
edited word.
E.g. 'Barge' edit word to 'Large'. The edited word can now
be pronounced and defined.
- Keeps a history of scanned words. The Pen can maintain a list of
400,000 scanned words that can be referred to.
- Scans hyphenated text. This also includes words divided by a hyphen
at the end of a line.
E.g.
..
.com-
municate
..
- Recognises the different pronunciations of words that are spelled
the same but pronounced differently (homographs)
E.g. 'address (v) and address (n).
- The Pen can produce 'Adjacent entries' which is a list of words
in the dictionary that is adjacent to the last selected word
E.g. Address: Addressable, addressee, adduce, adduct, adductor,
Adelaide, Ademption etc.
- Adjust reading speed, pitch control and contrast colour of the
screen.
Advantages
- An appropriate tool for people who have difficulty in spelling and
new vocabulary.
- Easy access to a dictionary which is often a difficult process for
people with a reading disability.
- The instructional manual is available in video, tape and hard copy.
This is ideal for a person who requires visual as well as auditory
input.
- Works for left handed and right handed people.
- You can scan light text on dark backgrounds.
- Opportunity to develop an extensive personal bank of words that
can be referred to on a needs basis.
- Beneficial for students with Learning Disabilities, learning difficulties
and students from a non-english speaking background.
- Compact and easily transportable.
Disadvantages
- Requires excellent dexterity skills to be able to scan the required
word. This would make it difficult for a child, a person with unsteady
hands, poor co-ordination, and/or poor vision.
- Time consuming process. It was a little frustrating trying to accurately
scan the word and then follow the commands to access the material.
This process may become more streamlined over time and practice.
- The Pen does not have the capacity to read aloud the complete definition
of the word, only selected words of the definition.
- Has great difficulty reading scanned hand printed words.
- Does not have the capacity to scan more than one word at a time.
Refer to the CPen and the QuicklinkPen links below if you require
this function.
- On occasion, the pronounced word spoken was difficult to understand
and pronounced in a different manner (This may be because the voice
had a slight American accent).
Cost and Distributor Details
SPELD NSW
33-41 Lindfield Ave,
Lindfield, NSW, 2070
Telephone: 02 9416 9100
Fax: 02 9416 9277
Email: p.whiting@edfac.usyd.edu.au
Website:
http://www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/projects/speld/newtech1.html
Cost: $299.00
SPELD Victoria
494 Brunswick St Fitzroy 3065
Telephone: 03 9489 4344
Fax: 03 9486 2437
Website: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~speld/Default.htm
Cost: $299.00
Australia's Scanner & Printer Place
442 Station Street
Box Hill, Victoria 3128
Freecall:1800-00-88-99
Email: sales@scannerplace.com.au
Website: http://www.ausmedia.com.au/homepg.htm
Cost: $279.00
Specifications and System requirements
Interfaces: Serial IrDa and serial cable
Weight: 3 oz (90g)
Win 95/99/2000
Current Languages: English
Length (with cover): 6.5" / 163mm
Width: 1.4" / 36mm
Height: 1" / 24mm
Size and Type of Scannable Letters: 8-14 Point, Omnifonts, Bold, italics,
underline,
Battery Life: Approx. 3,000 scans
Auto Off: Adjustable from 15-240 seconds
Display: Graphic screen 122x32 pixels, 3 lines, 20 Char/Line
Only operates as an English Dictionary not as a text to PC scanner (Quick-Link
Pen)
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Links:
Quicktionary Translators:
The Quicktionary translator is a portable, handheld scanner designed
to change the way you translate, read and study a foreign language.
http://www.translation.net/quickt.html
Quicklink Pen and Quicktionary Pen:
http://www.ausmedia.com.au/quick_pen.htm
CPen: http://www.ausmedia.com.au/cpen.htm
SPELD NSW:
http://www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/projects/speld/newtech1.html
SPELD Victoria:http://home.vicnet.net.au/~speld/Default.htm
Australia's Scanner & Printer Place:
http://www.ausmedia.com.au/homepg.htm
References
Quicklink Pen and Quicktionary Pen:
http://www.ausmedia.com.au/quick_pen.htm
Whiting,.P. (1999) Report on the Trial of the Reading Pen,
Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, Vol 4 No 3 September 1999.
Qicktionary Scanner Pen
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