ClaroRead for PC 2008 (Version 4) Is Now Shipping - ClaroRead’s great strength has been its ease of use, comprehensive text to speech performance, high quality voices and many modes to help reading, proofreading and writing. With our ClaroRead for PC 2008 release, we have further richened the speech and related features.
NEW! - Speak This Word: Allows you to hear a single word spoken back with the chosen voice in Word, PDF, Outlook, Internet Explorer and more. Hold the CTRL key and ClaroRead 2008 will speak the word under the mouse.
NEW! - Save to Video: Building on the popularity of our Save to Audio feature in all versions of ClaroRead, we have now enhanced this to produce Save to Video. It is now possible to convert any text into a video with a high quality “voice over” synchronised with the text. You can change the text colour settings to your preferences and the video can be produced to suit a wide range of popular mobile devices with video screens - iPhone, iPod Touch and Nano, Nokia and Walkman phones and of course Media Player software. It is quick and easy to do, allowing you to take your documents and webpages with you on the move.
NEW! - Accessible PDF: ClaroRead has always allowed PDF files to be spoken aloud, and also converted into Microsoft Word format with the PLUS edition. We have now produced a standalone Accessible PDF reader, which is available as a free download for anyone (from www.accessiblepdf.com ). The Claro Accessible PDF Reader will convert accessible PDF Files into a web page style retaining the original format and layout. There is also a simple text only view. You can then change any of the colour, font and spacing using the built in controls, and ClaroRead 2008 will speak back the text aloud.
NEW! - Sentence Review Mode: Allows the user to review their work sentence-by-sentence simply by clicking the Play button on the ClaroRead 2008 toolbar. Excellent for reviewing Word documents at your own pace.
NEW! - ClaroRead Extras: ClaroRead 2008 users can visit www.claroreadextras.com to obtain product updates, free downloads, add on products and support information. ClaroRead Extras neatly groups together a range of accessibility utilities such as our ClaroView screen colour filter, ScreenRuler magnification tool, Speaking Calculator, Accessible PDF, MindFull concept mapping and Lightning screen magnifier. It also launches other software if installed on the PC, such as Dragon and Inspiration.
NEW! - More Voice Choice: ClaroRead PLUS 2008 includes 5 English voices with the excellent new British English voice Serena. The add-on language range choice has been further extended to over 25 languages.
Additional Word Correction Tools: Since our 2007 edition, the ClaroRead Advanced Settings editor gives the freedom to identify and correct tricky words, misspellings and homophones. ClaroRead 2008 now includes a built-in additional spellcheck extension to capture and suggest corrections for more mispellings that aren’t caught through normal spellcheck engines.For a summary of ClaroRead’s main advantages, download the PDF DataSheet “ClaroRead 2008 Product Overview”. You can download an updated ClaroRead Comparison Chart showing the main features differences in ClaroRead Standard, PLUS and Premium. You can also view the online help and tutorial videos from here.Pricing for ClaroRead PLUS remains the same at £159. ClaroRead Premium is £259 (includes the ClaroRead USB). ClaroRead Standard is £129 and now includes our ClaroView and ScreenRuler utilities. Free updates are available by download for existing ClaroRead 2007 users are available, simply contact us directly and we will send you the link and logon details. All prices exclude VAT.Many thanks to all who helped us with pre-release testing and feedback. We do value your feedback and input.
April 4th, 2008
Press Release
March 26 2008 British Dyslexia Association teams up with Claro Software to launch affordable software
The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is launching a text to speech program in association with Claro Software which will change the lives of children who cannot read.
ClaroRead SE (Special Edition) provides text to speech support tools that allow computer users to read and write independently and will be available at a third of the price of similar learning aids, making such important technology more affordable to those who need it. BDA chief executive
Judi Stewart said:
“We are delighted to be able to offer Claro Read SE at such a fantastic price. Assistive technology can revolutionise a child with dyslexia’s life. It reduces the child’s reliance on teachers and parents by giving the child the opportunity to achieve the same standards as everyone else.” ClaroRead SE speaks back text as it is typed allowing users to check work quickly and easily. Text can be spoken at any point by highlighting individual sections of text and pressing play. The software reads out text from a computer, whether that is Word documents, scanned text, web pages, emails or any other text.
Judi Stewart continued: “There are many learning aids in the market but they are all generally more expensive than Claro SE. Assistive technology is crucial to the education of a person with dyslexia and we have created this affordable special edition for this very reason; it is too important for so many children to be without it. “In the current curriculum seven year old children are required to read as part of their learning, therefore if a child cannot read, they cannot learn and are excluded from learning. Claro SE bridges the gap for these children by providing them with the technology to help them continue with their studies and reach their full potential whilst learning to read.”
ClaroRead SE will also include a BDA Workbook, which provides information on dyslexia and tips to help children develop to their full potential. Dave Stevens, director of Claro Software commented: “The British Dyslexia Association does great work reaching out to support parents, teachers and professionals across the
UK. Claro Software is delighted to be able to offer a lower priced variant of ClaroRead combined with the valuable BDA Workbooks, as it allows more users to benefit from the software during their studies or in the workplace.”
Claro SE will cost just £49 for the CD Rom and £59 for the portable USB stick version.School licenses are also available for ClaroRead starting at £795.
For more information contact:
Laura McLaren or Michael Gregory at Freshfield PR: 01772 888400 or email (firstname)@freshfield.com
Notes to Editors
- The British Dyslexia Association (BDA) is the voice of dyslexic people. Our vision is that of a dyslexia friendly society that enables dyslexic people to reach their potential. We offer advice, information and help to dyslexic people, their families and the professionals who support them.
- Claro SE will be sold through the BDA shop, at www.bdadyslexia.org.uk.
- For more information on dyslexia please go to www.bdadyslexia.org.uk or call the helpline on 0118 966 8271.
- ClaroRead SE also includes Colour Explorer, the colour changing utility courtesy of Microlink PC
- For more information on ClaroRead SE visit www.clarosoftware.com/bda and for Claro Software’s range of text to speech software and its other assistive products, visit www.clarosoftware.com
March 26th, 2008
SOFTWARE firms Claro Software and Dixerit have teamed up to offer millions of children and adults the chance to read.
According to figures from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Right to Read campaign, up to three million could be denied the right because of a sight problem, dyslexia, or another reading disability.
Dixerit Plus, developed in a successful co-operation between Dixerit and Claro Software, is the latest product in web accessibility technology offering speech-enabling of websites and unique magnification software to website visitors.
The magnification utility provides screen magnification up to 32 times, with six different styles of magnification, font smoothing and the option to invert the colours of the entire screen display. There is also a colour contrast utility available within the solution.
The software is an operating system level utility, providing magnification of all applications and functions. When using Internet Explorer the software can be downloaded and run from within the browser.
Dixerit Plus reads the website without downloads or plug-ins. It also gives users more control over the reading by enabling them to point at text and click to read it. This feature has been requested by groups representing people with dyslexia.
For the web-manager it is easy to install and requires very little configuration. We customise the navigation so that it blends into the site.
Website owners simply subscribe to the service, add a link and the service is live.
To test the service, please go to our website www.dixerit.comAbout Dixerit UK Ltd (formerly ReadSpeaker UK Ltd)
Dixerit is a company founded by a group of people who pioneered, in their respective markets, the conversion of web-based content to audio using text-to-speech technology. With new technological and web marketing partners, Dixerit aims to position itself as a global supplier of speech enabling services. Dixerit believes that all people should be able to access text content in audio format through all existing and future channels.
The company will provide easy-to-use, easy-to-buy and easy-to-install tools for converting text-content, delivered in electronic format, to audio, using text-to-speech in a wholly automated process.
Its technology will benefit all people who prefer to have content read to them, whether it is because it is fun, convenient, because they have a disability or are illiterate, or any other reason.About Claro Software Ltd. Claro Software Ltd. (www.clarosoftware.com) is a company which develops and licenses ”assistive software” to help with reading, writing and language learning. It specialises in using leading edge speech and imaging technology to make the computer easier to use. Claro’s products are widely used for reading and writing support, proofreading, language learning, magnification and for general access to your computer. They are used by major public and private sector companies and organisations, education establishments and government departments.For more information and prices please contact:
Carin Lennartsson at Dixerit UK Ltdcarin.lennartsson@dixero.com
or by telephone on 01483-596580 or 07971-160702
You can read more about us at www.dixerit.com
March 10th, 2008
Claro Software is pleased to announce our nomination for the 2008 Innovation Award at this year’s Education Resource Awards, organised by Affinity Media and the British Educational Suppliers Association (BESA). The awards, based at The National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull, West Midlands will take place on 29th February 2008.
For more information please visit: http://www.besanet.org.uk/besa/events/view.jsp?item=172
February 27th, 2008
ClaroRead for Mac ‘08 (Version 2) Is Now Shipping - Full support for Office 2008. ClaroRead for Mac is easy-to-use and provides the perfect integrated tool for use with Microsoft Office 2004 and 2008. Since ClaroRead for Mac ‘08 is closely integrated with Microsoft Word, Safari and other Mac applications, almost any accessible text can be spoken aloud.
UPDATED VERSION NOW SHIPPING! ClaroRead for Mac has just moved to the ‘08 version (version 2), and includes 3 high quality Acapela British English voices, Graham, Peter and Lucy. ClaroRead for Mac ’08 has been fully tested with the new Apple OSX Leopard 10.5, and MicroSoft Office 2008, as well as working on prior versions of OSX and Word 2004.
If you are a ClaroRead Mac V1 or 1.5 user, and upgrade to Microsoft Office for Mac 2008, you should contact us for a free update.
Read the full details here
February 8th, 2008
DICTATION direct into Mac applications is now possible thanks to pioneering work by Claro Software and US partner Parallels, leaders in virtualization software.
Claro Software, has brought Dragon NaturalSpeaking - said to be the most popular piece of speech recognition software in the world - to the Mac alongside its best-selling ClaroRead for Mac - software designed help students who struggle with reading, writing and learning.
The speech recognition software, which for a long time has only been available on PC, will work alongside ClaroRead for Mac thanks to a new Claro bridging program SpeakIn which (in conjunction with Parallels) captures text from Dragon and loads it into Apple applications. Now Mac users can enjoy creating documents and emails just by speaking.
Dave Stevens, commercial director of Claro Software, said: “We believe this is a world first. Over the years, there have been many developments to promote the use of PCs in schools and colleges to make them more accessible to learners who need additional support.
“Our experience has shown that Apple Macs are becoming more popular in many educational sectors and we are delighted to be able to increase the accessibility of the Mac through Claro Software.”
Together ClaroRead for Mac (‘08) and Dragon NaturallySpeaking with SpeakIn will allow users to input text at 120 words per minute with no spelling errors. The software includes a coloured overlay filters, so students can see the text in the colours, font and format which they find easiest to read.
A homophone checker will then alert users to tricky words which are easily confused while the dictionary tool gives them a chance to check up on definitions and make sure they are using the right word.
High quality voices can read back and highlight text from virtually anything on the screen, and users can save text as an audio file for iTunes.
Claro Software has a reputation for producing high quality, affordable solutions for learners who need extra support with reading and writing.
The Dragon for Mac and ClaroRead solution is available through dedicated Apple Solutions partners who are also Dragon partners. Hence full user training and support will be available.
Read more background at www.speakinfordragon.com
January 7th, 2008
Schools, colleges and public bodies struggling to find a way to comply with a complex raft of disability laws now have one easy and affordable site-wide IT accessibility solution from Claro Software - The Claro Accessibility Suite.
Claro Software’s powerful yet flexible Accessibility Suite combines all the tools needed to create universal access to information and text - for all levels of ability and an unlimited number of users. It can be installed on your network, run directly from USB memory sticks for portability, or can be deployed over the internet.
All the cutting edge technology available from assistive software experts Claro Software has been pulledtogether into this one unique Suite, now available as an unlimited user site license.
Each person who experiences dyslexia, reading difficulties, sight loss and low vision - and even people with no sight - will benefit from the Suite’s full complement of text-to-speech programs, screen rulers, magnifiers, colour overlays, concept maps and much more.
The Disability Discrimination Acts of 1995 and 2005, the Special Needs and Disability Act 2001, the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004, as well as numerous other national and international frameworks, require local education authorities to provide the right facilities to learn for all levels of ability and age.
Now, with the School Accessibility Suite priced from just £795 - organisations can have a full range of tools installed across all PCs, helping meet legal requirements in the learning environment. Claro provides a method to deliver a reasonable adjustment to the computer systems, providing greater accessibility to information and learning.
Claro Accessibility Suite can include:
ClaroRead Standard dyslexia support solution for Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer
Lightning Screen Magnifier
ClaroView colour overlay software
MicroLink Colour Explorer background colour setting tool
ScreenRuler PC reading ruler
Claro MindFull - graphical concepts and ideas mapper.
Thunder screenreader for blind and low vision users.
USB Stick Portable Versions and Networked Delivered versions are available or can be configured according to requirements.
A free 15 day trial version of the Claro Accessibility Suite is available.
Please contact Claro Software sales@clarosoftware.com for further details.
January 6th, 2008
The Claro Software team would like to wish a Happy Christmas and New Year to all our customers and partners. Our offices will be open on 27th, 28th and 31st but not everyone is in, and those who are may go home a little early! After a successful 2007 we all look forward to 2008.
December 24th, 2007
CLARO, the assistive software specialist, is to exhibit at the world’s leading educational information and communications technology event, BETT. Claro Software is the company behind products including ClaroRead, ClaroRead for Mac and ClaroLingo, along with the innovative Claro USB pen drive. The company specialises in software which supports students struggling with reading, writing and learning, by reading text out loud from a wide variety of different programmes including internet and word processor documents. BETT is the leading event for educational software firms, with more than 20 years dedicated to showcasing the best in
UK and international products, resources and practices. It attracts 700 educational suppliers and close to 30,000 visitors for the four day event.
BETT takes place from January 9-12 2008, at the Olympia,
London. Claro Software will be showcasing its most exciting new products at BETT 2008 on stand SN50, including ClaroRead for Mac (‘08) which uniquely works alongside Dragon Naturally Speaking 9, the world’s best selling speech recognition software, allowing it to be used on Macs for the first time. Visitors to BETT will be able to see demonstrations of ClaroRead for Mac on stand ??? at 2pm on Wednesday, January 9 and at 11.45am on Thursday and Friday, January 10 and 11.
ClaroRead (2008) provides the perfect integrated tool for use with Apple Mac OSX, including OSX Leopard 10.5, and works with Safari and other Mac applications to allow virtually any text to be spoken aloud. Also on show will be the new ClaroLingo, a dedicated program for those who are learning English as an additional language or who need support in English. It also supports a wide range of languages including Mandarin, Japanese, Polish and Spanish. The Claro USB pen drive allows quick and easy access to Claro’s assistive software without the need for complicated network changes – it simply plugs into a computer in schools, colleges and libraries. The USB pen drive allows text to be highlighted and read aloud from documents including web pages or emails; allows fonts and spacing to be altered to make text more readable; and PDF files to be converted to Microsoft Word documents so users can hear and edit them. ENDS. All media enquiries, please contact: Michael Gregory or
Ben Hewes, Freshfield PR
01772 888400 or (firstname)@freshfield.com
December 19th, 2007
Educational software firm Claro has launched a new translation tool which could help millions of people around the world learn languages. ClaroLingo is the new development from the company behind ClaroRead, the easy-to-use software solution for supporting students who struggle with reading, writing and learning. It is dedicated to supporting people learning English and other languages. Building on the technology perfected for ClaroRead, ClaroLingo uses a high quality, accurate voice to read text aloud to help those learning how to pronounce words. ClaroLingo is currently linked to 40 sample dictionaries. Another key innovation is the hover key which means as a mouse hovers over a word in a document, web page or PDF file, the program uses a special technique to ‘capture’ the word and speak it out loud. Dave Stevens, commercial director of Claro Software, said: “At any one time it is estimated there are 600 million people around the world learning English as an additional language and a staggering 150,000 overseas students studying at UK universities. The industry is worth billions of pounds. “ClaroLingo builds on our existing technology, and uses the best, high quality voices so pronunciation is very good and provides an excellent model for students to imitate.”
Schools and colleges which have ClaroRead can buy ClaroLingo as an extra unit for their existing software.
Claro is interested to build licensing partnerships with specialist linguistic and language teaching companies. Contact sales@clarosoftware.com to arrange a discussion.
December 18th, 2007