[Athen] Mac User and Kruzweil

dann dann at digilifemedia.biz
Fri Mar 28 14:39:03 PDT 2008


My current favorite for inexpensive and easy use is the Natural Reader program from Natural Soft - http://www.naturalreaders.com/ - but this is only for the Windows platform.

For the Mac I recommend checking out Ghost Reader - http://www.convenienceware.com/index.php

I have had absolute novices get both of these up and running within minutes and then tweak them to their personal tastes.

Both have free trial versions to get you hooked but the cost to upgrade is within most budgets.

---------------
Daniel Berkowitz, CEO
DigiLife Media, LLC
1 Bryant Avenue
Bradford, MA 01835-7424

phone: 617-512-4315
mobile: 978-914-4601
e-mail: dann at digilifemedia.biz
web: www.digilifemedia.biz <http://www.digilifemedia.biz/>

________________________________

From: James Bailey [mailto:jbailey at uoregon.edu]
Sent: Fri 3/28/2008 12:10 PM
To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
Cc: dann
Subject: Re: [Athen] Mac User and Kruzweil



Dann - I agree with you and I am looking at alternatives to K 3000. What are your favorite text-to-speech or e-text readers? - James



--

James Bailey

Adaptive Technology Access Adviser, University of Oregon

1299 University of Oregon

Eugene, OR 97403-1299

Office: 541-346-1076

jbailey at uoregon.edu



On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:14:10 -0500, "dann" <dann at digilifemedia.biz> wrote:


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> My response would be to look past the proprietary program and find out what the student needs and seek an alternative. I frequently roll my eyes at the so called "Kurzweil Campuses" because they put much money into this program when the typically student end-user really only needs a simple text-to-speech or e-text reader. It is the rare student that uses more than the basic read out loud feature of Kurzweil. I usually compare this to MS-Word where the typical user only makes use of 20-percent of what the program is capable of.



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Someone needs to take the time with student and find out what exactly it is they need and how exactly they need to access it. If it does turn out that this student is a Kurzweil power-user and wants/needs/actually uses all of the bells and whistles then simple fairness dictates that the Mac version be provided.


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Perhaps Kurzweil is willing to be flexible with the license and can provide a Mac version+license as part of the contract. I'd call the Rep and ask for this.


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--- Dann


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Daniel Berkowitz


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Digilife Media, LLC


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(email) dann at digilifemedia.biz


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(mobile) 978-914-4601


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++sent via mobile device++


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----- Original Message -----


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From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org <athen-bounces at athenpro.org>


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To: athen at athenpro.org <athen at athenpro.org>


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Sent: Fri Mar 28 09:14:47 2008


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Subject: [Athen] Mac User and Kruzweil


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We started Kurzweil License-To-Go this semester. Recently, I had someone who was interested in it, but has a MAC. The student feels they are being denied the same opportunity that PC users have.


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Since I understand that the PC version works if you are running Boot Camp, it doesn't seem cost effective to purchase the Mac version of Kurzweil. The student states her computer is two years old, and doesn't have Boot Camp.


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Any feedback would be appreciated.


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Carol Brown


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Assistive Technology Specialist


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Services for Students with Disabilities


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Rm. 244, Corbett Center


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MSC 4149


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New Mexico State University


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P.O. Box 30001


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Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8001


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(505) 646-6840 Office


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(505) 646-5222 Fax


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(505) 646-1918 TTY


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