[Athen] JAWS in Japanese

[Mamoru IWABUCHI]

Hi.

Jaws is already localized in Japanese and also supports Braille.
One important point about Japanese screen reader is that it is Not just a
front user interface with Japanese text-to-speech (TTS) engine.  It needs a
special dictionary for Kanji (Chinese) characters.  There are over 3,000
Kanji characters we usually use.  When typing Japanese, the system tells the
user a list of possible Kanji characters for the pronunciation the user
typed.  Then the user chooses one from the list.

You may want to email the vendor and ask how to buy Jaws in Japanese online.
Email: support at extra.co.jp
Website: http://www.extra.co.jp/jaws/

The most popular screen reader in Japan is the one called "PC-Talker", by
the way.
Website: http://www.pctalker.net/

Both software require Japanese Windows OS.

What I am not sure is if the Japanese screen readers above are good for the
learners of Japanese.  If the learners are interested in speaking, reading,
and just simple (Hiragana) writing in Japanese, English-based screen reader
with Japanese TTS engine might be good enough or better.

I hope this helps.

I worked at the DO-IT, the University of Washington, for a year.  It is good
to be still in this listserv after I came back to Japan.  Thank you.

Best regards,

Mamoru

-----
Dr Mamoru Iwabuchi

RCAST, the Univ. of Tokyo
4-6-1-#3-408, Komaba, Meguro,
Tokyo 153-8904, JAPAN

Tel & Fax: +81-(0)3-5452-5490
E-mail: mamoru at bfp.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp



> -----Original Message-----

> From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On

> Behalf Of Jeffrey Dell

> Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 1:39 AM

> To: athen at athenpro.org

> Subject: [Athen] JAWS in Japanese

> 

> Hello

> Fall semester I have a blind student taking a Japanese course.

> We have the usual stuff setup.  We have a tutor for him.  JAWS will

> read Japanese characters and there is a nice Real Speak voice but I

> don't know how the braille support works.  I've read that IRIS

> recognizes the Eastern languages pretty well so that is probably what

> we will get for OCR.  Do any of you have any experience with a blind

> student taking Japanese?

> We've had a lot of students in Spanish and French but have never had a

> blind student in an Eastern language course.  I've been told that the

> beginning of the course involves the students learning how to draw the

> characters.  It should be interesting.

> Jeff

> Cleveland State

> 

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