[Athen] Problems Using Kurzweil Read the Web with Canvas

[Brian Richwine]

Doesn't the latest Kurzweil 3000 for Windows (version 13) have a screen
snapshot reader? If the text is clear enough on the screen, then it should
be able to capture the image of the canvas content, perform OCR on it, and
then allow the student to read it. They'd have to dismiss the window before
they can go back to interacting with the page, would be the biggest
annoyance there.

-Brian

On Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 11:10 AM, Larry Kiser <larry.kiser at sfcollege.edu>wrote:


>  Dear Colleagues:

>

>

>

> Last week a student attempted to use the Kurzweil Read the Web feature

> during an exam delivered through Canvas.  In this instance and during a

> follow-up diagnostic session with the student opening a practice quiz,

> Kurzweil Read the Web read information on the screen randomly and announced

> other information not readily viewable.  During the exam the student was

> able to use a Kurzweil taskbar feature, but this was slow because it

> required the student to highlight questions with the pointer and drag it to

> the taskbar.  I reviewed the VPAT for Canvas, which indicated it was

> compatible with screen readers.  I emailed Kurzweil and received the

> following response.

>

>

>

> Kurzweil Response

>

> Kurzweil 3000 and the Read the Web functionality provides limited

> recognition outside of the program itself. The current read the web add on,

> kesireader.xpi, can only recognized plain text/basic html websites. It is

> not uncommon that websites that are generated in use or that contain

> windows within windows to have issues recognizing text.  I would recommend

> that you update your current version of the Kurzweil 3000 software, update

> the kesireader.xpi and test the reader on plain text/basic html websites,

> should the problem continue within these websites, we may be able to

> determine what the cause is. For more complicated websites, such as script

> bases information or test taking websites, I'd recommend that you print

> them to Kurzweil 3000 using the KESI Virtual Printer. In the case of a

> Macintosh, print the site to PDF and then open that in Kurzweil 3000. This

> alternative can provide the student access to the materials for reading,

> however, they may need to go back to the website to introduce their answers.

>

>

>

>

>

> We are already using the most recent version of K3000.  It is not feasible

> to print the exam using the Kesi Virtual Printer as suggested.  Any

> thoughts would be helpful.

>

>

>

> Larry Kiser

>

> Counseling Specialist

>

> Disabilities Resource Center, S-233

>

> Santa Fe College

>

> Gainesville, FL 32606

>

> Phone: 352-395-4429

>

> Fax: 352-395-4100

>

>

>  ------------------------------

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> disclosure.

>

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