Strategy: Scanning print documents

11 Keywords: Scanning, Text To Speech, Reading, Screen Reading, Blind, Visual Acutiy, Visual Impairment, Dyslexia, Specific Learning Differences, Specific Learning Difficulties, Visual Stress

scanner"I’ve tried voice recorders for recording lectures. I have a scanner in my room so that if we get handouts I can scan them and read them with some software called Kurzweil which has a screen reader built into it so you can quite happily read your notes. Whatever you’ve scanned it will read, as long as it’s not a graph or an image. If it’s text it will read it, because obviously the screen reader has to see text to be able to read it."

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Quick keyboard shortcuts are essential such as:

  • INSERT + F4 To turn off the JAWS voice so it does not conflict with the Kurzweil voice.
  • CTRL + ALT + K to open Kurzweil.
  • Press F9 to scan. Kurzweil will begin reading once the scan is complete.
  • ALT + F4 to close when you are finished.

Many more short cut key combinations and hints and tips can be found on the Kurzweil pages in different formats.

Quote

"I had a period of six weeks where my note-taker was not available, so someone else came in to take my notes for me and he just printed them off and gave them to me... at least I had the scanner there so I could read the notes... I prefer electronic, but paper’s fine because I can scan it."

- David

Tip

Indiana University offer a complete tutorial guide for Kurzweil 1000. Remember to save in chapters and for more than 250 pages - put it on 2 CDs – always back up work! Pen drives/memory sticks are useful.

Try the Recording Centre for the Blind, Swansea University on-line advice pages for more guidance on making Braille ready documents.

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