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Has anyone any info about the reading aid Orcam?

(7 Posts)
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boat Mon 31-Jan-22 20:19:44

This device scans text and turns it into spoken words. I can't find any information on line apart from the advert.

My DGD is dyslexic. She has made tremendous efforts and can now read although she doesn't enjoy it and sometimes misreads or misses out some words.

She wants to enter a career where it is absolutely essential that she be able to read accurately.

I am very tempted to buy it for her but by my standards it costs an horrendous amount of money. I don't want to go ahead just on the strength of what the makers say.

Please help if you can.

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User7777 Mon 31-Jan-22 20:44:53

Maybe its RNIB. I would like one myself

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Marydoll Mon 31-Jan-22 20:55:02
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Boat, I used to use pens for pupils with dyslexia, which scanned the print and read out the words. I have just looked them up and can't believe how expensive they are.

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MaizieD Mon 31-Jan-22 20:59:59

There's loads of text to speech software, some of it free, but I've no idea if it's any good or not. Could be worth downloading some and trying it.

I've just searched and got this page of results

duckduckgo.com/?q=text+to+speech+software&t=chromentp&ia=web

I used one (but I can't remember which) when I worked with children struggling with their reading and spelling a few years ago. It was useful for checking their spelling but, obviously, I was working on improving their reading skills, so didn't use it as a reading substitute.

It is likely that the RNIB could recommend some. Text to speech has been around for many years now.

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Jaxjacky Mon 31-Jan-22 21:47:05

I think Kindle do a text to speech, but I have no experience of it.

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Florencelady Tue 01-Feb-22 00:08:41

As an aside most colleges have excellent special provisions for dyslexic students which she can take advantage of. My ds is dyslexic and could use a dictaphone in all lectures,had extra time for exams etc. He found third level very supportive so hopefully she will too.

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boat Tue 01-Feb-22 08:45:26

My grateful thanks to all who responded. What a wealth of suggestions!

User7777 and MaizieD I just didn't think of the RNIB. I was led astray by the advert declaring that, "Orcam is the first text to speech device". I'd never heard of such a thing.

Marydoll at £252 the C pen is cheap compared to the Orcam. They wanted £2400!

MaizieD and Jaxjacky I'm sure all your suggestions would really help with a lot of the stuff she will have have to cope with so I will consult with DGD's Dad who is a lot more technical than me.

Florencelady DGD wants to act and, putting Grandmotherly prejudice aside, I have to say she really is good. She is at an FE College dedicated to Performing Arts doing A level and BTEC. They are very supportive but she is thinking of giving Drama School a miss and trying for REP where she would have to memorise scripts accurately.

Thank you all again.

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