Information About Reading Pens

Reading pens read and speak words by optically scanning them and converting them into spoken form. These devices contain internal dictionary and thesaurus terms, enabling them not only to give correct spellings and pronunciations but to provide definitions and synonyms as well. While reading pens can exhibit some operational quirks depending on the text font, the hard copy source scanned and the user's skill in directing the pen, they offer a small, convenient aid on an as-needed basis.

Purpose

• Reading pens help some people with learning disabilities to read faster and more accurately. These disabilities, generally considered to stem from a neurological problem, cause difficulties with reading and writing as well as mathematical or reasoning challenges, according to the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program. A person diagnosed with a learning disability may benefit from assistive devices such as reading pens and other text-to-speech systems.

Technology

• Reading pens use optical scanning, character recognition and text-to-speech technology to turn printed text into computer data and then render it as spoken words. The pen's scanner deciphers a word by comparing the letters to an on-board memory of thousands of terms. It then sends the correct word to a speech synthesizer, resulting in the pen "speaking" the word for the user.

Operation

• To operate a reading pen, Incredible Horizons instructs the user to hold the pen's tip at a 75 to 90 degree angle, positioned about one centimeter in front of an individual word in a magazine, newspaper or other printed page. The bit of extra space prevents the pen from accidentally missing the beginning of the word. The user then runs the pen slowly over the words, keeping the text within the tip's roller area. Moving the pen slowly will help ensure accurate scanning. Most adults and children have little trouble using the pen unless they have vision problems or conditions affecting manual dexterity.

Advanced Features

• Reading pens use the same basic methods as other scanning pens designed to transfer printed text to a computer, including on-board electronic dictionaries that "tell" the device what verbiage the scanned material includes, according to PCMag. These dictionaries may encompass more than one language, meaning that reading pens with translating dictionaries can display and speak English translations of foreign words or vice versa. Some pens can even break words down for readers by pronouncing one syllable at a time.

Limitations

• While reading pens can greatly assist people with learning disabilities to decipher text more quickly and easily, they have limitations. PCMag points out that users have to get accustomed to holding the pens at a specific angle to enable them to read text correctly. Even under optimum circumstances, a reading pen may easily mispronounce or misinterpret certain words. According to Incredible Horizons, reading pens cannot decipher handwriting, math or other types of symbolic language or cursive-style text.