The Library: Software

Inspiration is mind mapping software which can be used to create concept maps, flow charts and mind maps to help to organise ideas in a visual way. It helps with organising and structuring ideas prior to starting written work such as reports and essays.  It can also help to show the relationships between ideas or concepts. The mind map can then be easily converted into a written outline or presentation.

Inspiration is available on all Library PCs.

Inspiration video tutorials and an Inspiration user guide are available on the Inspiration website.

Read & Write for Google Chrome is a toolbar which offers many of the functions of the full Texthelp Read & Write software within the Chrome web browser. It works with webpages and files accessed through Office 365 and Google Drive.

Here are just some of the tools available:

• Text-to-speech - it will read the content of web pages, Office 365 files or Google Docs files aloud.
• Dictionary - gives dictionary definitions of words
• Speech Input - types as you speak (only available in Office 365 and Google Docs and requires a microphone)
• Screen Masking - change the colour of the whole screen to make it easier to see and read
• Highlighters - highlight useful text and then collect these into a new document which is useful for taking notes

Video tutorials on using Read & Write for Google Chrome, a Read&Write for Google Chrome - Quick Reference Guide and an interactive guide to Read&Write for Google Chrome Tools are available on the TextHelp website.

ClaroRead supports your study skills through a toolbar which works alongside other applications such as Microsoft Word, email and the internet. It is designed to provide support for people with writing, reading and spelling difficulties.

Here are just some of the tools available:

• Text-to-speech - it will read the content of web pages and documents aloud.
• Spell checking - check your spellings and look up dictionary definitions 
• Homophones - check your use of words such as their and there or weather and whether
• Screen colour- change the colour of the whole screen to make it easier to see and read

ClaroRead is available on all Library PCs.

ClaroRead video tutorials and ClaroRead user guides are available on the ClaroRead website.

ClaroRead Chrome is a toolbar which offers some of the functions of the full ClaroRead software within the Chrome web browser.  It works with webpages and files accessed through Google Drive such as Google Docs and PDF files.

It provides:

• Text-to-speech - it will read the content of web pages or Google Docs files aloud.
• Screen Overlay- change the colour of web pages to make it easier to see and read

Installing the ClaroRead Chrome extension

1. Go to the Chrome Web store ClaroRead Chrome page
2. Click on the + Add to Chrome button
3. Click on the Add Extension button
4. Once installed you will see the ClaroRead Chrome icon on your Chrome toolbar.  Click on this to access the toolbar.

ClaroRead Chrome help guides are available.

Writing Helper helps you organise your written assignments, like essays, reports or dissertations. It will guide you through a linear, structured approach starting with an assignment question and a deadline, and ending with your essay in Word format!

• Review the question, understand the ‘instructional verb’ in your question, and brainstorm.
• Structure the assignment into sections and add some writing tasks or reminders of things to do.
• Open files or websites and highlight important sections, and search for keywords.
• Slot these highlights and keywords right into your project.
• Reword each highlight or snippet, or mark them as direct quotes.
• Manage all your citations to make complete and accurate bibliographies.
• See what your document will look like as a Word document and fix any issues within Claro Writing Helper.
• See a healthcheck on the whole project, with links directly to where you can go to fix issues.
• Publish to Word, with complete navigation and a full bibliography.

Claro Writing Helper is available on Library PCs.

Claro Writing Helper help videos and user guides are available on the Claro website.

Pro-Study is a study tool that collects and organises your research in a single click. It categorises your research topics by grabbing your specifically selected text from Websites, PDFs, Microsoft Word and just about anywhere else you can select text and saving it into your personalised colour coded category tabs. Pro-Study provides quick hyperlinks back to the original websites. It also allows you to export this research as either a whole project or as individual categories into Microsoft Word or your favourite Mindmapping software with all of the referencing done for you in the required style and format.

Pro-Study for Windows is no longer installed on Library PCs.  However, if you have been given access to Pro-Study Online through your Disabled Student Allowance you can still access this on Library computers.  You will need to download the Pro-Study Extension from the Chrome Web Store. If you still need access to Pro-Study on Library computers and do not have access to it on your own computer, or if you would like to access Pro-Study Online please contact LibraryDisability@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

Pro-Study Online video tutorials and Pro-Study Online user guide are available on the Pro-Study website.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking is speech recognition software which types as you speak. The software is not available in the Library as it must be used in an environment with no background noise and where others will not be disturbed by the speaking. If you are registered with Disability Advice you can contact the Learning Support Officer to request a demonstration of Dragon Naturally Speaking to help you decide whether to get your own copy, or for support with using your own copy of the software. Students not registered with Disability Advice would need to purchase their own copy of the software in order to use it.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking user guides and Dragon NaturallySpeaking video guides for PC are available.

There is also a mobile app for Audio NoteTaker which will allow you to record lectures on your mobile phone. You will need to own Audio NoteTaker for PC or Mac in order to use the Sonocent Link app.

1. Download the Sonocent Link app from the Apple App Store or Google Play
2. Once installed you will need to activate the app, when prompted enter the email address you used to activate Audio Notetaker PLUS the last 4 digits of your licence key in the PIN field.
3. You can find your licence key in the full version of Audio NoteTaker installed on your computer under the Audio Notetaker menu button (top left), then Help > About. 

Zoomtext provides screen magnification and screen reading. You can choose from a selection of mouse pointers and cursors to make them more visible.

If you need to use this software please contact your Disability Adviser, they can arrange for you to borrow a laptop with Zoomtext installed.

Zoomtext video tutorials and Zoomtext user guides are available on the ZoomText website.

SuperNova is for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content.

It provides magnification and reads aloud what's on the PC screen and gives you a set of tools for navigating and accessing webpages and all screen content.

If you need to use this software please contact your Disability Adviser, they can arrange for you to borrow a laptop with Supernova installed.

SuperNova video tutorials and SuperNova user guides are available on the SuperNova website.