The Library

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 Officce 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 user guide for Google Docs and a Read & Write for Google Chrome user guide for Office 365  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.

Assistive software workshops are also sometimes available.

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.

A ClaroRead Chrome video introduction and ClaroRead Chrome help guides are available on the ClaroRead 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 is available on all Library PCs.

Pro-Study video tutorials and Pro-Study user guides 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 on the Dragon NaturallySpeaking website.

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.

Zoomtext is available on the Disability Resource Area computers.  If you need to use software within University but outside of the Library Disability Resource Area (for example in a lecture or computer based class) please contact your Disability Adviser.

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.

Supernova is available on the Disability Resource Area computers.  If you need to use software within University but outside of the Library Disability Resource Area (for example in a lecture or computer based class) please contact your Disability Adviser.

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