Has anyone used the Reading Pen II with students? Is it worthwhile? I have a parent who is interested in getting one for her child. The school is also interested in purchasing the Reading Pen II. I would like to know about other people’s experience with this divice.
Re: Reading Pen II
It’s like a portable scanner shaped like a pen, that you move over the word (like you would the scanner at a grocery store, over the bar code) and the computer synthetically reads the word. It can then define it for you, too — though the definition feature is more trouble than its worth (so many defintions for words, still that synthetic voice, and not even really good definitions).
Re: Reading Pen II
We purchased a reading pen for our 9 year ould daughter in Oct. Emma had not problem learning to use it and liked the independence it gave her. She was able to read things with out help from mom and dad. She gave it up for awhile but is now interested in using it. Even with it’s limitations it is a wonderful tool. I would recommend trying it but remember it is not a magic bullet.
Mpls.
The pens get mixed reviews — the most common thing I hear is they’re “not quite ready for prime time.” I was next to their booth at the IDA conference so I got to hear them demonstrated rather often. There were a fair number of mistakes in reading - the same problems we have with irregular words, the synthesized voice has. It’s also a very synthesized voice.