Hear text read to you. Just scan a word or line of text, and the ReadingPen 2 reads it aloud to you (earbuds included, if you don't want to be overheard). This mobile pen scanner requires no computer. It even helps with reading fluency and comprehension by providing immediate definitions from the American Heritage Children's Dictionary and Thesaurus, American Heritage College Dictionary, and Roget's II Thesaurus.
Further enhancing the user experience, the natural female human voice of the ReadingPen 2 makes it pleasurable to work with.
One-year warranty.
Benefits
Motivates and supports independent readers.
With the privacy and visual/auditory support provided by the ReadingPen2, frustration and embarrassment disappear. Both struggling and fluent readers rapidly improve their skills in:
Fluency.
Vocabulary comprehension.
Spelling.
Pronunciation.
Academic vocabulary.
Grammatical structure.
Understanding assessment instructions.
Provides in-depth instructional support.
Scans words or full lines of text instantly.
Pronounces and displays words on built-in LCD screen.
Displays and reads definitions and synonyms.
Shows syllabication.
Spells words, highlighting letters.
Built-in tutorial.
Includes built-in speaker and headphones.
Features
The ReadingPen2:
Works with any printed text.
Scans, defines, translates, and pronounces words from any printed material.
Scans single words or full lines of text.
Has an intuitive, friendly interface.
Allows you to adjust the reading speed.
Is easy to handle.
Fits in a pocket.
Has a battery status indicator, so you can recharge or replace batteries when convenient for you.
Includes built-in speaker and headphones.
Includes The American Heritage® College Dictionary, 4th edition and Roget’s II The New Thesaurus.
Recognizes over 450,000 words.
Neat tricks it does:
After you scan, you can have it spell the word aloud, a letter at a time.
It teaches you how to use it! That's right. It has a built-in tutorial. For school teachers, that means this reading assistive pen assists you in assisting your students.
Displays syllable breaks, definitions, synonyms, and translations of the scanned text on the screen.
Reads the scanned text aloud, including definitions and synonyms.
Translates English words to Spanish using WizCom's English to Spanish dictionary.
Uses
Use the ReadingPen as your reading assistant, inside or outside the classroom. This versatile device may improve reading skills dramatically. Featuring the American Heritage Dictionary (English 4th Edition) and Roget's II Thesaurus, it provides a simple and easy way for people with reading difficulties, learning disabilities, or dyslexia to get immediate word support when they are reading.
Easy to use! You run it across a line of text just as if it's a yellow highlighter.
Q: How does it read back to you?
A: It reads back the words one at a time. If you scanned several words in sequence, it says them in that same sequence. So if you scan, "The dog jumped the fence" that is exactly what you'll hear when you play back the scan.
Other notes about this:
The voice is pleasant, not robotic.
If you scan a sequence of numbers, it will render that as a word. So for example, scanning "123" results in "one twenty three" not "one two three."
The ReadingPen "recognizes" one word at a time. As you scan, it optically recognizes each letter. When it comes to a space or punctuation mark, it considers that sequence of letters to be a word. It looks up the word and speaks it. This all happens so fast that for the user, it's just "scan and hear."
Click image to enlarge
The ReadingPen helps with the following needs and applications:
Dyslexia. In fact, it's often called the Dyslexia Pen.
Reading difficulty. It's a reading assistive device.
Repeated reading.
ELL/ESL.
Basic and advanced reading.
Supplemental reading.
Supplemental Educational Services.
And is an excellent aid for:
Content area readers.
Struggling readers.
Special needs students.
Striving readers.
Click image to enlarge
Specs
Interface
Windows versions for transfer function
Touchscreen (incl. virtual keyboard and icons)
No
n/a
Text Menu (as opposed to touchscreen)
Yes
Dictionaries
Speech
English dictionary preloaded
Yes
Speaks stored notes by paragraph
n/a
Thesaurus preloaded
Yes
Speaks word or line of text
Yes
Dictionary word history (80 words)
Yes
Speaks dictionary definition
Yes
Foreign language preloaded
Yes
Defines words
Yes
Included applications
Text handling
Scanned text storage (max # of pages)
n/a
Transfer to PC, PDA, Smartphone
No
Image capture
No
Scan directly into Windows applications
n/a
Address book
No
Scan non-English text
No
Onboard tutorial
Yes
Languages
English, English to Spanish
Accessories (included)
Optional
Batteries
Yes
Accepts earphones
Yes
Carry case
Yes
Accepts USB cable
No
Earphones
Yes
Training foot
Yes
USB cable
No
More Specifications
Size: ergonomic 6 inches x 1 x 1, lightweight 3 ounces.
Recognizes 6-22 point size text, bold, italic, underlined, inverted text.
Auto detects text for instant scanning. Just roll and scan.
Optical character recognition at 97% (based on standard font and size average).
Preference setting for higher numerical and inverted text recognition level.
Completely mobile. Uses 2 AAA batteries.
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Comes W
The ReadingPen2 comes complete with:
Two "AAA" batteries.
"Getting Started" document on the back of the packaging.
Carry case.
Earphones.
Training foot.
Instruction Manual.
The Classroom Set version comes with ten of each of these items in a custom-built hard case that provides organized storage and protection of your investment.
TS vs RP2
The most obvious difference between the ReadingPen TS and the ReadingPen 2 is the TS has a touchscreen (yes, you guessed it--that's what the TS stands for). The ReadingPen TS provides additional functionality over the ReadingPen 2. With the ReadingPen TS, you can:
Insert text using the touch screen and virtual keyboard. They can then hear it spoken aloud and obtain definition, translation, spelling, syllabication, and correct pronunciation.
Transfer any looked-up words to a PC for further practice.
Upload text from the PC onto this fully mobile, lightweight Pen, and have the ReadingPen TS read it aloud wherever you are.
This last additional functionality is great for teachers who want to provide students with specific vocabulary or reading lessons.
Note: The ReadingPen 2 replaced the ReadingPen Basic and ReadingPen Advanced by combining both into one device. All of these devices are WizCom scanners designed to help with reading.
FAQs
How accurate is it? Answer: It's 97% accurate
How hard is it to use? Answer: If you have good dexterity, it's easy to use. How much dexterity do you need? Here's a simple test. Grab a text highlighter, and see if you can draw a straight line of highlighting in a newspaper or magazine. If so, you are good to go! If not, you are going to find the pen difficult to use.
Does it really read to you? Answer: You can't just wave it across a page and hear James Earl Jones reading the text. After you complete scanning a line or word, the pen recognizes the characters and looks up the words in its internal dictionary. It then can pronounce them in sequence.
POs
Many of our customers need to use Purchase Orders. We are happy to have such customers.
To purchase using a PO number:
Proceed through checkout, as if using a credit card.
For Bill To, enter the e-mail address of your Accounts Payable Department (or someone in it).
At the payment method dropdown, select "Purchase Order" and proceed through checkout.
Vendor Information
If you need a physical address for us so you can create your Purchase Order:
Mindconnection, LLC
4806 Wedd St
Merriam, KS 66203-5414
Note: As an Earth-friendly company, we don't do faxes. We don't need to see your PO, so don't worry about sending it.
Terms. Our terms are Net 0, with the discount provided in the regular price. Your invoice is delivered immediately when you place your order, so just process it for payment and you're all set. If you need more time, the rates below apply
The Reading Pen helps people with reading problems.
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 7 Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with others.
Helps solve reading issues, 2.21.2012
Reviewer: Ramona Lewis (Boston, MA)
Our church bought this for a bright young man who was increasingly falling behind due to reading problems. In the months since he started using the reading pen, he has made amazing progress and this is very uplifting to see. I don't know how many other kids are not realizing their potential because of problems this device solves, but I encourage any parent with a reading challenged child to look at the reading pen as a potential solution.
The pen does occasionally come across a word it does not know. Don't we all? Even with this minor limitation, it has proved immensely helpful.
Helps me tremendously, 12.21.2011
Reviewer: Paula Cicoletti (Chicago, IL)
My parents bought me this as an early Christmas present. It's the best gift ever!
Happy with the Reading Pen, 12.17.2011
Reviewer: Tanya Brady (Atlanta, GA)
This is working out nicely for us. It is an almost perfect product, and a real value for the money. Both our kids were able to use it after a little experimentation and some help from us.
I was actually surprised that the voice is as good as it is.
Instant improvement in reading pleasure, 11.23.2011
Reviewer: Mike Townsend (Hoffman Estates, IL)
I bought this as a gift for my sister's boy. He's had difficulty reading, and when I came across this I thought BINGO, that's the ticket.
It took us a few tries to "get it," but once he had the idea down he just started devouring books. Used to be a problem getting him to read for half an hour every evening, but I just found out they are having problems with him bringing books to bed instead of going to sleep at night. What a great problem to have.
My nephew is now a reading addict! Beats other kinds of addiction, hands down.
Makes reading easier, 11.9.2011
Reviewer: Paula Johnson (San Jose, CA)
Our daughter has had problems with reading, but she does not have dyslexia. We don't know what the problem is. We bought this reading pen to help her with words she has problems learning. She knows how to sound out words, but not all words can be determined this way. Some must be memorized, and that's where she has problems. So now we have her just scan a word that stops her, and listen to the reading pen say it. This really does help. The pen does many things, and we will eventually use all the features. It was a bit rough at first for her to get going with this. I spent about 10 minutes playing with it and following in the manual and then I "got it" and was able to show her.
Makes dyslexia easier to cope with, 10.13.2011
Reviewer: Amber Stafford (White Plains, NY)
Our son is not stupid. He just has reading difficulties. His IQ puts him at almost the genius level, but he is two grades behind in reading because some words don't come out right when he looks at them. We bought this reading pen in hopes that he could get past each of these "speed bumps" when his eyes hit it and we have not been disappointed. It really does work. He is rapidly moving through his assigned reading now, instead of struggling.
The only problem we have is he's now reading our magazines and leaving them all over the house. Considering the alternative, it's a wonderful problem to have.
Helps solve reading issues, 2.21.2012
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