ReaderPen | C-Pen | Reading support | Human reader alternative | Classroom aid

Product Information

Notable reading pens on the market include the C-Pen Reader Pen, C-Pen Exam Reader, OrCam, and the Wizcom ReadingPen.

Price is always an important factor, after all there’s no point in considering any technology if it doesn’t fit your budget. After all, we wouldn’t ask a child in a wheelchair to walk around, or ask a child with vision problems to just try and see more. Students with dyslexia have inbuilt, neurological language-based difficulties. That’s simply the way their brains are wired up and they need tools to help them. Scanning mobile apps, such as Adobe Scan or Microsoft Office Lens, are another alternative to pen scanners. These apps use OCR technology to scan printed text and convert it into digital form. Users can then have the text read aloud to them or view it on a screen. Scanning apps are handy for individuals with visual impairments but can also benefit individuals with dyslexia or other reading difficulties.

What are reading pens?

Some reading pens also have features like built-in dictionaries and the ability to look up word definitions. They also support speakers, earphones, and earbuds. Some reader pens include internal storage and can connect to a PC via a USB cable (mini or micro USB or Type-C) for easy data transfer. What are alternatives to reading pens?

A concern that parents of students with dyslexia have often have is that a reading pen (or other assistive technology) is kind of “cheating,” that their child will become dependent on it and that their reading will suffer in the long run. People, particularly children and young adults, can have difficult emotions associated with reading difficulties and dyslexia. It’s not at all uncommon for students to be embarrassed or feel that people are judging them for their disability. That these pens tend to look like highlighters and can have headphone attachments means that if your child is sensitive about their reading difficulties, particularly in public, they can use these devices without drawing too much attention to themselves. Lastly, the Livescribe Echo Smartpen. This records everything you write and hear, so you never miss a thing. You can then transfer your notes to your computer. Ideal for anyone with dyslexia and who needs to record lectures or meetings. However this does not scan and read text aloud. https://www.dyslexic.com/product/livescribe-2gb-echo-smartpen/ This means that a SENCo must have assessed the student and have concluded that they need additional arrangements (a computer reader, for example) in the classroom. Provided this support was used regularly, it would be considered a candidate’s ‘normal way of working’ and be permitted in an exam.

Reading pens are suitable for people with visual impairments or reading difficulties. However, their effectiveness depends on an individual’s specific needs. What are the benefits of using a reading pen? The next change I thought was noteworthy was the amendment to the use of computer readers in Maths and Science examinations. The guidance states that computer readers: