Open Source Assistive Technology Software

Fullmeasure.co.uk/

V. Lynne Dubay

Software Video

Open Source Assistive Technology Software

• Go to http://fullmeasure.co.uk/powertalk/

• The OATS website is home to PowerTalk and many other Open Source Assistive Technology Software (OATS) Projects.

PowerTalk

• PowerTalk 1.2.11Automatic speech for PowerPoint presentations.

• PowerTalk is a free program that automatically speaks any presentation or slide show running in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows.

• You just download and install PowerTalk and while you open and run the presentation as usual it speaks the text on your slides. The advantage over other generic 'Text To Speech' programs is that PowerTalk is able to speak text as it appears and can also speak hidden text attached to images.

• Speech is provided by the standard synthesised computer voices that are provided with Windows.

 

First Download Firefox3This accessible from Mozilla

Download PowerTalk

• The download is accessible at http://fullmeasure.co.uk/powertalk/

• PowerTalk requires Windows 98 or later, PowerPoint 2000 and Microsoft Speech API 5.1, which is already loaded on Windows XP

Editing PowerTalk

• PowerTalk automatically narrates Slide Shows when they are opened outside of PowerPoint.

• Opening a Slide Shows through PowerPoint will allow it to be shown without narration.

Endless Possibilities

The following slides are from the Children Book Award Nominee PowerPoint. This PowerPoint is setup in the library to encourage students to read the Nominees. Now, with PowerTalk, the slides are read to the students, engaging all students and encouraging them to read the Children Book Award Nominees!

Melvin Beederman Superhero: Curse of the Bologna Sandwich

By Greg Trine

After graduating from the superhero academy, Melvin Beederman heads for Los Angeles, where he unexpectedly teams up with Candace Brinkwater, school play actress, to nab the evil McNasty Brothers.

Homework MachineBy Dan Gutman

Four fifth-grade students--a geek, a class clown, a teacher's pet, and a slacker, each relate events surrounding a computer programmed to complete homework assignments.

Drita, My HomegirlBy Jenny Lombard

When ten-year-old Drita and her family Drita is teased about not speaking English well. Popular student Maxine is forced to learn about Kosovo as a punishment for teasing Drita, the two girls soon bond.

ClementineBy Sara Pennypacker

While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles.

How to Save Your TailBy Mary Elizabeth Hanson

Bob the rat is captured by two of the queen's cats and survives by sharing fresh-baked cookies.