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FamiliesConnect: Jewel Tool

What is the tool's name? Web Talkster

Where on the Web is the tool? www.dyslexia-teacher.com/web_talkster.html

Description:

Web Talkster is a free talking web browser. It permits the option of having the browser "talk" the content of a web page by means of several different available animated characters (a Native American, a genie, a butler named James, a parrot named Peedy, Santa, a wizard named Merlin or a robot named Robby). The characters can be moved around on the screen. The Web Talkster interface is very uncluttered. The user can change the color of the "skin" and buttons. The user can change characters, hide characters, enlarge or make the characters smaller. The user can control the speed, type, pitch and volume of the speech. Text balloons can be turned on or off. By selecting a portion of the text on the chosen Website, the character can be directed to read aloud only the highlighted portion of text. The speaking option can be turned off, when desired. The user can conduct an Internet search by using the "Search" text box. The program can even operate without being connected to the Internet for off-line review of documents or saved web pages. Web Talkster comes with an animated program "Helpster" feature. It demonstrates the features of the program. This eliminates having to read a "read.me" file prior to using the program. The program includes a "Surf'n Notes" feature that lets you keep notes on web sites or URLs visited and automatically saves your notes upon exit. It restores them when re-activated. There are minimum computer system requirements that are listed for viewing your system compatibility before you download the Web Talkster program. See the characters below.

Who can use Web Talkster?

Once the software is downloaded and installed, anyone can use the program. You can put a shortcut to the program on your desktop for easy access.

Why would one use Web Talkster?

Young children, unable to read, can visit websites pre-selected by adults and have the page content read to them. Older children, teens or adults, who experience some reading difficulty, could use it to help them better understand the content. They could view the written word while hearing it as well. Speakers of other languages could use it to assist them with understanding content in English. Those who are visually impaired could use it to assist them in understanding web content.

How to use Web Talkster:

1. Go to www.dyslexia-teacher.com/web_talkster.html and click on the link called "browser ware" on the navigation bar to the left side of the screen.

   

   The second item from the bottom is the Web Talkster. Click on it and follow the directions to download and install. After it is installed, proceed to the step below.

2. Go to Start, Programs and select Web Talkster.

   

3. Notice the Toolbar. It has many of the familiar functions of the two main Web browsers (Back, Forward, Refresh, Stop, Home and a dialog box for entering URLs you wish to visit). Notice that it has a Speak button, a Quit Speak button and a Selected button. When you want the animated character to "talk" the page content, you use the Speak button. When you want the character to stop "talking" the content, you use the Quit Speak button. If you highlight text on the Web page, then click the Selected button, the character will only "talk" the selected text.

   

4. Go to Options, Helpster. Here you will be able to experiment with the features of the program. The character, in this case the Native American, tells you what each feature does. To exit the Helpster, click Options, Exit.

   

5. When you are finished exploring, exit Helpster. On the Web Talkster toolbar, click on Options. Notice the File, Speech, View, Character options, Bookmarks, My Surf'n Notes, Helpster and About menu choices.

   

6. File permits you to copy, open, print or select all, much like a regular browser would under File and Edit. Notice Speech and how it allows you to select the Speed (Slow, Medium, Fast), Pitch (Low or High), Type (Monotone or Normal) and Volume (Medium or High) of the sound.

   

7. Under View, you can choose to allow or not allow Window Pop-ups, to choose Color options for the skin or buttons and choose to view the HTML coding behind a Web page. The sample above has blue skin and red buttons. The one below has pink buttons with a green skin.

   

8. YCharacter options include Balloon Options (On or Off), Move (on screen or off screen), Select character (Download, Hide, or Load a character) and Size character (Bigger, Normal, Small and Smaller).

   

9. Bookmarks permits you to use your browser bookmarks or favorites. You can add, organize and go to your bookmarks with this option.

   

10. The Surf'n Notes feature allows you to take notes about Websites you visit or URLs you want to remember. You can enter text into Surf'n Notes and copy and paste text into Surf'n Notes. After you exit Surf'n Notes, the program will automatically save your notes and restores them when you again activate Surf'n Notes.

    

11. Notice how you can enter a URL in the search for dialog box. The American Library Association Web site is the homepage (yellow arrow). The screen view below shows the search for the Families Connect Web page (green arrow).

    

12. Notice, just as in any browser, you can enter a URL and "jump" to that site. The screen below shows how we "jumped" to the Families Connect site.

    

13. Please be aware that the speech sound is a little more robotic than natural sounding. You should bear in mind, however, that this tool is free. There are many text-to-speech programs available for a fee, but Web Talkster does a very adequate job of vocalizing content for the user in a visually pleasing and easy to use manner.