Hello,

If you have a limited budget, you could try WordAloud which combines
magnification with speech.  It is not strictly a screen reader/
magnifier, but instead reads directly from files on computer disc or
pages on the web.  You can read any text stored in TXT or HTML form, and
you can read from any Windows applications, such as MS Word, by saving
in TXT form or by using the clipboard.

The cost of a site licence, e.g. for a library, is US$179.80 (plus $10
cover charge.  You can download an evaluation copy, from the Cloudworld
web site:
        http://www.cloudworld.co.uk

Cheers from Chiswick,

John
--
In message <[log in to unmask]
>, Digital Librarian <[log in to unmask]> writes
>    I am very new to this list, so I apologize in advance if this
>    question has been previously discussed. I did briefly check out the
>    archive but had some troubles navigating through it.
>
>    I had a call from a librarian who is seeking advice about adaptive
>    technology. She has budget for only item, either a screen reader or
>    a screen magnifier. She was wondering if it was best to go with a
>    magnifier since some of the newer versions include a speech reader.
>    Would this be the best solution to stretch her budget or are the
>    screen readers that come with magnifiers of less value than a
>    dedicated screen reader?
>
>    Thanks in advance,
>
>    Elizabeth
>    Elizabeth O'Brien
>    Coordinator of Digital Collections and Services
>    Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
>
>    1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 3E8
>    Tel: (416) 480-7433  Fax: (416) 480-7700
>    E-Mail: [log in to unmask]       www.cnib.ca

Try our WordAloud software!  Visit http://www.wordaloud.co.uk

John Nissen, Cloudworld Ltd
Tel:    +44 20 8987 8326 (or 0845 458 3944 in the UK)
Fax:    +44 20 8742 8715
Email:  [log in to unmask]
Site:   http://www.cloudworld.co.uk