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- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- KeySpell 99 - Read-me file for Demonstration Version 2.61 - February 1999
-
- Copyright 1996-99 KeySpell Limited
-
- Bringing words to life.
-
- Making spelling simple for everyone,
- even those with dyslexic and literacy problems.
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- To view this README.TXT file on screen in Notepad or WordPad, it is best to
- maximize the Notepad or WordPad window.
-
- To print this README.TXT file from Notepad or WordPad, choose Print from the File
- menu. If you are using another word processor, you should select the entire
- document and format the text in 10-point Courier before printing to ensure the
- proper spacing.
-
-
- The topics covered in this read-me file are:
-
- 1 KeySpell 99
- 2 KeySpell Limited and Words Worldwide Limited
- 3 Reinstalling KeySpell
- 4 Advice on the Operation of KeySpell 99
- 5 KeySpell 99 and Microsoft Word 97
- 6 KeySpell 99 and Other Products
- 7 KeySpell 99 and Electronic Dictionaries and Thesauruses
- 8 KeySpell 99 and Continuous Speech Recognition Systems
- 9 KeySpell 99 and the Philips Speech Mike
- 10 KeySpell 99 and the IRISpen
- 11 Known limitations of Demonstration Version 2.61 of KeySpell 99
- 12 System Recommendations and Requirements
- 13 Contact Information
-
-
- ---------------
- 1. KeySpell 99
- ---------------
-
- Thankyou for installing this demonstration version of KeySpell 99.
-
- KeySpell 99 is a remarkable program which is not simply a spelling checker, but
- also a teaching aid.
-
- A powerful spelling-checker, it works as a standalone product, with word
- processing packages, and speech recognition programs. It provides an
- invaluable aid not only to those with reading and writing difficulties, but
- also the more general user.
-
- With the help of large text on screen and voice output, even those with little
- or no sight can easily use KeySpell.
-
- The unique system is even able to handle the complex problems caused by
- dyslexia. By taking into account the fundamental difficulties, it is able
- to provide sensible and structured assistance.
-
- The easy-to-use, friendly, interface of KeySpell 99, allied to its comprehensive
- help, allows the user to ensure accuracy of correction through the use of a
- number of features:
-
- * KeySpell's 200,000 word dictionary can be partitioned, using 32 categories,
- to suit the needs of the user - either by age group or area of interest (Art,
- Science, Sport, Business etc.). It also has a huge lexicon of British place
- names and personal names.
-
- * KeySpell offers a selection of phonetically similar words and confusable
- terms (alternate and alternative, for example) and an example of those words
- in context to assist in the selection of the correct word. Searches can also
- be conducted based on the beginning or the end of the word according to the
- preference of the user. Even 'correctly' spelt homophones (words that sound
- the same - like 'there' and 'their'), can be checked.
-
- * KeySpell 99 incorporates the latest voice synthesis technology from Lernout and
- Hauspie to provide a text-to-speech capability - allowing selected text to be
- read out as it appears on the screen.
-
- * KeySpell 99 also helps with the pronunciation of words with phoneme-by-phoneme
- guides and allows the steps taken to correct a word to be retraced.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------
- 2. KeySpell Limited and Words Worldwide Limited
- ------------------------------------------------
-
- Benefitting from years of experience in the dyslexic and visually handicapped
- markets, staff of KeySpell Limited have produced this unique system. As with our
- distributors, Words Worldwide Limited, the philosophy has always been to assist
- those in need of help to improve their language skills.
-
- At KeySpell Limited, we want to produce the best and most useful product possible,
- and with this in mind, it is constantly being updated and improved. To this end,
- we welcome comments from our customers on how to improve KeySpell 99. Indeed, the
- product would not be where it is today without the suggestions made by those
- actually using the product.
-
-
- --------------------------
- 3. Re-installing KeySpell
- --------------------------
-
- If you have a version of KeySpell already installed on your computer, it is
- strongly recommended that you uninstall this before installing KeySpell 99. If you
- do not do this, you may experience problems when trying to run KeySpell 99 with
- MS Word 97.
-
-
- ---------------------------------------
- 4. Advice on the Operation of KeySpell
- ---------------------------------------
-
- KeySpell operates in a quite different manner to any other spelling checker or
- guide on the market. The presentation of Suggestions is made in a unique way. It
- is strongly recommended that you use the tutorial and on-line context-sensitive
- "help" system before making extensive use of the product.
-
- The main differences which you will notice when comparing with conventional
- spell checkers are as follows:
-
- * The full list of suggestions for any word being explored is larger than with
- conventional checkers. This is because KeySpell is addressing the large
- variety of possible ways of spelling a word to account for phonetic and
- visually-based interpretations of the word as understood by the user.
-
- * To assist the user in handling these large lists, KeySpell has a unique
- masking system which reduces the number of Suggestions presented to the user
- at any one time. In this way, the Suggestions are not all presented
- in a long scrollable list as in other products.
-
- * The user can listen to the words spoken out by the synthesised voice. This
- assists in the selection of the correct word. KeySpell will read aloud,
- letter by letter or the full word.
-
- * If there is no spelling error in the KeySpell source field, no search for
- alternatives is normally carried out unless the word has been highlighted in a
- document and KeySpell has been initiated automatically. However, automatic
- searching can be forced for all occasions by enabling the facility through
- the options menu.
-
-
- -------------------------------------
- 5. KeySpell 99 and Microsoft Word 97
- -------------------------------------
-
- KeySpell 99 operates with Microsoft Word 97 through a customised interface. Please
- note that the interface will not operate with versions of MS Word prior to MS
- Word 97. To initiate the interface, KeySpell must be "installed" into Word 97.
- This is done by clicking on the check-box in Word's "Tools" menu. Thereafter,
- all that is required is to click on KeySpell on the menu bar, or on the KeySpell
- toolbar itself.
-
- With its direct link to Microsoft Word 97, KeySpell can be evoked as soon as the
- program ceases to be of assistance - which many people find to be surprisingly
- often. KeySpell also allows highlighted text within the document to be read aloud.
-
- In Microsoft Word 97, a document can also be scanned for sound-alikes, enabling
- the user to check each occurrence quickly and efficiently.
-
- ----------------------------------
- 6. KeySpell 99 and Other Products
- ----------------------------------
-
- KeySpell 99 can be used with any software product which implements copy/cut-and-
- paste or drag-and-drop facilities. This allows checks to be made on the entry of
- words for communications on the Internet and insertion of data into spreadsheets
- and databases. However, for maximum effectiveness, KeySpell should be used with
- Word 97. A speech and/or optical recognition system will further enhance
- KeySpell's effectiveness.
-
- Conventional drag-and-drop techniques can be used to pass text to and from
- KeySpell. Text dragged from any application program can be dropped into KeySpell's
- "Enter Word" field. Similarly, text can be dragged from KeySpell's "Chosen Word"
- box and dropped into any application program.
-
- This facility enables KeySpell to operate with a wide range of application
- programs where drag-and-drop is implemented.
-
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------
- 7. KeySpell 99 and Electronic Dictionaries and Thesauruses
- -----------------------------------------------------------
-
- Electronic Dictionaries and Thesauruses can both be used very effectively
- with KeySpell. Words can be transferred at will via copy-and-paste between the
- Dictionary and KeySpell environments.
-
- The Dictionary and Thesaurus can both be positioned in the 'tiled' area
- to the left of the KeySpell main window. On unloading and reloading the programs,
- the relevant window will remain correctly sized and positioned.
-
- Use of KeySpell with Dictionary and Thesaurus packages enables a user to have
- access to the following powerful facilities to explore any word spelt:
-
- * Alternative spellings for the original word
- * Spoken pronunciations of each alternative word
- * A pronunciation guide
- * Spoken and displayed contexts of each alternative word
- * Identification of the part of speech of the alternative word
- * Definition of the alternative word
- * Thesaurus entries for the alternative word
-
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- 8. KeySpell 99 and Continuous Speech Recognition Systems
- ---------------------------------------------------------
-
- Philips FreeSpeech Continuous Speech Recognition program and KeySpell are fully
- integrated. For the first time a speech recognition system has been linked to a
- spelling tutor to assist users when they are having difficulty in spelling a word.
-
- KeySpell can also be used with other voice recognition packages such as IBM's
- ViaVoice and Dragon's Naturally Speaking. Words can be transferred as necessary
- from the packages' correction box (via copy-and-paste) to KeySpell and back.
-
-
- --------------------------------------------
- 9. KeySpell 99 and the Philips Speech Mike
- --------------------------------------------
-
- When used with the Philips Speech Mike and voice recognition equipment, the
- programmable buttons on the microphone handset enable KeySpell's functionality to
- be enhanced. Items in a passage of text can be highlighted, spoken out and
- transferred to KeySpell's input window for checking, simply by pressing the
- appropriate button on the handset. Once an alternative word has been selected,
- another button is pressed to return the corrected word to the location of the
- original word. Specially programmed SpeechMikes can be obtained from Words
- Worldwide.
-
-
- --------------------------------
- 10. KeySpell 99 and the IRISpen
- --------------------------------
-
- KeySpell can be used with the IRISpen from IRIS. This device operates in much the
- same way as the data transfer facilities of the Philips Speech Mike. The unit is
- comprised of a special light pen which enables an item of text to be highlighted
- on the computer screen. This can then be spoken out and/or transferred to
- KeySpell. Specially programmed IRISpens can be obtained from Words Worldwide.
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
- 11. Known limitations of Demonstration Version 2.61 of KeySpell 99
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- In this reduced version of KeySpell 99, only the slang dictionary is included.
- All other elements of the product can be used subject to this limitation.
-
- Technical support is not provided for the demonstration version of KeySpell 99.
-
-
- --------------------------------------------
- 12. System Recommendations and Requirements
- --------------------------------------------
-
- Recommended System Specifications:
-
- 75Mhz Pentium IBM compatible PC
- Windows 95 or 98
- 32 MB RAM
- 30 MB Hard Disk space
- 16-bit sound card
- CD ROM Drive
-
- Minimum System Specifications:
-
- 50 MHz 486DX IBM compatible PC
- Windows 95 or 98
- 16MB RAM
- 30 MB Hard Disk space
- 16-bit sound card
- CD ROM Drive
-
- (Please note that KeySpell will run slowly on a system with these specifications.)
-
-
- ------------------------
- 13. Contact Information
- ------------------------
-
- Although technical support is not provided free of charge for KeySpell 99, reasonable queries will be responded to.
-
- For further information on the full version of KeySpell 99 please contact us at the
- address below, or through the internet.
-
- KeySpell Limited
- P.O. Box 49
- Newcastle Upon Tyne
- NE20 9WN
-
- e-mail: info@keyspell.com
- Internet: www.keyspell.com