Introduction

Read&Write is a multi-platform literacy support toolbar to support implementation of the Universal Design for Learning framework within instructional environments. Use Read&Write to:

• Proofread or highlight a document.
• Convert digital text into spoken audio and vise-versa.
• Look words up in a dictionary or picture dictionary.
• Translate words and paragraphs.
• Read websites, Google Docs, Microsoft Office, and PDF Files aloud.

Read&Write can run on Windows, MacOS, as an Extension within Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, and on mobile devices.

• Read&Write is not supported in Safari.
• Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies recommends using Google Chrome.  

The Accessible Technologies group in Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies provides Read&Write to the Virginia Tech community. 

Contents

• Read&Write Platforms and Features
• Installing Desktop Read&Write
  
  • Download From Texthelp Website
  • Install & Register - Windows
  • Install & Register - MacOS
  • Read&Write Voice Files
• Adding Read&Write Browser Extensions
  
  • Adding Read&Write Google Chrome Extension
  • Adding Read&Write Microsoft Edge Extension
• Setting Read&Write Options
• Reading Text Aloud
  
  • Hover Over Text to Read it Aloud
  • Select Text to Read Aloud
  • Read Screenshots Aloud
  • Create Audio Files from Text
• Screen Mask
• Looking Up Words
  
  • Dictionary and Picture Dictionary
  • Web Search
• Translating Words
• Highlighting Text & Collecting Highlights
• Composing
  
  • Predict Words Based on What You Type
  • Convert Speech to Text
• Editing
  
  • Check Spelling & Grammar
  • Make Voice Comments
• Reading PDFs
• Troubleshooting
  
  • Get Error that Downloaded File is Damaged
  • Can't Read Online Text Aloud
  • Google Chrome Read&Write Tool Bar Won't Open.
  • Google Chrome Screenshot Reader Won't Process Text After Screenshot is Taken
  • Google Chrome Screenshot Reader Stopped Working
• Getting Help
  
  • Read&Write Training
  • Read&Write Resources
  • Read&Write Tech Support
  • Read&Write Usage & Info
  • Resources

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Instructions

Read&Write Platforms and Features*

Read&Write Feature	Windows	Mac	Google Chrome	Microsoft Edge	iPad**	Android**
Text to speech	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Dictionary	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Picture dictionary	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Prediction	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Hover speech	✔	✔	✔	✔
PDF reader	✔	✔	✔	✔
Screenshot reader	✔	✔	✔	✔
Screen reader	✔
Screen masking	✔	✔	✔	✔
Highlighting	✔	✔	✔	✔
Spell check	✔	✔
Translator - single word	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Speech input	✔		✔		✔
Speak as I type	✔		✔	✔	✔

*Selected features; for a complete list, see Read&Write Feature Comparison Matrix.
** Instructions for mobile devices are not included here. Instead, see Read&Write resources below. 

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Installing Desktop Read&Write

• Up-to-date versions of Read&Write for Windows and Mac are available on the Texthelp website.

Download from Texthelp Website

1. Go to Texthelp: Read&Write.
2. Scroll down and click Choose your Platform.
   
   
   
   
3. Click which platform you are using then click Install.
   
   
   
   
4. Choose your platform and version:
   
   • For Windows, click Read&Write for Windows - US and click Install and go to Install & register - Windows. Go to Install and register - Windows. 
   • For MacOS, click Install. Read&write.dmg will be downloaded. Go to Install and register - MacOS.
     
     

 Install & Register - Windows

1. Open the download.
2. Allow Read&Write to make changes to your computer.
3. Click Accept and Install.
   
   
   
   
4. After installation, a desktop shortcut will appear. Open Read&Write. 
   
   
    
5. The Read&Write handle will appear at the top of your screen. Click to show/hide the toolbar. 
   
   
   
   
6. A registration window will appear. Click Sign in with Google.
   
7. Sign in to your Virginia Tech Google Plus account. 
8. If a firewall security alert appears, click Allow access. 

Install & register - MacOS

1. Click read&write.dmg. 
2. In the popup, drag the Read&Write icon to the Applications folder. 
   
   
   
   
3. In the Applications folder, open Read&Write.
4. After Read&Write verifies, click Open in the popup. 
5. Follow the installation instructions and click Continue. 
   
   
   
   
6. View and accept the user terms.
   
   
   
   
   
7. If you see Read&Write would like to control this computer using accessibility features: 
   
   1. Click Open System Preferences.
      
      
      
      
   2. Click the padlock to unlock preferences.
   3. In the Privacy tab, check the box next to Read&Write.
      
      
      
      
8. Click Sign in with Google and sign into your Virginia Tech Google Plus account. 
   
   
   
   
9. The Read&Write tool bar will appear. 
   
   

Read&Write Voice Files

Additional Voices files for both Mac and Windows are available for download via Google Drive. Installation instructions can be found at on TextHelp's support website.

• You must be logged in with your Virginia Tech Google Account to access and download these files.
• Note that Mac only has US and UK Female additional voices available.

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Adding Read&Write Browser Extensions

Adding Google Chrome Read&Write Extension

1. Go to Read&Write for Google Chrome™ and click Add to Chrome.
   
   
   
   
2. In the pop-up click Add extension.
   
   
   
   
3. The extension will download and install. If you're asked to log into your Virginia Tech Google account, do so and click Allow. Your information will remain private. 
4. Click the purple puzzle piece on Chrome's toolbar to open Read&Write.
   
   
   
   
5. The Read&Write toolbar will appear. Move the toolbar using the drag-and-drop arrows (you can't move the Google Workspace for Education app version). 
   
   
   
   
6. If you're using a Google Workspace for Education app, click the puzzle icon in the Doc, Sheet, or Slide to show the toolbar.  
   
   
7. Access the Getting Started with Read&Write for Google Chrome guide for an overview on where and how to access the product once the extension is installed.

Adding Microsoft Edge Read&Write Extension

To use the Read&Write extension on your Microsoft Edge browser, please access the installation instructions on Texthelp's website for the step by step guide.

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Setting Read&Write Options

1. Read&Write options are similar across platforms, so only instructions for the Google Chrome extension are detailed here. 
2. On the Read&Write toolbar, click [...]->Options.
   
   
   
   
3. Set options. By default, language is set to US English and all features are enabled. 

• Click Speech to change reading speed, reading pausing, and default translation language.
• Click Prediction to change the number of prediction results for typed words and predicted text size. 
• Click Screen Masking to change the background and reading light colors and opacity. 
• Click Features to toggle off Read&Write features, like Prediction, Hover Speech, and Simplify Page. 
  
  
  

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Reading Text Aloud

• Read&Write has four tools for converting on-screen text to audio.  
• The following instructions are for the Google Chrome extension, but the tools work the same in the desktop versions unless otherwise noted. 

Hover Over Text to Read it Aloud

1. Click the Hover Speech icon.
   
   
   
   
2. Hover your mouse point over onscreen text (other icons are grayed out when using Hover Speech). 
3. Read&Write will read the text aloud and continue reading down the page until you hover over a different place. 
4. The sentence will be highlighted in yellow, and the word being read in blue. 
5. Click the Hover Speech icon again to exit Hover Speech mode. 
   
   

Select Text to Read Aloud

1. Select text.
2. Click the Play icon in the Read&Write toolbar. 
   
   
   
   
3. Read&Write will read the text aloud, continuing down the page. 
4. Click the Stop icon to exit Play mode. 

Read Screenshots Aloud

1. In the Read&Write toolbar, click the screenshot reader icon. (The first time you click the screenshot reader icon, you'll be prompted to add the Screenshot reader extension to Chrome. Do so.)
   
   
   
   
2. Draw a box around the section you want to read and click again when finished. 
   
   
   
   
3. The Screenshot Reader will begin to read the words. Don't click outside the box while it's reading or the reader might freeze. 
4. Click X in the top right of the screenshot to close Screenshot Reader.
   
   

Create Audio Files From Text

1. Highlight text and click the Audio Maker icon. 
   
   
   
   
2. Read&Write will make a recording of the selected text read aloud and download it to your computer. 

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Screen Mask

1. Screen Mask dulls your screen except for the row your cursor is in.
2. Click the Screen Mask icon. 
   
   
   
   
3. Move your cursor up and down the page.
4. You can only use Read&Write tools in the masked area.
   
   
   
   
5. Click Screen Mask icon again to exit masking mode. 

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Looking Up Words

Dictionary and Picture Dictionary

1. Highlight a word with your cursor.
2. Click the book icon to look up the formal definition.
   OR
   Click the picture icon to see a picture.
   
   
   
   
3. A Dictionary or Picture Dictionary window will pop up with definitions or pictures. 
   
   
   
   
4. Click the play icon next to the word or definition to hear it read aloud. 
5. Click X to close the popup. 

Web search

1. Highlight a word or term with your cursor.
2. Click the web search icon.
   
   
   
   
3. Google search results will appear in a new tab. 

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Translating Words

1. Select a word to translate. 
2. Click the translate icon. 
   
   
   
   
3. A popup will appear with the translation.
4. Change language in Options -> Speech next to Translation. 

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Highlighting Text & Collecting Highlights

1. You can highlight text in different colors, then filter for highlighted text. 
2. Select text:
3. Click the highlight icons to highlight it.
   
   
   
   
4. Click the Clear highlights icon to remove highlighting.
   
   
   
   
5. Filter text: 
6. Click the Collect Highlights icon to show all highlights or highlights by color. 
   
   

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Composing

Predict Words Based on What You Type

1. Click the Prediction icon. 
   
   
   
   
2. Begin typing. Prediction will show a list of predicted words based on what you typed.
   
   • Hover over a word to hear it aloud. 
   • Hover over the list to hear them all aloud.
   • Click a word to insert it. 
     
     
     
     
3. Click the Prediction icon again to exit Prediction mode. 

Convert Speech to Text

1. Read&Write includes voice recognition - Talk&Type.
2. Use Talk&Type to insert text in Google Workspace for Education. 
3. Click the Talk&Type icon. Allow Read&Write to access your computer's microphone if you haven’t already.
   
   
   
   
4. The Talk&Type tool will open in recording mode, and a microphone popup will appear on screen. 
   
   • Red microphone = recording
   • Black microphone = standby
5. Speak. Talk&Type will recognize your speech and convert it into text. 
   
   • Say "period," "new line", etc. to enter punctuation. 
6. Click the microphone to stop converting speech to text. 
   
   
   
   
7. Click the X on the microphone popup to exit Talk&Type.

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Editing

Check Spelling and Grammar

1. Check spelling in Google Workspace for Education applications. 
2. Click the Check It icon. 
   
   
   
   
3. Read&Write will underline spelling and grammar errors. 
4. Click an underlined word to see:
   
   • Spelling errors and suggested correct spellings. Click to select a replacement word. 
   • Grammar errors, explanations, and editing suggestions.
     
     
     
     
5. Click the Check It icon again to exit Check It mode. 

Make Spoken Comments

1. Record comments up to one minute long.
2. Insert comments in Google Workspace for Education documents. 
3. Click the Voice Note icon. The Voice Note popup will appear. 
   
   
   
   
4. Click the microphone to record a voice note; click again when done. 
5. Click Insert to insert the voice comment. 
   
   
   
   
6. Click X to exit Voice Note mode. 

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Reading PDFs

Texthelp has a new tool called OrbitNote that provides expanded capability with PDFs. Users of Read&Write desktop applications on both Mac and PC can still use the PDF button on the toolbar to open a PDF and get basic read aloud functionality. Please see PDF Annotation Tool - How to use OrbitNote for information on how to access and use this tool.

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Troubleshooting

Getting Error That Downloaded File is Damaged.

In MacOS, a security setting can prevent installation, giving the error Read&Write Gold 6.0.6 is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the trash. Change your security settings to allow it. Instructions vary by MacOS version: 

MacOS 10.11.6 El Capitan

1. Make sure you're logged in as an administrator.
2. Open System Preferences.
3. Go to Security & Privacy.
4. Click the lock icon and enter your password to make changes.
5. On the General tab, under Allow application downloaded from, select Anywhere.
   
   
   
   
6. Click Allow From Anywhere and close the Security & Privacy window.
7. Install Read&Write Gold.
8. After you activate it Read&Write, you can your Security & Privacy settings for Allow applications downloaded from back to Mac App store and identified developers.

MacOS 10.12 Sierra & MacOS 10.13 High Sierra

1. Make sure you're logged in as an administrator.
2. Open Finder and go to Applications -> Utilities.
3. In the Utilities folder, start Terminal.
4. In Terminal type: sudo spctl --master-disable
5. Enter your password.
6. Open System Preferences.
7. Go to Security & Privacy.
8. Click the lock icon and enter your password to make changes.
9. On the General tab under Allow application downloaded from select Anywhere.
10. Click Allow from anywhere when prompted, then close the Security & Privacy window.
11. Follow the installation instructions to install Read&Write.
12. Open Finder and go to Applications > Utilities.
13. In the Utilities folder, locate Terminal.
14. In Terminal, type the following command: sudo spctl --master-enable
15. This will reset Security & Privacy to the default.

Can't Read Online Text Aloud.

1. Make sure you're using the Google Chrome extension. Desktop versions of Read&Write can't read online text. 
2. Make sure the Google Chrome extension is registered and you're logged in to your Virginia Tech Google account. 
3. Use the Hover Text tool or play the page instead of the screenshot reader, which is less stable. 

Google Chrome Read&Write Toolbar Won't Open.

1. Make sure the Google Chrome extension is registered and you're logged in to your Virginia Tech Google account. 
2. Refresh the page and/or click the puzzle icon again. 

Google Chrome Screenshot Reader Won't Process Text After Screenshot is Taken.

• Texthelp is working to solve issues with the screenshot reader. In the meantime, close the Screenshot Reader, re-open it, and try again. 

Google Chrome Screenshot Reader Stopped Working.

• If you click outside the box while using the screenshot reader is reading, it might stop. Take another screenshot and start again. 

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Getting Help

Read&Write Training

• Virginia Tech TLOS On Demand Training: Read&Write
• Texthelp Read&Write Training Courses (log in with VT Google account to take courses)

Read&Write Resources

• Virginia Tech Accessible Technologies group's Read&Write Resources
• Texthelp Toolmatcher feature discovery tool
• Read&Write Manuals & Troubleshooting Guides
• YouTube Playlist for Read&Write for Windows
• YouTube Playlist for Read&Write for Mac
• YouTube Playlist for Read&Write for Google Chrome™

Read&Write Tech Support

Texthelp, the makers of Read&Write, support it. Contact their support team via: 

• Email: support@texthelp.com
• Webform: https://support.texthelp.com/help/contact-feedback
• Phone: 888-248-2479

Read&Write Usage & Info

For an introduction to or help using Read&Write, contact Accessible Technologies: 

• Location: 2020 Torgersen Hall 
• Email: atservices@vt.edu
• Phone: 540-231-2236

Resources

Printable quick reference cards and additional resources:

• Read&Write Learning & User Resources

Video tutorials:

• Virginia Tech TLOS On-Demand Training for Read&Write
• Playlist for Read&Write for Windows
• Playlist for Read&Write for Mac
• Playlist for Read&Write for Google Chrome

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