Support Solutions / Answers

Kurzweil 3000 Availability

Kurzweil 3000 is available on the Macintosh computers in the Assistive Technology Center.

Starting the Kurzweil 3000 in an ITaP Computer Lab

The Kurzweil 3000 is a reading and study aid for students who have learning disabilities. The software can be launched as follows:

1. Select Finder
   
2. Select Applications
3. Double click on Kurzweil 3000
   

Kurzweil 3000 Tutorials

• Reading a Document
• Reading Tools
• Changing Speech Options
• Kurzweil 3000 Toolbars
• Using Kurzweil 3000 to Read a Web Page
• Creating Audio Recordings from Kurzweil 3000 Files

Reading a Document

Open a file

Select the Open icon in the Kurzweil Window

Open a file

Reading the Document

Press the Read button to start speech output.

Kurzweil 3000 will start reading from the current location of the cursor. If you would like to read text from a different part of the page you can just:

1. Move the mouse to the desired location
2. Click the left mouse button
3. Press the Read button to start speech output.

This can be very helpful when Kurzweil 3000 is reading text from charts and graphs that you would like to skip.

Reading Tools

Accessing the Kurzweil 3000 Reader Toolbar

If Kurzweil 3000 Reader toolbar is not open:

1. Choose Windows.
2. Select Show Reader

Changing the way Kurzweil 3000 Reads a Document

You can modify the way Kurzweil reads a document by changing the Read Mode. By default Kurzweil 3000 reads continuously. This option can also be changed to be word, phrase, or line.<

The Reading Unit option changes the size of the block of text that is highlighted when Kurzweil 3000 is reading.

Finding the Definition of a Word

From the Kurzweil 3000 Reader toolbar

1. Highlight the desired word
2. Click on the Look Up Word icon.
   

From the Kurzweil Document

1. Highlight the desired word
2. Choose Read
3. Select Look Up Word
   

This window also allows you to access Synonyms, Syllables, and Spelling

Changing Speech Options

You can easily change the speed that Kurzweil 3000 reads to you by changing WPM in the Kurzweil 3000 Reader toolbar.

Adjust using arrows

or

1. Click in the box
2. Manually enter a numeric value between 50 and 400.
   

Kurzweil 3000 Toolbars

Kurzweil 3000 for Mac allows you to customize the toolbar at the top of the window.

Creating a custom toolbar

1. Choose the right arrow at the top of the window for more options
2. Select Customize
   
3. Drag and drop the desired icons onto the toolbar
4. Drag and drop unwanted icons into window
   
5. Select Done
6. Select Exploring if you want this to be the default toolbar
7. Select Create New Toolbar to title the toolbar for later access

Accessing a Created Toolbar

1. Choose View
2. Choose Current Toolbar
3. Select desired toolbar
   

Using Kurzweil 3000 to Read a Web Page

Kurzweil 3000 can be used as a tool for reading web pages in Firefox.

Click on the Read the Web icon.



or

1. Choose
2. Select Read the Web
   

Creating MP3 Recordings from Kurzweil 3000 Files

1. Open the desired file in Kurzweil 3000.
2. Choose File
3. Select Audio Files
4. Select Create Audio File
   
5. Select the desired settings (voice, words per minute, and file format) in the Create Audio dialog box
6. Once the file is encoded into an audio format these settings can no longer be changed
   
7. Select OK
8. Enter file name and choose destination in dialog box
   
9. Select Save
10. The audio file will be created and saved in the selected location. The audio file will open in iTunes as an audiobook.