Use Scenario: Word Scanner

Main Functionality:

• Scan text from any printed source ranging from books, magazines, documents and newspapers as well as handwriting and read out the word that has been scanned. It should also read a word phonetically if scanned slowly.

Use Scenarios:

• A child can use the scanner on their own to help them read words that they are having difficulties with. If they are still having difficulties in seeing how the word is made up, they could parse the word scanner over the word slowly to hear how the word is made up phonetically. All the words the child had difficulties with can be stored in the word scanning device and could be interfaced with a computer at a later stage to see what the child is struggling with.

• A child can use the scanner with a parent who has reading difficulties. In this situation if the parent was helping a child to read a text source or is reading a story to the child they can also use the word scanning device on words that they might be struggling with themselves or to see if they are in fact pronouncing a word correctly.

• An adult in teaching a child to read could also use this device as an aid. It could be utilized when trying to explain to a child that words can be split up phonetically. The device could be scanned across any given word slowly for this purpose and it would automatically split the word up and say it phonetically.

• The word scanner could also be used by a child who is having difficulties reading a particular handwriting source as the scanner should be able to use handwriting recognition when scanned across a word and read out the word in the same way as printed text.