Ghotit Real Writer and Reader V7.4 for Mac Review

Ghotit Real Writer and Reader, recently upgraded to Version 7.4, is a standalone software program, available for MS Windows, Chromebooks and MAC OS computers. Once installed, it does not require further Internet access. Users can work with Ghotit RW&R with any preferred word processor or text entry tool, website or program. With younger students, it can be used as the user’s main word processor, if required. Text can be copied from programs such as Google Docs, Pages, OneNote, Inspiration, or MS Word by using copy/paste or by selecting up to 1000 words and pressing Fn-F6 keys or by using the ABC button of the Floating Toolbar.

Ghotit Real Writer & Reader 7.4 is an integrated writing and reading software program. It cleverly combines several advanced inclusive technologies specifically created and designed for people with dyslexia, dysgraphia and other learning disabilities and difficulties. It also can be applicable to users learning English as a second language. Ghotit is useful and relevant for children at home or in school. It also caters to adults with dyslexia and dysgraphia and allows them to read, write and correct text in any application – independently. Therefore, it empowers children through to adults to confidently work with text for writing, study or research purposes, or just for fun. It builds skills, confidence and the ability to accurately create or edit their own work or in third party documents.

Main Features include:

  • Powerful phonetic and context-sensitive spell checker
  • Advanced grammar and punctuation corrector
  • Quick-Spell Word-Prediction with instant correction for creative/phonetic writers
  • Word-Prediction topics (i.e. using Advanced Word-Banks)
  • Effective proof reader

  • Speak as you write (i.e. speech feedback – spoken at a fast or slow rate in a preferred human quality male/female voice)
  • Integrated dictionary, with meanings of each word that can be read aloud
  • Reading assistance with text dual colour user-selectable highlighting
  • Screenshot Reader that is able to read text within images or photos, locked PDF files, etc.
  • Integration with most common text based applications
  • This version is a dyslexia friendly editor for Google Docs
  • Independent Text Editor
  • Voice dictation
  • Comprehensive collection of Emoji
  • Independent floating toolbar that provides the user with the ability to:Ghotit Floating toolbar
    1. Check spelling, grammar and punctuation of selected text in any document, web site or program
    2. Read back selected text in a document or web site
    3. Read back text in locked PDFs, from artwork, photographs or screen content (e.g. games)

Ghotit’s patented Text Correction technology provides the most accurate fixes for spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes according to the intended meaning of a text. This is not unique as there are competing products with similar claims but it performs these functions with an extremely high degree of accuracy, speed and efficiency. In addition, it is very easy to learn, use and master. The program’s software corrects text analyzing the components and structure of the sentence that the user is typing.

Ghotit Quick Spell Word-Prediction is a state-of-art technology designed for writers with typing issues and for phonetic or ‘creative writers’. It also caters to students with physical disabilities, as words do not have to be fully completed. The user may employ the use of a conventional keyboard, enlarged or programmable external keyboard, onscreen or ‘virtual’ keyboard or eye gaze technology. Words are predicted in a list with accompanying Function key shortcuts by using just a few initial characters. The user can select a long or complex word quickly and efficiently, knowing that it is spelt correctly.

Word Prediction technology increases writing speed for many users who have great difficulty in attempting to type text and spell words. Ghotit successfully predicts intended words with instant correction of the first misspelled letters. It has powerful algorithms that check the context of the word in the sentence and displays a list of intended words, all with associated meanings. Users can elect to have each meaning read aloud or ‘spoken’. The student or writer may require text-to-speech support, as they may also be poor or struggling readers. The male or female voices are human quality and the users can alter the rate (or speed) of speech to suit his or her preference or cater to the genre of text. The user, of any age and ability, can choose familiar text to be spoken aloud through speakers or a headset/headphones/earplugs at a fast rate whilst difficult, complex or new text might be read back more slowly.

 

Ghotit screenshot showing text that needs correction

 

Text corrected by Ghotit

 

Ghotit Reading Technology makes any text document readable: users of all ages can hear text being read aloud in conjunction with dual colour highlighting, using a preferred voice (male or female) and at a specific rate (or speed). The user, parent or assistant can change voices and rate of speech at any time.

I particularly like the Ghotit Screenshot Reader feature that reads texts taken from images, photos, graphics, games, locked PDF files and other inaccessible documents or web pages. It will capture any text on screen and read it back to the user. Users can copy and paste the required text into other documents, or save it to the user’s Google Drive or Dropbox.

Reading text aloud works in place on the screen with yellow highlighting of the currently read word and this can be repeated. In parallel to reading, a copy of the recognized text is available for users from the Ghotit Writer window and could be further copied and pasted into another program.

Ghotit Real Writer & Reader integrates with most common Mac OS applications (i.e. Pages, Microsoft Office, OneNote, Safari, Chrome, Gmail, Google Docs/Drive) for text correction and for reading text aloud.

English is a complex and difficult language to learn and master. As it has evolved over the centuries, it has many spelling irregularities and grammar rules, many of which are inconsistent and confuse students and adults alike. Standard spell checkers don’t usually cope with users who begin words by approximating the ‘sound’ by using usual combinations of letters. Some students find phonics difficult to master.

Many people make spelling and grammar errors that regular spell checkers in other programs that cannot correct. Ghotit is the only spelling and grammar checker that corrects severe spelling and problematic grammar errors. The beauty is that it does it with ease and without an Internet connection. It is fully stand-alone. It has an intuitive interface and only four major buttons on screen. It provides a floating toolbar that used independently of the program and performs text-to-speech, reading back text and a screen shot reader.

Example of Ghotit’s spelling capabilities:

Original Text: That whas scery. I can fell a shiver down may spiyn. Its getting liyt. I shud go to bed. I bet im gooing to have nitmers a bawt that. o well, just have to dellwith it. I cant get that thim song out ove my haed never going to whach halloween movie a gen or its seqwels.

Corrected Text: That was scary. I can feel a shiver down my spine. It’s getting late. I should go to bed. I bet I’m going to have nightmares about that. Oh well, just have to deal with it. I can’t get that theme song out of my head never going to watch Halloween movie again or its sequels.

The program uses highly developed algorithms to determine the spelling, grammar and punctuation errors in a sentence. The user can select from a number of English based dictionaries including Australian, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canadian, United States and South African.

By selecting or highlighting a word, phrase sentence or the entire text (e.g. Command-A or Ctrl-A on a Windows computer) the user can choose the ABC tick icon displayed on the left hand side of the screen. Ghotit software will analyse the text for errors and mistakes as well as missed words and incorrect punctuation. The above example above clearly shows how these errors are all highlighted in different colours.

Users may elect to write straight into the Ghotit window or cut and paste from third party text (e.g. an MS Word document or Google Doc, PDF, web site or note from Sonocent Audio NoteTaker). They might elect to highlight text from another source and use Fn-F6 to transfer the text into Ghotit as another option. The user can elect to press Fn-F2 keys to hear text spoken aloud with dual highlighting. Yet another option is to use the Reading button of the Floating Toolbar.

The software will clearly mark misspelled words, suspected confused words and grammar errors by the colours red, blue and green respectively. The user then simply clicks on an incorrect word. The software will offer alternate word suggestions. To approve and apply the selected changes, the user clicks on the Smiley Tick button. This will remove all colouring and markings in the document.

Text–To-Speech Support

 

Speech settings

 

The program uses the system voice from the user’s Mac OS computer. The user selects a voice from a drop down menu and then sets the rate of speech (from slow delivery to fast). Speech feedback can be turned on so that everything the writer types will be spoken back after a spacebar hit (and the entire sentence spoken after a full stop, exclamation mark or question mark). Colours can be judiciously used to help users who have Meares-Irlen Syndrome by having the selected word in one colour (e.g. light pink) and the background in a darker colour (e.g. dark purple). This affliction occurs with many students and is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.

Note: Mac OS is packaged with a number of high quality voices. In order to download and experiment with a wider range of voices, or when using different languages, go to this site for many more English voices and other languages (e.g. Heather in Scotland).

To have text read aloud, the user highlights some text from the Ghotit window and clicks into the Speaker icon (top left of screen). The text is spoken with foreground and background highlighting. Clicking the speaker again will stop or pause the speech feedback. Therefore speech can be toggled on and off at will.

Main screen icons for Ghotit text editor

Users can work with any word processor or web browser (off line or online as with Google Docs) and copy/paste text to be corrected in Ghotit’s window. In addition or alternatively, Ghotit can be used simply as a text editor (with all of the wonderful access options available). The icons above appear in a horizontal toolbar in the program.

 

Ghotit Advanced settings

 

The user can elect to create a new blank file and start from scratch or later cut and paste text from other third party sources (encyclopaedias, web sites, PDFs, Google Docs etc.). It can open text or HTML files. Most importantly, it can export files in formats including .doc (Ms Word), .docx (Ms Word 2008 or later), .pdf (portable document format) .odt (Open Office document), and .rtf (rich text format).

Below the main toolbar is the formatting toolbar. Text can be standard or bullet point (3 options) or ordered (4 options). The font and size can be selected as well as buttons for Bold Face, Italics, Left, Centre, Right and Full Justification. These are followed by Add a new word to the dictionary, a Preferences dialogue box, Screen Shot Reader that can capture and read aloud and text from anywhere on the screen, an icon to bring up a Best Practices and Tips User’s Guide in PDF format and Save or Retrieve documents from the user’s Google Drive. The last icon is to sign out of Google Drive.

There are buttons to save the file, print it, export it into other file formats, undo and redo actions, cut, copy and paste text as well as a dictionary.

Four Major On Screen Buttons

There are four large buttons. On screen in the left hand side of the Ghotit Window is Read Aloud text. It will speak text from the beginning of the document or just text that the user has highlighted. Underneath it is Word Prediction. On the right-hand side is the ABC icon where the user has selected text that requires checking for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Underneath the ABC button is the Tick button that accepts and approves the changes made to the text.

Four buttons makes for a simple yet intuitive and powerful interface. Learning the program, after the voices, the preferred regional English language and the dictionary are set up, is a breeze. It caters to users of all ages and abilities.

 

Ghotit word prediction settings

 

Users can add new words to the dictionary for use with Word Prediction. This is extremely useful for users who are typing in proper nouns, names of characters or places or unusual words, including slang or idiom. It also caters to students studying specific courses or areas of study or interest. There are topic dictionaries where users can add a single word or a list of words in a file that is able to be imported quickly and easily. Dictionaries can be ‘built’ then added or removed. If not required, users can wholly delete dictionaries. Users can hear all of the words in each dictionary. The program is able to be customised to meet the needs of an entire history or geography class – or matched to accurately meet an individual’s needs. It is an excellent example of inclusive technology.

When using the word prediction, the user can select a word by pressing the corresponding Function key that is displayed to the left of the word or simply click on it. Users using eye gaze can dwell on the function key and thus enter the complete word without having to finish spelling out or typing long or complex words.

Dictation

Another wonderful edition to this version is Dictation. It is nowhere near as advanced as Dragon Naturally Speaking, but it does serve a purpose for those users who can speak well and are articulate. Simply locate the Edit menu and choose Start Dictation. I used the inbuilt microphone on my desktop MAC and it worked very well. I then used a $300 desktop microphone and the result was excellent. Students will be able to use headsets in class that have unidirectional microphones so that they can dictate (or speak their text) as well as listen with privacy and less distractions and avoid background ‘busy’ classroom noise. It works similarly to SIRI; but it does not have editing commands. It could prove to be handy for some users.

Note: There are other Apps available for Apple portable devices (iPad and iPhone, Chrome Books, MS Windows computers and tablets, as well as Android devices and Smartphones. Users can link to https://www.ghotit.com for more information.

Setting Up

git74-image018

Either install Ghotit Real Writer and Reader from the Internet or install it from the Ghotit CD. The installer will require an internet connection only for the installation and to download the Best Practises User Guide. Download the .dmg (for MAC OS) installation file then copy and paste the Ghotit App icon to the desktop. Then double click on it to launch. The set up wizard guides the installer through the process, with only a few steps required. This is where the user can determine and adjust the voice settings as well as the required English Dictionary. These can be changed later at any time to meet the user’s needs.

Then the user will have to enter the username and password (all case sensitive) – supplied by Ghotit or their distributor/dealer. When successfully completed, the user is greeted with "Welcome to Ghotit". The next step is to configure the F-Keys, as these are handy short cuts used in the software. The users launches Ghotit, clicks on the Apple icon, chooses System Preferences, then the Security and Privacy icon then the Privacy icon. Then the user selects Accessibility. If the dialogue box is locked (as it should be) untick it by providing the administration password. The user then selects the checkbox left to the Ghotit App to provide keyboard access so that the F-Keys can be used and integrated with other MAC applications. Then the user needs to lock the dialogue box again, close System Preferences, close the Ghotit App and then restart Ghotit Real Writer and Reader and the user is ready to begin writing, editing and note taking.

Google Docs Dyslexia-Friendly Editor

Google docs icons

Google Docs is a powerful online tool. Unfortunately, people with dyslexia and dysgraphia have problems using it due to their reading and writing limitations and this can cause frustration. Ghotit Real Writer and Reader acts as a simple-to-use text editor which, integrated with Google Docs, solves their productivity problems.

Ghotit’s writing and reading inclusive technology including word prediction, text-to-speech including dual highlighting with human quality voices, context and phonetic spell checking, grammar and punctuation checking is able to be customised to fully meet an individual’s writing and reading needs. These capabilities are available both online and offline.

The software opens Google Docs documents inside the Ghotit Writer Editor, a simple to use editor with only main functions and big clear buttons, word-prediction option, text correction and in-place reading aloud with dual-highlighting colours.

This means that the user is supported with these enabling features compared to editing in Chrome, even with many other assistive options available. After editing, the file is automatically synchronized with Google Drive. If the connection is temporarily unavailable, the software will remind the user to synchronise it later. Multiple Google Drive accounts could be used by signing-in and signing-out to/from an account. This enables the student at school or University/TAFE institute can work on the document when they get home. They are able to be independent at school or workplace and not rely on assistance as the software helps them correct their text wherever they are working.

 

Ghotit screenshot

 

Licences

One aspect that delineates Ghotit Real Writer and Reader from some other products on the market is that when you pay for a licence, it is NOT a subscription. There is an option for subscription, but it’s only for single licenses.

The user owns the program and can use it indefinitely. If a new version is released, the user has the option to update or buy the new version.

Subscription based software can be a trap as the user has to pay EACH YEAR. Users often forget, can’t afford to subscription costs or schools and institutions do not adequately budget for the year’s new subscription cost.

Ghotit RW&W can be purchased in Australia from Spectronics in Australasia. It is sold as a single licence AUD 380.00, the school/institute site licence for AUD 2000 for up to 100 users (that is, AUD 20 a copy) or a home and school/institute licence for AUD 2770 for 100 users. This would be my considered option for most large schools or universities. The student can therefore have it at school and at home. Teachers can also install it to learn the software and become accustomed to using it.

Ghotit Real Writer & Reader product box

A multi site (i.e. a school that has more than one campus) for up to 100 users is AUD 3540 and a multi site and home licence as well as home use for up to 1200 users is AUD 4920.

Users in different countries can always go to the Ghotit website for prices in their currencies as well as site licences.

Specifications

  • Mac OS 10.7 operating systems and later on desktop, Air and Apple Books.
    Memory: 4GB at least although 8GB or more is recommended.

  • Local disk space required for the program is just over 1GB.
    Note: One-time only connect to the Internet for the license activation.

This software review was written in October 2018 by Gerry Kennedy © running MAC OS 10.12.6 with 12GB RAM using MS Word 2008 and Ghotit Real Writer and Reader for Mac. The author acknowledges Ghotit for providing a copy for review purposes.

Gerry Kennedy

Gerry began using using IT in Education in 1980 and started exploring Inclusive or Assistive Technologies in 1985. He has been IT coach and mentor at 4 special schools in Melbourne as well as teaching Junior Secondary Boys and at a Girl's Secondary College. Gerry worked in the computer industry as well, including 3 years at Spectronics in the late 1990's. He has worked since 2000 as an Independent Assistive Technology Consultant, presenter and trainer. He has specialised in the areas of special needs, rehabilitation and inclusive technology support in education and employment for over 32 years. He has worked with early years, primary and secondary schools, TAFE, lectured at Universities, advised hospitals and consulted for individual clients of all ages and abilities. Gerry worked for many years as a consultant for the TAC for clients with acquired brain injury. He still frequently publishes articles and software reviews on numerous web sites, particularity on the Spectronic's Blog. Gerry promotes leading practice in the implementation and deployment of innovative ICT and Inclusive Technology in education and training. He has consulted, trained and advised parents, speech pathologists, physical therapists, Visiting Teachers for the Education Department in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia and the 4 dioceses of the Catholic Education Office in Victoria as well as other education and therapy related organisations. He now enjoys writing articles about how best to utilise and harness the features and functions of mainstream and specialised software as well as assistive device implementation for people with different needs.