Apps for Literacy Support
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Reading Support
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OCR
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Device | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPhone iPad Android | A portable scanner, with which all your paper documents, receipts, notes, whiteboard discussions can be archived anywhere at anytime. Image cropping and Image enhancement algorithm ensures the scanned images perfectly clear and recognizable | A reliable scanner for saving documents as images. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPhone | MyScanner lets you snap photos of paper documents, and converts them to PDF documents. It has built in image editing tools, so you can resize, crop, and adjust contrast and brightness before converting your image to PDF. Store the PDF on your device or send it with the built in email feature. | Great for scanning and saving documents as PDF. |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPhone | TextGrabber + Translator turns your iPhone into a multifunctional mobile scanner with translation capability using ABBYY's Mobile OCR Technology,. Take a picture of the text, and you can immediately edit it or translate it. The application is compatible with the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. NOTE: Not designed to work with iPod Touch/iPad/ iPhone 3G due to cameras inability to auto-focus. | Finally mobile OCR that works! If it added text-to-speech it be an absolute winner, but still by far the best OCR app available. With the ability to translate instantly in over 60 langugaes, it also serves as a very useful travel app - for example restaurant menu in a different language, no problem, just scan and translate into your preferred language. Where was this when I was travelling in my student days! |
Writing and Notetaking Support
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Device | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPhone iPad Android | AudioNote is for taking notes while at the same time making sound recordings, and keeping them synchronized, note by note, with the text. | Support writing notes using you finger or stylus. As well as entered text, the audio is synchronised with these drawings as well. I like the way it highlights text and drawings as it plays back. |
AU $6.49
US $5.99 |
iPad | Record, organise, review and share your audio and text notes from your meetings, classes, and conferences. Integration with Dropbox, and TextExpander which allows you to instantly insert the date, time, common phrases or any other text with just a few keystrokes. | A recommended note taking app that some great features. The integration with TextExpander allows you to define your own abbreviations for often-used text that is specific to your note taking subject. When taking notes in classes, this will make entering commonly used terms and phrases much easier. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPad | Post-It note style note taker and to-do list generator. Syncs with Google Docs and EverNote. | Allows the use of images and drawing but not audio unfortunately. However use of coloured tabs, icons and Post-It Note display may suit many users. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPad | CaptureNotes 2 is a notebook app that allows the user to to record audio while taking typed or handwritten notes. | |
AU $31.99
US $29.99 |
iPad | Circus Ponies NoteBook is an app for taking notes on the iPad. You can take notes using multiple fonts, styles, and colours, add attachments to your notes, use a full-featured outliner for creating a hierarchical list (a list with sub-items), use its voice annotation feature to record someone speaking while you take your notes, and add diagrams, flow charts and sketches to any page using a pre-built collection of shapes and line styles or by using your finger to sketch. | Lots of great features, I guess hence the price. |
Free
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iPhone iPad | Dragon Dictation is a voice recognition application powered by Dragon® NaturallySpeaking® that allows you to speak and instantly see your text or email messages. | Great accuracy rate without the need to train or develop a voice profile. |
Free
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iPhone iPad | The Dragon Remote Microphone app turns the iPhone into a wireless microphone making it easier and more comfortable for individuals to use their Dragon Desktop software. Instead of using the microphone that comes in the retail box, users can now opt to use their iPhone as a microphone instead. | Downloaded but I haven't tested this yet. Looks great I must say. |
AU $1.99
US $1.99 |
iPhone iPad | DropVox records audio and sends it directly to your Dropbox account in quality M4A format | You have an assessment task that can be submitted as audio? Use DropVox to quickly send your recording to Dropbox for sharing with others. |
AU $4.49
US $3.99 |
iPad | Ghostwriter provides the ability to take notes via the keyboard or by using your finger for handwriting or drawing. Import documents and annotate PDF documents, and paste in images, with smooth Dropbox and Evernote integration. Save completed note as a PDF. | Integrates typing, handwriting and document importation to allow for notetaking, which is then easily shared as a PDF. Worthwhile exploring. |
Free
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iPhone iPad Android | HeyTell is a voice messenger app that allows you to send and receive voice messages with other HeyTell users rather than use text based communication programs such as email or SMS. Works on 3G or WiFi. | A kind of cool walkie talkie. Lots of possible uses in the classroom. |
AU $20.99
US $19.99 |
iPad | Intellipad combines the functionality of a notepad with word prediction, text-to-speech and a customizable keyboard, putting advanced writing tools within everyone's reach. | This is a new writing app that has a keyboard with word prediction, spell checking and text-to-speech support. See Jane Farrall's excellent blog posting on Intellipad at http://bit.ly/u3zmSB |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPhone iPad | iTalk2Email gives you the ability to record an audio clip and send it via email. Audio is on a server so you dont have to worry about the recipient having to deal with attachment. | Great for email audio files when attachment size is an issue. |
AU $2.99
US $2.99 |
iPad | A digital notepad that combines pictures, voice recordings, drawings and text. | Audio not in sync with entry of text or drawing. |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPad | Notability 4.0 is an integrated note-taking app for iPad that automatically links notes with audio recordings. Notability supports all of your note-taking needs -- handwriting, PDF annotation, and word processing, and allows the insertion of photos, web clips, figures and writing blocks. The later can all be moved and resized with your note as required. | An app that provides a range of supports for those who struggle with note taking. Highly recommended. |
AU $N/A
US $N/A |
iPad | Noterize allows you to view and annotate any available PDF or PowerPoint document, to directly import files from the web, and integration with Box.net and Dropbox makes transferring documents possible between your computer and iPad. Annotate your documents using a stylus or keyboard, and make an audio recording of a meeting, lecture, or presentation. Add clippings from the web browser directly into your documents. Share notes with via Facebook, Twitter, Google Docs, Box.net, Dropbox, and email. VGA Out is supported, allowing you to present your documents (complete with annotations) via projector or external monitor. | Not currently available in Australian or US iTunes stores. |
AU $8.49
US $7.99 |
iPad | Handwriting, note-taking tool with close-up writing for small text, stroke smoothening, keyboard text, shape auto-detecting, voice recording, palm handling, PDF exporting, emailing and Google Docs uploading. | Very feature rich app. I had problems accessing the play button but a minor point given all its great options. |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPad | Notepad app that allows recorded audio to be synced with notes. | Adding to what is becoming a crowded note taking with recorded audio app space. Maybe try the lite version first? |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPad | Handwriting and sketching app. Save as either a single page or as a number of pages in a notebook, then export in PDF format. | An app for those who need to take notes with handwriting. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPad | PhatPad enables you to draw pictures, jot notes, or put a mixture of drawings, images, audio recordings, handwritten and typed text on a virtual scratch pad. The included handwriting recognition engine automatically converts your handwritten notes into digital text, and takes objects you scribble and translates them to perfectly formed shapes. Use PhatPad's Presentation mode, to create quick presentations and display them on your iPad. | The handwriting recognition adds to the flexibility of this versatile app to support note taking. Highly recommended. |
QuickVoice2Text Email (PRO Recorder) 
AU $2.99
US $2.99 |
iPhone iPad | QuickVoice2Text Email (PRO Recorder) records ideas, voice memos, voice email, dictation, lists, meetings, classes, lectures or whatever you need to have as an audio copy. | Perfect for email using audio rather than text, or for sending an email without the need to type. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPad | ReplayNote is an app that records your drawing, writing, pictures and voice, then converts it to YouTube video. You can record meetings, or you can ask questions or explain something that cannot be easily expressed with text. | This works well as an alternative way to express what you know - via video. I found it easy to use. A great tool for teachers to provide alternative format to represent instructional material too. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPhone iPad Android | SoundNote allows you to take notes and record audio, tracking what you type and draw while recording the audio. During playback, just tap a word: SoundNote will jump right to the proper time in the audio. | An app version of the Livescribe Pen. |
AU $N/A
US $N/A |
iPhone iPad | Record, transcribe and share. Use the SpeechPad app to record meetings, notes, or interviews. Then upload your recordings to SpeechPad.com and get them transcribed. | Transcriptions need to be paid for, but you can email the audio file at no cost. |
AU $2.99
US $2.99 |
iPad | A free note taking app that lets you write text, draw anywhere in your notes, search any website - and grab images from them for your notes, import PDFs from the internet, import images from your photo library, record sound/voice and create tables. | For a free app this has lots of features. A good place to start to trial note taking features. |
Free
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iPhone iPad | Talking Mail allows you to type a message and it will speak it back using an advanced text-to-speech engine. You can then email this message to a friend or family member to playback and listen to. | Simple and effective way for a teacher who wants to send information to a student in audio format rather than text. Other possibilities? |
AU $15.99
US $14.99 |
iPhone iPad | Word prediction app with text-to-speech and spell checker. | An app that provides word prediction with a range of options to support an individuals requirements. One of the early word prediction apps and still worth checking out. |
AU $10.49
US $9.99 |
iPhone iPad | Write&Say is a text editor with text-to-speech and translation capabilities that can convert your text into an MP3, exprting the audio file to iTunes or attaching it to an email. | Write&Say is by the same people that has brought us Knowtilus Pro, and it has the same feel and setup. A great app to provide text-to-speech when writing and to turn that writing into an audio file. |
AU $4.49
US $3.99 |
iPhone iPad Android | WritePad lets you take notes in your own handwriting with an iPad stylus or your finger. The handwriting recognition software will adapt and learn your style of writing. You can use simple gestures to select text, cut, copy, paste, and insert special characters. WritePad has a spell checker with its own custom dictionary, a context analyzer, auto-corrector, and a Shorthand feature that fills-in words and phrases you frequently use, once entered into the Shorthand Editor. | Great app if you find using the onscreen keyboard difficult or prefer to enter text via handwriting. Lots of great built in features - for more detail go to http://bit.ly/aqinA6 |
AU $2.99
US $2.99 |
iPhone iPad | ZenTap includes a word prediction system, spell checker, text snippets and templates, integrated translator and direct export of text to email, SMS, Safari and Twitter. | Word prediction with a spell checker, translator and customised buttons for text shortcuts. Does what it says it does. |
Mind Mapping
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Device | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
AU $10.49
US $9.99 |
iPad | iThoughtsHD is a mind mapping tool for the iPad. NB: If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch then please check out iThoughts. Mindmapping enables you to visually organise your thoughts, ideas and information | Effective mind mapping tool. |
AU $5.49
US $4.99 |
iPad | Popplet is a mind mapping app with a super simple interface. | Very easy to use and has some great collaborative features. |
Organisational
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Device | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
AU $1.99
US $1.99 |
iPhone iPad | iHomework is an organiser that allows you to enter homework assignments, course information and important tasks. | Intuitive with a range of features to allow you to see what is to be done. Again more literacy support tools are required e.g. audio input, text-to-speech to support all users. |
Free
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iPhone iPad | inClass is a student organiser that will help you keep track of all your courses and alert you before class, and help you keep track of your tasks by reminding you that one is due soon. In addition inClass will help you take notes including video notes, audio notes, and photo notes. inClass also has the ability to know which class you are in and associate that note to your class. | This is a great app not only for keeping yourself organised but also for the ability to add notes in class including audio, picture and video. |
AU $1.99
US $1.99 |
iPhone iPad | An easy-to-use and well-designed voice reminder tool with background notification. It will help you to save a lot of time by not having to type anything. You can also get alerts to listen to your recordings at the date & time you set. | Very effective reminder app. Would be great to be able to edit your own labels to allow a customised, typing free interface. Maybe next update? |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPhone iPad | The iVoice-Reminder basically let you create oral and written reminders based on your geographical position. | Reminders based on location, there is an idea. I found the app a bit buggy - couldn't get the voice to play. |
AU $0.99
US $0.99 |
iPhone iPad | List Recorder combines making lists with an easy to use audio recorder. Lets you quickly jot down and organise information as audio, text or both. | Great as both a visual and audio list for those who needs support with reminders, or for a sequence of tasks. |
Free
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iPhone iPad Android | A direct quote from their website: "Teachers not letting you use your phone in class? Parents on you for missing assignments? Show them you're organised with myHomework". | As more and more homework support apps being developed, looking forward to investigating those that support diverse literacy needs. This one really doesn't. |
AU $1.99
US $1.99 |
iPad | PaperHelper splits your iPad screen in half providing you with a Internet Browser and a Document writer. | Very handy app to support multi-tasking across two screens. |
Free
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iPad | Multi-tasking app that allows you to split the screen x 4. Side by Side is a multiple-window reader/browser with offline reading and note taking capabilities. It turns the iPad into multiple resizable reading devices working in parallel. You can browse webpages, download files, read documents, or take notes on each split screen. | Lots of features makes this multi-tasking app worth exploring. |
AU $2.99
US $2.99 |
iPad | Side by Side allows you to do many tasks which normally require switching between applications by splitting the iPad screen in two. | Another great multi-tasking app for consideration. |
AU $4.49
US $3.99 |
iPhone iPad | Voice Reminders allows you to make reminders for your schedule by speaking your reminder needs. You can also use record reminders and customise your alerts. | Very effective. Now I have a reminder to put the rubbish bins out on a Thursday evening! |
Reference
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Device | Description | Comments |
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AU $25.99
US $24.99 |
iPhone iPad | Australian English dictionary with audio pronunciations. In addition, the intelligent word entry suggests possible correct spellings as you type, as well as listing words that sound the same or are often confused. | Supports inventive spellers e.g. I typed in elafent and was given elephant as a suggestion. Need to have the first letter correct though. |
Free
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iPhone iPad Android | The free Dictionary.com app includes nearly 1,000,000 words and definitions and 90,000 synonyms and antonyms. No Internet connection is needed. The app features audio pronunciations, similarly spelled words and Word of the Day. | See above comment, but has less features generally. |
This list updated 02/April/2012.
List compiled by Greg O'Connor, Trelise Stoneham, Charlene Cullen, Amanda Hartmann and Katie Lyon and can be found at www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/apps-for-literacy-support
Contact details for this list - trelises@spectronics.com.au