Product Reviews
Welcome to Spectronics Product Reviews page. Many of the reviews here have been prepared by Gerry Kennedy of Gerry Kennedy IT Consultancy. Gerry, a teacher of twenty nine years, now works as a private consultant offering training and consultancy services in the areas of education and assistive technologies. The reviews available here will help you to better understand products from the Spectronics range and their application in educational settings.
Watch for contributions from other technology consultants from around Australia and New Zealand. If you wish to contribute a product review for posting here, please forward your review to Spectronics.
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- A
- A Day at Play
- Accessible Literacy Learning (ALL) Curriculum Review by Augmentative Communication News, December 2008
- Animals Galore (PCS Review - pdf, 760KB)
- Animals Galore (with COMPIC)
- BETT Don't Miss - WriteOnline, A Writer's Dream - by Merlin John Online, January 2008
- Big:Calc
- Boardmaker User Opinions
- Boardmaker Version 5
- BrowseAloud by Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online
- Build It! (Sensory Software)
- Children Contributing to the Annual Review with SwitchIt! Maker 2 at Willow Dene School
- Choose and Tell More Nursery Rhymes Review by Special Children Magazine
- Choose and Tell: Legends Review by Pete Wells, Special Children Magazine
- Choose and Tell: Nursery Rhymes
- ChooseIt! Maker
- ClaroRead 2007 for Windows Review
- ClaroRead 2008, Online Newsletter (Education Queensland), Vol7:2 July 2008
- ClassMate Reader for Students with Reading Disabilities, by Centre for Learning Innovation, June 2008
- Clicker 4
- Clicker 5 - Winner at the Grid, Times Educational Supplement, January 2005 (pdf)
- Clicker 5 Preview by Special Educational Needs Information Technology (SENIT, pdf)
- Clicker 5 Review - Part 1
- Clicker 5 Review by Rik Ludlow, "The ICT Guide" section, Special Magazine, August 2005 (pdf 1.2 MB)
- Clicker MFL: French CD1 and 2, French Stories Review by Teach Primary Magazine, Vol 5.1
- ClickIt! - Create Switch Access to Software
- ClozePro V1.5
- Co:Writer 4000
- Comparison Charts
- Compose World Junior Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- ConnSENSE Book Review: IntelliTools Extreme!
- ConnSENSE Book Review: My Own Bookshelf
- ConnSENSE Review: Find Out and Write About, December 2007
- ConnSENSE Review: Puddingstone Place
- ConnSENSE Review: Read and Write 8.1 GOLD MOBILE, November 2007
- ConnSENSE Review: WriteOnline - January 2009
- Dana - Top 20 products from PC World
- Dana Review by Pen Computing
- Disabled Students Use Their Heads to Make Music, SouthCoastToday.com, December 2002
- Disco
- Discover:Board
- Discover:Switch
- Draft:Builder
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Review, by Elsa Wenzel, C/Net, 21/8/2008
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Preferred Wireless Review by Simon Williams, trustedreviews.com, 5/9/2008
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional Review, by Aoife M. McEvoy, PC World, 29/9/2008
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Professional Review, by Shane McGlaun, i4u.com, 12/8/2008
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10 Wins Prestigious PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award - by PC Magazine, 8/8/2008
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10, Voice Recognition just like the Enterprise Computer, by dvice.com, 22/8/2008
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred vs IBM ViaVoice Comparison (pdf 283 KB)
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Preferred vs Microsoft XP Speech Comparison (pdf 311KB)
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Professional Voice Recognition Software Review, LA Splash Magazine
- Dragon NaturallySpeaking 8 Professional, CNET editors' review, Feb 2006
- Duo Digital Pen Mouse Review, by tnerd.com, August 2009
- E-Tip Gloves Review, by Pocket-Lint, February 2011
- EIA Web Browser
- Engineering the Preschool Environment for Interactive, Symbolic Communication
- Engineering Training Environments for Interactive Augmentative Communication
- Exploring Patterns for IntelliKeys
- Fairytales and literacy: A review of Crick Software's Clicker Tales, bee-it Xtra, December 2010
- First Keys 2
- Five Cuddly Teddies Story Kit for IntelliKeys
- Flip It and Slider (Sensory Software)
- Flip MinoHD Reviews and Featured Articles
- Flip UltraHD Reviews and Featured Articles
- Food For Thought
- Food for Thought (With full-colour PCS files, pdf)
- Full Story - Voice Recognition Software Consumer Report, by ConsumerSearch, updated 10/2005 - (pdf)
- Gamba, the Gnu Series Reviews
- Getting Back the Gift of Gab: NexGen Handheld Computers Allow the Mute to Converse, by Larry Greenemeier, ScientificAmerican.com, August 2009
- Hands Off: Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking 9, by ComputerWorld, May 18 2007
- Hands-on Reading
- Hardware Review: ClassMate Reader, Online Newsletter (Education Queensland), Vol7:2 July 2008
- Helping Students with Literacy Difficulties
- High-tech tools are a lifeline for ALS (Motor Neurone Disease) patients, by Anya Martin, Wall Street Journal, July 2010
- Inclusion of High School Students with Behavioral Disabilities, Tom Kinney, Guidance Channel Online
- Inclusive Writer
- Intel Makes Leap in Device to Aid Impaired Readers, Review by The Wall Street Journal, November 2009
- Intel Reader a welcome wordsmith for learners, Review by merlinjohnonline, January 2010
- IntelliKeys - Instant Access Overlays
- IntelliKeys and IntelliTools Programs: Solutions for Everyone!
- IntelliKeys Review
- IntelliKeys: Applications in Grades P-6
- IntelliTools Classroom Suite Version 4 Initial Review
- IntelliTools Maths Products
- IntelliTools ReadyMade Activities Comparison
- Inter_Comm
- iPhone, iPad and iPod touch Apps for (Special) Education
- iPhone/iPad Apps for AAC
- Is Speech Recognition Finally Good Enough? by ComputerWorld, May 18 2007
- K-1 : A New Kaleidoscope Program
- K.C. and Clyde in Fly Ball
- Kids Learn to Type with this Keyboard - by MommySite.com, March 2009
- Learning French or Spanish Quick Review, British Dyslexia Assoc. New Technologies Committee, May 2011
- Learning to Tell Time
- Listen Hear (Sensory Software)
- Literacy and Numeracy Programs
- Literacy Software for Young Children
- Little Dough Man Story Kit (for IntelliKeys)
- Look Here! (Sensory Software)
- Making Waves by Special Children Magazine, Nov/Dec 2005 (pdf 485 KB)
- MathPad
- MathPad and Show Me Math
- MathPad Plus - Fractions and Decimals (for IntelliKeys)
- MathsBook PLUS [Four Rules] Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Maze On (Sensory Software)
- Money Talks! Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Mouth Controlled Joysticks - A Product Research Report by Ability Technology, September 2006 (pdf 85 KB)
- MS Word Add-Ins to Engage and Support All Students
- Multimedia Software Titles
- Music Factory
- MusicBox 2 Evaluation by TEEM (www.teem.org.uk)
- My Time Review (pdf)
- My Turn Your Turn Review, by Bonnie Sayers, BellaOnline's Autism Spectrum Disorders Editor
- My Turn Your Turn Review, Parent's Choice Foundation, Fall 2005
- Neo Review by Multimedia & Internet@Schools magazine - Jan/Feb 2005 (pdf)
- Nessy Learning Programme Review by Blackbird Pie Magazine, May 2008
- Nessy Learning Programme Review, schoolzone.co.uk, April 2007
- Nessy Review by SEN Magazine, June/July 2005 (pdf 490 KB)
- Nessy Review by TES Extra for Special Needs, Nov 2005 (pdf 187 KB)
- Nessy Tales - Great for Homeschool - by Jasmine Starr, Associated Content Review, October 2007
- Never Mind the PC's Keyboard, Here's Dragon NaturallySpeaking 10, by Andrew Smith, The Dallas Morning News, 25/8/2008
- Number Concepts 1 with Oshi the Otter
- Number Concepts 2 with Penn and Gwen (for IntelliKeys)
- Old MacDonald's Farm Story Kit (for IntelliKeys)
- On the Farm
- One Touch and MyZone review, Merlin John Online, June 2010
- Out and About
- Out In The Community Review (pdf)
- Overcoming the barriers to communication with Traxsys 4talk4
- Overlay Maker for IntelliKeys
- PageBot Review and the Evolution of the Page Turner, Kindle Zen, May 2011
- Penfriend Review
- Penfriend XL Review in Living Aids Software, Disability Product News Oct/Nov 2005 (pdf 50 KB)
- Penfriend XL Review in SEN Magazine, January 2006 (pdf 213 KB)
- Penfriend XL Review in Unique Magazine, Sept/Oct 2005 (pdf 416 KB)
- Penfriend XP and W3 Review by Better Living Through Technology (formerly senit.org)
- Penfriend XP and W3 Review by Thomas Wolsey School, UK
- Penfriend XP and XL Review in the PATOSS Bulletin, November 2004
- Penfriend XP, XL Software Comparison (Version 3)
- Person of the Week: Richard Ellenson, ABC NEWS, July 2006
- Pirates of Priory Woods - A Digital Movie Adventure! - Special Magazine
- Press It Now
- Press To Play - Sports
- Press to Play Series - Animals, Speedy and Zoo
- Proloquo Review in macCompanion, September 2005
- ReadOn Review
- RealSpeak
- Review of TextHelp Read & Write V4 for MAC OS, by Gerry Kennedy, November 2010
- Scally's World of Problems Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Scally's World of Verbs Evaluation by TEEM (www.teem.org.uk)
- Scally's World: Letters and Nouns Evaluation by TEEM (www.teem.org.uk)
- School Rules! Volume 1 and 2 Review by Autism Spectrum Quarterly, Fall 2006 (pdf)
- ScienceMania [Ages 7-11] Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Sellardore Tales Evaluation by TEEM (www.teem.org.uk)
- Show Me Math
- Simon S.I.O. Review by MultiMedia and Internet @ Schools, September/October 2007 (pdf)
- Simon Spells and Simon Sounds It Out
- Single Switch Software from Simtech Publications
- SmartNAV AT vs. HeadMouse
- SoftTouch Switch Software (Best of KidTech, Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Teen Tunes Plus)
- SoftTouch Switch Software (Five Little Ducks, Away We Ride and The Rodeo)
- SOLO Review by Technology & Learning, May 2007
- Songs and Stories Mouse Skills No.1
- Spark Space Software Guide
- Spark-Space v2
- Speak Up, a Computer Is Listening, by DAVID POGUE, The New York Times, 7/8/2008
- Speaking for Myself PLUS Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Speaking Starspell 1.0
- Speaking With Dragon is Ever More Natural, by Mario Morejon, CRN ChannelWeb, 8/8/2008
- Special Needs Software for Teenagers and Adults
- Spider in the Kitchen!
- Start-to-Finish Books
- Start-to-Finish Core Content Review by Learning & Leading with Technology, Feb 2007 (pdf 233 KB)
- Start-to-Finish Series - Focus on Literacy Starters Product Review
- Stig of the Dump Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Studywiz
- Switch Basics
- Switch Devices and Software
- Switch Software for Young Children: Eensy and Friends, Forgetful and Friends
- SwitchIt! At Home
- SwitchIt! Diggers
- SwitchIt! Facemaker Review by Rosie Murphy
- SwitchIt! Gadgets
- SwitchIt! Maker
- SwitchIt! Opposites
- SwitchIt! Patterns
- SwitchIt! Pictures
- SwitchIt! Scenes
- SwitchIt! Wildlife Extra Review, by Pete Wells
- Symbols, Literacy and Social Justice Review by The Guardian, September 2007
- Talking Clocks PLUS Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- Talking to Yourself Productively with Dragon Naturally Speaking, by Frank Ohlhorst, eWeek Channel Insider Review, 7/8/2008
- Teach Me To Talk
- Teach Me to Talk Companion Activities #1
- Teach Me to Talk Overlays CD-ROM
- Teaching Vocabulary And Life Lessons Through Social Stories, Tom Kinney, Guidance Channel Online
- Teddy Games
- Test of Aided-Communication Symbol Performance (TASP) Review
- Texthelp Read&Write 7.1 GOLD vs ClaroRead Plus Detailed Comparison (pdf 459 KB)
- Texthelp Read&Write V7 Standard and Gold Reviews by Gerry Kennedy
- Texthelp Read&Write V9 Gold Review, by Gerry Kennedy, May 2009
- textThing Evaluation by TEEM (www.teem.org.uk)
- textThing Review by Victoria Crivelli from the BDA (www.bdadyslexia.org.uk)
- The Colourful Caterpillar Story Kit for IntelliKeys
- The Gnu's Holiday
- The Intel Reader: As Big a Boon as Braille? Review by Business Week, December 2009
- The Lessons of Classroom 506, by Lisa Belkin, New York Times, September 2004
- The Lost Forest
- The Making of Proloquo2Go:AAC in Your Pocket by Samuel Sennott, Closing The Gap April / May 2009
- The New Gnu
- The Switch Connection
- The V and Vmax: Shedding New Light on Human Interaction Here and Now, by Closing The Gap (pdf 295 KB)
- Thinkin' Things: FrippleTown
- This Is The One I Want
- Touch Balloons!
- Touch Cats Review, by Gerry Kennedy, December 2008
- Touch Funfair
- Touch Games 2
- Touch!
- Toyshop: Making Choice Software for Young Children
- trackIR
- TrackIR 3 Vector Expansion Review by SimHQ
- TrackIR 3-Pro Review by SimHQ
- TrackIR 4 Pro Review at SimHQ
- trackIR by Stephen Crowther
- trackIR: Slimline Webcam with Funky Sunglasses by Daniel Rutter
- Traxsys Inclusive Scan4
- Visual Effects and Media Players for Students with Different Abilities
- Voiced Word Processors (IntelliTalk, Write:OutLoud, Writing with Symbols 2000, Inclusive Writer)
- Wacom Bamboo Fun Review
- Wild About Writing! by TechEdge Magazine, October 2007 (pdf 264 KB)
- With a Blink or a Tap, the Disabled Perform in Concert, The New York Times (on the web), January 2003
- Word Prediction Software Comparison Chart
- WordMania [7-11] Evaluation by www.TEEM.org.uk
- WordQ / SpeakQ Review
- WordQ / SpeakQ: Integrating word prediction and speech input to help struggling writers
- Words and Music Evaluation by TEEM (www.teem.org.uk)
- Words and Music Review, The Times Educational Supplement, March 2006
- Write:OutLoud Version 3.0
- WriteOnline Review - by Dyslexia Contact, British Dyslexia Association, June 2008
- WriteOnline Review - by EC&T February 2008
- WriteOnline Review - by Jack Kenny, The Guardian, Link, January 2008
- Writing With Symbols 2000 - Version 2