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My Own Bookshelf

SoftTouch Software
4300 Stine Rd. Suite 401
Bakersfield, CA 93313
http://www.softtouch.com
Phone: 877-SOFTTOUCH (877-763-8868)
Email: sales@softtouch.com
Fax: 661-396-876

System Requirements: Mac/Win CD requires 128 MB RAM, CD-Rom drive
Mac OS 8.5 or higher (runs on Classic Mode in OS X)
PC Win 2000, XP, sound card, 3.5 mm stereo plug microphone USB Intellikeys compatible

Cost: Single copy $130.00

Reviewer:
Carol Magliocco, Ph.D.
Special Education Technology Specialist
Eastconn Service Center
Hampton, CT
cmagliocco@eastconn.org

Rating: A

My Own Bookshelf is SoftTouch's authoring tool that allows educators to create a collection of books that can be accessed through the multiple modes of access typical of SoftTouch programs, including mouse, Touch Screen; USB Intellikeys with Overlay Template included; Single Switch and Two Switches, either as step scan or two choices. Creating an access profile for individual students is accomplished very easily with a click on the access mode and then clicking through the access options for that particular mode, such as adjustments for rate delay, auditory scan and activation on switch down or up until the desired choice is displayed. Page control options can also be customized with the turn to and read the next page arrow always on, and Previous Page and Read Current Page and Stop available for selection. In addition to the access and page control profile, the program also maintains reading data for each student by session or cumulatively.

The program itself is organized around a Main Menu screen that includes large icons for the following 5 functions-

  1. Book Make and edit books
  2. Bookshelf Make and edit bookshelves the organizing tool for reading materials
  3. Read - Selects the student reader, bookshelf, and book to be read
  4. Students Creates the access profile, page controls and reading data
  5. Publish Import, Export and Print books and a Stop icon to quit the program.

In addition to the program itself, the My Own Bookshelf CD includes a tutorial organized in lessons in PDF format with the sounds and image files necessary to complete the activities in the tutorial, trouble shooting guide and My Own Bookshelf Reader, so that books that are created can be shared with others who do not have the program. The CD insert is referred to as a "booklet for quick start instruction." However I found that the tutorial introduced the program in a much more logical and progressive fashion than the quick start booklet. For example, the tutorial starts with reading one of the 10 sample books that come with the program and progresses through making your own books. The booklet proceeds by icon presentation on the Main Menu and starts with Make and Edit Books.

Both the ready made and created books can be organized by bookshelves that can be identified by the student user, curricular area or any other categorization system that meets the user's need. The developers point out that this provides the students a choice of books to read and the opportunity to reread favorite selections. However, the selection method for students typically in need of this level of access and reading support seems somewhat cumbersome. On the main menu page for example, clicking on the book icon does not bring up books to read but rather the part of the program designed to create or change books. In order to read a book, you must click on Read icon and then on the bookshelf desired in order to select the book from the bookshelf to be read. The access and page control for each student is quite quick and easy to create and only needs to be done once as long as the user profile remains unchanged.

Scanned images, pictures from the Internet and digital photos and movies can be utilized in the creation of new books, and the tutorial provides clear and simple to follow instructions. Images can be a jpeg, pict or bitmap file and movies an .avi or .mov file. Sound can be provided through computer generated Text-to-Speech or recorded and sound files can be imported as aiff or wave files. Sound can be used as title sounds, background sound or associated with the text box. The text to be read or recorded is displayed on the page in a text box and the entire box itself is highlighted when the text is read with no option for word-by-word or sentence highlighting available. Once a book is created it can imported or exported. Exported books include a free copy of the My Own Bookshelf Reader program so that books can be more easily shared with family and friends.

My Own Bookshelf is a quick and easy tool for educators to use to develop a library of books that can be accessed through a variety of methods. It allows for use of many different picture and sound formats for ease of use and to accommodate user preference. For this user, it was necessary to refer to the tutorial, which provided a logical progression and clear directions and could be worked through quite quickly in order to learn to create books. Because this offers educators the opportunity to quickly create material that is accessible through multiple modes and can be shared easily,

I give the program an A. One feature that I would have really liked to see incorporated was a word- by-word highlight option to reinforce the concept of word and left to right progression.

 

Scanned images, pictures from the Internet and digital photos and movies can be utilized in the creation of new books, and the tutorial provides clear and simple to follow instructions. Images can be a jpeg, pict or bitmap file and movies an .avi or .mov file. Sound can be provided through computer generated Text-to-Speech or recorded and sound files can be imported in aiff or wave files. Sound can be used as title sounds, background sound or associated with the text box. The text to be read or recorded is displayed on the page in a text box and the entire box itself is highlighted when the text is read with no option for word-by-word or sentence highlighting available. Once a book is created it can imported or exported. Exported books include a free copy of the My Own Bookshelf Reader program so that books can be more easily shared with family and friends.

My Own Bookshelf is a quick and easy tool for educators to use to develop a library of books that can be accessed through a variety of methods. It allows for use of many different picture and sound formats for ease of use and to accommodate user preference. For this user, it was necessary to refer to the tutorial, which provided a logical progression and clear directions and could be worked through quite quickly in order to learn to create books. Because this offers educators the opportunity to quickly create material that is accessible through multiple modes and can be shared easily, I give the program an A. One feature that I would have really liked to see incorporated was word- by-word highlight option to reinforce the concept of word and left to right progression.

 

© 2003 ConnSENSE Bulletin