Reviewer: Chauncy Rucker
with support from Eileen Pracek, FDLRS/TECH, who provided feedback from Florida
special education teachers.
crucker@crucker.com
Slater Software, Inc.
351 Badger Lane
Guffey, CO 80820
887-3066968
info@slatersoftware.com
http://www.slatersoftware.com
Available on CD for Mac
or CD for Windows
Picture It for Mac or PC $257 including shipping & handling
PixReader $80 including S&H
PixWriter $187 including
S&H
You can purchase the
three programs in a set for $437 including S&H
Evaluated: January, 2002
Grading these programs is a little unusual. PixReader is a program that can't
function without another program. The team of Picture It and PixReader does
deserve an A- or an A. PixWriter is a strong very useful program with great
potential impact and clearly deserves an A.
Slater Software of Guffey, Colorado has several pieces of software for young learners that can be seen on their website: http://www.slatersoftware.com When Dave Edyburn presented recently at the NEAT Marketplace in Hartford he demonstrated three that seem particularly appropriate for youngsters learning to read and write. Namely, Picture It, PixReader, and Pix Writer, and I got a chance to try out all three at the ATIA Conference in Orlando.
The Slaters indicate that
Picture It a teacher tool. You can type whatever you'd like (in lower right
of graphic) and then "parse" 
the text. This puts the text into a new document and automatically pairs graphics
to the words (left side of graphic.) Some words won't have pictures. For example,
while I was typing "I was irritated because my computer crashed,"
I discovered that there wasn't a graphic for irritated. However, it's possible
to add graphics from the program's database of 3,700 pictures. I found that
the graphic for "mad" expressed irritated just fine. You may also
add your own graphics by scanning images or importing clip art. Pictures can
also be resized within the program.
You can edit your file extensively within Picture It. You can change the font type and the size of the font, add a border around each graphic, have the graphics appear above or below the text, change the layout from portrait to landscape, have "I, me, my" be depicted as male or female graphics, add a grid to help in aligning graphics, and switch the graphics from color to black and white.
This is a valuable tool to assist emerging readers. By using the program which pairs a picture with a word/concept, teachers can make illustrated storybooks, vocabulary cards, and other materials to reinforce the concept to print connection.
PixReader adds speech to the files created in Picture It. When the Picture It file is opened in PixReader the computer displays and reads the document. Students can follow the highlighted words as the document is read or they can select individual words or graphics with a mouse or touch screen. Voices can be changed, and text and graphics can be enlarged.
Using Picture It and PixReader, any story can become a talking book. Note that PixReader is not a stand alone program. It requires files from Picture It to function.
The voice output would allow a student with poor communications skills to participate more fully in classroom activities. PixReader teamed with Picture It could be a significant aide for children with verbal, reading, or cognitive disabilities.
PixWriter is a talking word processing program that is extremely easy to use. The teacher or child simply enters a word, hits the space bar, and a vocabulary button automatically appears with the word and graphic in the matrix at the bottom of the page. After enough words have been entered in the matrix, a child can simply select a button to write a word. This displays the graphic above the word and speaks the word.
The
matrix can be set for individual differences. Namely, the matrix can contain
16, 36, or 64 spaces. Buttons can be rearranged and erased and all of the students
work can be printed and pronunciations can be changed.
PixWriter is available for a Mac or a Windows machine and is a stand alone program. A high-resolution library of 1850 color pictures is included and documents can be printed in color or black and white.
In addition to being easy to use, PixWriter is very accessible. The student can select words with a mouse, keyboard, touch screen, alternative keyboard, or single-switch. This clearly opens up the writing process to many more youngsters with disabilities.
Once the teacher sets up
the on-screen selection window, students are able to work more independently
to answer questions about a story or build sentences.
The program helps students
of many ages connect text with images and allows them to express their thoughts
in meaningful writing. Some teachers of young deaf children have also found
the program to be an effective tool which offers opportunities for their students
to have success with writing at an earlier
age.
These three programs from Slater Software are particularly appropriate for youngsters with disabilities. The programs are highly motivating for young readers and I'm sure they have provided many exciting breakthroughs for youngsters struggling with the process of reading and writing.
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