WYNN 5.1 Includes Support for Microsoft's Windows Vista™

New Version Supports Vista Operating System, Maintains Support for XP and 2000

Palo Alto, CA – August 15, 2007 -- The Learning Systems Group of Freedom Scientific, Inc., developer of literacy software designed to create custom learning environments for struggling students, announced the release of the newest version of WYNN 5.1 software in August 2007. The new release includes support for Microsoft's Vista operating system. WYNN is the industry-leading solution for reading Web-based content and for reading books that meet NIMAS (National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard) goals.

In order to be ready for the new school year, many educational systems are migrating their IT infrastructure to Microsoft's new Vista operating system during the summer. To support that effort, Freedom Scientific has made Vista support an integral part of WYNN, its flagship product. "We are pleased to offer support for Vista with WYNN," said Roberta G. Brosnahan, VP & General Manager of the Learning Systems Group. She continued, “We recognize that many schools will continue to provide Windows XP and Windows 2000 computers, so we will continue to support those operating systems, too."

WYNN 5.1 Continues to Provide Educationally Sound Supports

Students with learning differences have greater educational success with WYNN as it presents text in a clean, uncluttered format. WYNN 5 introduced a completely redesigned Web-browser, which further extended its uncluttered textual presentation. Some of the Web-based features in WYNN 5 include: Web text being read out loud; WebMasking™, the patented feature that highlights selected text on a Web page by line, sentence, or paragraph while blocking out distracting elements like advertisements; highlighting directly on a live Web page; and extracting the highlighted text into a WYNN document with one mouse click.

WYNN 5 users may also access all standard WYNN features, which include:

Seeing and hearing text simultaneously
Ability to visually customize text pages for easier reading
Extensive study tools including Spell Check, Highlighting, Text Note, Voice Note, Dictionary, and Thesaurus
Ability to access virtually any type of text including printed pages, electronic text, Web sites, or PDF documents

Please contact us for more information about the new features and support in WYNN.

WYNN (What You Need Now)

What is WYNN

WYNN is the innovative literacy software tool designed to enhance success for individuals with reading challenges and writing difficulties. WYNN was developed with the help of special educators and individuals with learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and aphasia.

By using a bi-modal approach - simultaneous highlighting of the text as it is spoken - WYNN transforms printed text into understandable information that benefits readers of all ages including English Language Learners (ELL), struggling readers and children with ADD (attention deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder).

Two versions of our software for learning to read and write are available.

WYNN is available in two versions: WYNN Wizard and WYNN Reader. Both these computer programs read text aloud while highlighting spoken words, include the four color-coded toolbars, and provide reading, writing, studying, productivity, and Internet features.

WYNN Wizard: our premier product, is scanning and reading software. It includes optical character recognition (OCR), the ability to scan printed pages and convert them into electronic text. Speech synthesis enables this scanned text to be read aloud. Additionally, WYNN Wizard can read word processing documents, Adobe Acrobat PDF files, text files, and the Internet.
WYNN Reader: includes all features of WYNN Wizard except OCR, or scanning capability. Additionally, files that have been previously scanned and saved using WYNN Wizard can be read with WYNN Reader.

We provide Network-enabled versions of both WYNN Wizard and WYNN Reader adaptive software packages.

Photograph of the WYNN box.

WYNN New Features

Web Totally Redesigned

WYNN's Web browsing module has been completely redesigned to support the latest innovations in Web pages. Students doing research need to have access to a multitude of cutting-edge Web sites. WYNN's new Web browsing module gives that access with more features than ever before! Below are some of the new features.

Highlight Web pages: WYNN is the first literacy program to provide highlighting of text on an Internet page. As users read a Web page, they can select various highlighter colors available in WYNN to mark key topics and ideas. This makes finding and retaining information easier.
Extract highlighted text from Web page: Students can extract the highlighted text and transfer it to a separate WYNN document with one click of the mouse. The student then has all the information he needs, and only that information, in one easy-to-access document.
Extract selected text, or all text on a Web page: In addition to extracting highlighted text, users can extract any text selected with the mouse, or can select all text on a Web page. WYNN copies all the text the user has selected on an Internet page, opens a WYNN document, and pastes the text into the WYNN document. This is all done in one easy click of a mouse button.
More WebMasking options: WYNN's patented WebMasking feature is now configurable to mask by line, sentence, or paragraph.
More Web spotlighting options: WYNN's Web spotlight is now configurable to spotlight by word, line, sentence, or paragraph.
Updated Web toolbar: The new toolbar includes a Dictionary, Highlight, and Extract button; all buttons are in one toolbar.
Favorites and History on left sidebar for easier navigation: Users can store their favorite web pages and view their history in WYNN's easy-to-find left sidebar. This retains the look and feel of standard Web browsers.
Compatible with Flash and Java Applets: WYNN supports the latest Web technologies, including Flash and Java Applets.
Compatible with WebCT and other educational courseware systems and portals: The ability to integrate with WebCT-enabled school sites will allow students and teachers to utilize the features in WYNN with their Web site courses for better learning and teaching.
Reads Internet email: Users will enjoy using WYNN to read their email. WYNN now reads the contents of Internet email messages.
Talking online forms completion: WYNN assists users in completing on-line forms by speaking the contents on request.
Easy PDF reading: Direct, one-click conversion of PDF Web pages to WYNN.
Customize how many Web documents can be open: Teachers can specify how many pages a students can open while using the Internet.
Pop-up blocker built in: WYNN will block annoying pop-up advertisements while the user is viewing Web pages. This allows an individual to focus on the information they want to read without distractions.

Easier File Navigation

WYNN 5 uses an innovative left side navigation bar for navigating among open files. This "NavBar" makes switching from one document to another exceptionally easy.

The NavBar shows all open documents
Single click to switch to any open document--no menus needed
Document types are grouped together for easier reference
Right-click to read the document name
Right-click to close any open document, including Web pages, WYNN pages, or others.

Speech Updated

WYNN 5 contains a completely redesigned speech interface, enhancing speech compatibility.

Completely updated speech system
Support for all SAPI 5-compliant synthesizers
Maintains SAPI 4 support

Printing Enhancements

WYNN 5 has enhanced the number of printing options.

More printing options for Exact View
Users can include or exclude highlighting and other mark-ups from the current print job

Page Last Updated: Sunday, June 01, 2008

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