Claro
Accessible Pro PDF Reader
How to access Claro?
You can currently access Prizmo on any iOS8 device by downloading the app or by clicking here.
Summary
- takes PDFs and allows students to type or comment on them
- great for pre-made quizzes, presentations, fill in the blanks
- options in voices and speed
- great for pre-made quizzes, presentations, fill in the blanks
- options in voices and speed
Why you would use Claro
- it reads for you
- makes texts accessible
- make voice notes if you are unable to use speech to text
- can choose to have text highlighted as it is read to you
- you can export to any other apps
- you can use any pre-made document
Students who would particularly benefit from Claro
- struggling readers or individuals who are reading below grade level
- individuals with a cognitive or learning disability specifically in the area of reading and writing
- individuals with visual impairments
- individuals who struggle with pronunciations, word identification or have attention difficulties
- individuals learning English as a second language
- makes texts accessible
- make voice notes if you are unable to use speech to text
- can choose to have text highlighted as it is read to you
- you can export to any other apps
- you can use any pre-made document
Students who would particularly benefit from Claro
- struggling readers or individuals who are reading below grade level
- individuals with a cognitive or learning disability specifically in the area of reading and writing
- individuals with visual impairments
- individuals who struggle with pronunciations, word identification or have attention difficulties
- individuals learning English as a second language
Critique
Claro allows you to import documents into the app and interact with the document in multiple ways.
When you open up Claro, you will see three (3) icons at the top of the page. The first icon is a file folder which allows you to import documents a) that are already in the app, b) in a connected Dropbox or c) Google Drive account. You can also open other pdf files on your device from other areas on your device such as email and select "open in another app" and send to Claro. Once you have opened a document, you can easily slide from page to page by slide left or right and select the page to be read. You can tap the area on the document that you would like to be read and the text will be highlighted as it is read aloud.
The second icon is a pencil and this feature allows you to edit and write on the pdf. Within this feature, you have the ability to highlight text, add a text box or note, use a pencil (stylist), add photos, images or shapes. It is important to note that within the text box and note feature, you can use Siri (speech to text) for writing.
The third icon is a gear wheel which is the setting function. Within the settings, you can change the speaking rate, turn on/off text to be read in the background (while in other apps), turn on/off tap to speak, turn on/off auto scroll (ensures text is in the middle of the screen at all times), can change to word trail, can change the highlighting colour, change the background colour of the text, etc.
Overall, this App would be extremely beneficial for struggling readers or individuals with a learning disability who use assistive technology in the classroom. The App provides learners the availability to have text read aloud, respond on the document and save the added annotation(s). The document saves as a pdf document and can be easily sent to other apps, Google Drive, Dropbox or through email.
Benefits
- can customize text speaking rate to words per minute
- spoken language available in multiple languages (English, French, Chinese, etc)
- synchronized highlighting of text as they are read
- can easily change to different pages in document
- double tapping on an area of the page will allow you to zoom in and out
- "Speak in Background" options which allows the user to listen to a PDF while in another app
- full set of annotation and commenting tools such as highlighting text in different colours, free lines, add sticky notes, text box, draw lines and shapes, insert pictures or video recordings
- can send documents as email or save directly in the app
- setting menu allows you to edit and customize the features of Claro PDF
- can open files directly from Dropbox and Google drive
- can bookmark certain pages of documents
- switch accessibility features
Constraints
- costs $4.59
- has to be in PDF format
- sometimes has difficulties recognizes text if embedded into columns
- will not read images
When you open up Claro, you will see three (3) icons at the top of the page. The first icon is a file folder which allows you to import documents a) that are already in the app, b) in a connected Dropbox or c) Google Drive account. You can also open other pdf files on your device from other areas on your device such as email and select "open in another app" and send to Claro. Once you have opened a document, you can easily slide from page to page by slide left or right and select the page to be read. You can tap the area on the document that you would like to be read and the text will be highlighted as it is read aloud.
The second icon is a pencil and this feature allows you to edit and write on the pdf. Within this feature, you have the ability to highlight text, add a text box or note, use a pencil (stylist), add photos, images or shapes. It is important to note that within the text box and note feature, you can use Siri (speech to text) for writing.
The third icon is a gear wheel which is the setting function. Within the settings, you can change the speaking rate, turn on/off text to be read in the background (while in other apps), turn on/off tap to speak, turn on/off auto scroll (ensures text is in the middle of the screen at all times), can change to word trail, can change the highlighting colour, change the background colour of the text, etc.
Overall, this App would be extremely beneficial for struggling readers or individuals with a learning disability who use assistive technology in the classroom. The App provides learners the availability to have text read aloud, respond on the document and save the added annotation(s). The document saves as a pdf document and can be easily sent to other apps, Google Drive, Dropbox or through email.
Benefits
- can customize text speaking rate to words per minute
- spoken language available in multiple languages (English, French, Chinese, etc)
- synchronized highlighting of text as they are read
- can easily change to different pages in document
- double tapping on an area of the page will allow you to zoom in and out
- "Speak in Background" options which allows the user to listen to a PDF while in another app
- full set of annotation and commenting tools such as highlighting text in different colours, free lines, add sticky notes, text box, draw lines and shapes, insert pictures or video recordings
- can send documents as email or save directly in the app
- setting menu allows you to edit and customize the features of Claro PDF
- can open files directly from Dropbox and Google drive
- can bookmark certain pages of documents
- switch accessibility features
Constraints
- costs $4.59
- has to be in PDF format
- sometimes has difficulties recognizes text if embedded into columns
- will not read images
What you need to have in place.
- Universal Application (iPhone or iPad requiring iOS8 or higher)
- Any iPad with at least a 5-MP camera (iPhone 4S or newer models, iPad 3 and newer models, iPad mini)
- Any iPad with at least a 5-MP camera (iPhone 4S or newer models, iPad 3 and newer models, iPad mini)
References
Claro. (2015). Claro - Accessible Pro PDF Reader. (Version 1.3.18). [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from http://itunes.apple.com