Free Alternative to Kurzweil

[lopploio]

Hi, I am looking for a free alternative to Kurzweil 3000. My Mom currently uses the software for school but it requires the internet and is only good as long as she goes to school. Kurzweil is very expensive so I was hoping that there was something out there like it. Kurzweil lets people have stuff read to them and it highlights the words with many different voices.

Thanks for the help

 

[Dude]

topazkitty, try this site usually shows some free open alternatives

:ar: Alternative to

 

[UsernameIssues]

You might find some forum members that can give you some feedback on programs that they have used. In the mean time, there is this website that you can look at: Kurzweil Alternatives and Similar Software - AlternativeTo.net

edit: Doh! too slow
I tried to read a bit about NonVisual Desktop Access before posting

 

[Dude]

Happens to me all the time UsernameIssues, good find!!

 

[lopploio]

Thanks for the replies but im wondering isn't nvda for visually impaired users, I don't want to mess up her desktop with vocalizations all the time just when she needs to read a pdf.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Does Kurzweil read these PDFs hands free?

In other words, she just starts things off, sits back and listens.

 

[lopploio]

she loads the pdf in adobe reader prints it to kurzweil using their driver, kurzweil loads, and she presses play and the reading starts

 

[UsernameIssues]

I'm not sure that NVDA can do that, but there is a portable version you can test. I doubt that the portable version would make permanent changes to your computer. Adobe is a sponsor of NVDA, so maybe NVDA works as a PDF reader.