Major updates to Read&Write for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge
Two years ago, Texthelp and Don Johnston Inc joined forces to provide the most comprehensive suite of tools for students, educators, and even beyond education, into the workplace. Since then we've been listening closely to our customers and what your needs are. The number one ask has been the availability of all the great tools in Read&Write, Co:Writer, and Snap&Read, all in one place. Now, the wait for that is over.
We’re so pleased to be able to bring the best parts of technology from across our Group of companies into one place. Starting on July 1st 2024, we’ll begin adding features from Snap&Read and Co:Writer into Read&Write for Google Chrome and Read&Write for Microsoft Edge.
What’s new in Read&Write?
1. Co:Writer Prediction
What is Co:Writer prediction?
Co:Writer prediction provides the strongest, and most accurate word prediction available on the market. Co:Writer’s Neuron™ prediction engine follows the natural relationships of ideas and concepts in the brain.
The feature includes a simple-to-use word prediction engine specifically designed to free up ideas so they more naturally flow into writing—helping overcome writer’s block, word recall issues, and other barriers to writing.
Co:Writer prediction also makes it easier to insert words from the prediction list into your document. Just type the number next to it - no more keyboard shortcuts required.
2. Topics
This powerful tool groups lists of words together by content areas that can be activated or deactivated manually when writing on topics containing complex topic-specific or industry-specific words. This means no more getting tripped up by hard-to-spell vocabulary. Instead, users can focus on writing for meaning and to express their knowledge and expertise.
Applying a Topic increases users’ efficiency by getting to content-specific words in just one or two keystrokes. There are over 500 Topic Dictionaries built into Co:Writer.
3. Different ‘modes’ in Read&Write
Supporting a diverse range of learning preferences is important to us. That's why we've introduced three new toolbar modes. Each mode replicates the familiar interfaces of Read&Write, Co:Writer and Snap&Read, allowing users to choose the layout that best suits their learning preferences - Horizontal, Vertical or Writing mode.
Horizontal Mode: The familiarity of the current Read&Write toolbar - with a few small changes. Toolbar sits at the top of the screen and is fully customizable.
Vertical Mode: Mimics the vertical layout of the Snap&Read toolbar. Vertical mode will mean that the toolbar is docked on the right hand side of the screen. It’s customizable too, so users can add icons from Read&Write toolbar as desired.
Writing Mode: Replicates the familiar Co:Writer experience. Ideal for users who primarily need writing support and may get overwhelmed with a toolbar with many different features.
4. New look for Talk&Type
Lastly, we've also incorporated a sleek new icon for Talk&Type, our powerful speech-to-text feature. This is a small adjustment, but a perfect example of how we’re bringing the best of our tools together. Talk&Type will work exactly the same as it always has.
What’s next?
As of July 1 2024, the updates outlined above are now live. Co:Writer prediction is replacing Read&Write prediction. Topics is available and the three new toolbar modes have been introduced.
If you have any other questions or feedback about these changes, please let us know. We want your input to help shape the future and priorities of our products.
Over the next year and a half, our product development team will be building the Co:Writer and Snap&Read feature set into Read&Write for Google Chrome, and Read&Write for Microsoft Edge, creating one customizable tool, with more capabilities than ever before. We'll also be enhancing the Read&Write for iOS keyboard and app to include Co:Writer and Snap&Read features.
These changes will help us to meet the needs of more users around the world, but we understand that there are likely questions and concerns for current Co:Writer and Snap&Read users. We want to assure you that your tools are NOT disappearing anytime soon. You will have the option to renew both Co:Writer and Snap&Read for the 2024/2025 school year, as we work to transition features to Read&Write. In the meantime, your account representative will be in touch to create a custom transition plan and a customer FAQ is available.
See these new updates in action
Watch this on-demand webinar to get an in depth overview of the upcoming enhancements to Read&Write for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. The team took a deep dive into what feature changes you can expect to see and when.
They explored how these cutting-edge developments to Read&Write for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge will help you to provide even better support for:
- Struggling writers
- Multilingual learners and employees
- Students with more severe learning differences
- Personalization and customization
- Independence and agency
- Your data needs
We’re committed to supporting you with training, resources, and plenty of time to understand and adapt to these updates. And this is just the beginning. During the webinar, the team also explained current and upcoming training materials, designed to help you to leverage Read&Write to its fullest potential.