Penfriend W3

Word prediction, speech feedback, and an on-screen keyboard for Windows 95, 98, Me and 3.1.

Penfriend W3 provides the acclaimed performance of the Penfriend range on older versions of Microsoft Windows. It helps build user confidence in writing as well as increasing speed and accuracy. It can be used with almost any word processor.

Penfriend W3 predicts the next word you want to write. As you type it comes up with a list of the most likely words and you can enter the correct one with a single click or press on a button. Penfriend uses a dictionary of known words, along with detailed knowledge of when they are likely to be used, their grammatical type, words you have used before and so on. It can also learn new words.

Penfriend has the optional ability to read aloud the words on your screen. It can be configured to speak each letter as it is typed, each word as it is completed and each sentence. It can read words from the prediction list when you point at them, when you choose them, or automatically when they change. It can also read back whole paragraphs of text from other applications, such as your document or a web page, using the clipboard. You can also see each word highlighted as they are spoken.

The optional speech engine requires a genuine SoundBlaster sound card in your computer, although it may also work with some others.

Penfriend also offers an on-screen keyboard and can work with Clicker to offer prediction with custom-designed on-screen keyboards which support switch access.