Technology has transformed our lives in ways that only a few years ago would never have seemed possible. In the world of education, technology’s impact has been particularly significant—even disruptive. For students with reading and learning differences, technology’s positive effect on education has been most profound. Specific technologies have been helping to level a playing field that once looked more like a mountain to these students—and that is a very good thing.
LiveCode recently announced its global program to empower 3,000 students with autism to learn how to program in LiveCode. Brennan Innovators, LLC, a small company based in St. Louis, Missouri, applauds LiveCode’s efforts to do this, especially when it, too, has made serving challenged readers and learners its mission since 2007.
Purpose & Function of the Reading Focus Cards Desktop App
Since the company’s inception, Brennan Innovators and its founder, Joan M. Brennan, educator and reading tools inventor, have patented, manufactured, and provided the low-tech Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,749) for many parents, teachers and others in the U.S. and around the world who help challenged readers.These research-based focusing tools have already helped thousands of children, teens, and adults experience more focused success when reading printed media.
For several years, Mrs. Brennan and her company had dreamed of creating a technological version of the physical tools to facilitate easier reading of digital media. So, in 2009, they took steps to realize this goal, patenting the idea and working diligently to develop a digital version of the original, sensory-appealing Reading Focus Cards.
With the combined expertise of a clinical psychologist, a developer of special needs apps, and Mrs. Brennan’s experience as an educator, Brennan Innovators completed development of a practical and reasonably-priced desktop application for Macs and Windows PCs. This app, when customized for an individual reader, can provide much-needed focus and other digital reading support for readers of all ages who have or experience one or more of the following:
–Loss of text line placement
-Eye fatigue or low vision issues
–ADHD
-Dyslexia
-Convergence insufficiency
-Autism
-Down syndrome
-Stroke recovery &Â TBI issues
-Other conditions that can negatively impact reading success
Development of the App
The LiveCodeprogramming of the Reading Focus Cards app was begun in 2013 by Joel Epstein, PhD, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Upon her request for a recommendation, the university referred Mrs. Brennan to Dr. Epstein, also a developer of software applications for behavior modification (Bridges to Sobriety). It was he who took the app’s development from its preliminary stages to its first prototype in LiveCode (Version 6.1.2).
Then in late 2014, Abelardo Gonzalez, developer of special needs apps (OpenDyslexic font and Overlays!), successfully completed the LiveCode programming of the Reading Focus Cards desktop app (Version 6.7.0). The application was then published in the Mac App and Windows Stores as well as at Gumroad.com. Mr. Gonzalez’s unique programming experience, demonstrated in the design of his own digital tools for dyslexic readers, was one reason Mrs. Brennan invited him to collaborate and complete the project.                                                                                                               Â
Innovative App with Customizable Features
This NEW Reading Focus Cards desktop app (Patent 8,360,779) allows readers to:
–Focus on one or more selected text lines AND block out as much or as little surrounding text as desired.
-Select preferred colors, sizes, levels of transparency and orientations for both a virtual Reading Card AND a virtual Reading Window, respectively and independently. These two digital components combine to create the virtual Reading Focus Card.
–Move the virtual Reading Focus Card on a computer screen with a mouse or touchpad, a keyboard’s arrow keys or with fingers (where touchscreen technology is applicable).
–Manipulate the virtual Reading Focus Card as it floats on top AND stays on top of nearly any underlying text or other software application, a particularly innovative feature. This can be achieved successfully even when scrolling down the underlying text or program.
-Accommodate small or very large fonts, as needed.
-Read with increased focus and attention, more visual comfort, improved tracking, greater fluency, resulting in better comprehension and retention.
To learn more about the Reading Focus Cards desktop app or to purchase the app as a download ($5.99 USD), please visit one of the following links:
- For Macs, visit the Mac App Store for the Reading Focus Cards app:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
- For Windows PCs, visit Gumroad.com for the Reading Focus Cards app:
https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards
OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for Reading Focus Cards
(Note: No URLs are provided for apps in the Windows Store.)
Now, ALL readers, regardless of age, ability or the type of media presented, can enjoy more focused reading success with the low-tech Reading Focus Cards for physical books, documents, etc. AND the Reading Focus Cards desktop app for digital media (webpages, e-books, PDF files, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and more). Brennan Innovators thinks that’s a WIN-WIN for everyone!
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