Kurzweil 3000: An Interactive Text-to-Speech Platform
Kurzweil 3000 is an interactive text-to-speech platform that allows you to have digital content read aloud to you. This means that you can download your course readings from Canvas and have them read to you! You can also use Kurzweil to take notes, dictate ideas, organize your thoughts for papers, and more! The best part is, it is FREE for all DU students, faculty, and staff!
How to Log Into Kurzweil
To begin using the software, Step 1: Navigate to Kurzweil3000.com. Click on “Log in with Microsoft”. Congratulations! You are now on the Kurzweil home screen.
How to Open and Read Documents in Kurzweil
Make sure your document is saved on your computer or cloud service (OneDrive/Google Drive). If you are trying to get a reading from Canvas to be read in Kurzweil, you will need to download it first. On the right side of your screen, there are four buttons: Google Drive, OneDrive, Computer, and Upload.
Uploading with Google Drive or OneDrive
- Click the button for the platform where you saved the desired document (Google Drive or One Drive).
- A pop-up screen will appear. Log in using the screen.
- Locate your document in your Drive.
- Select the document, then press select. The document will upload and you are ready to read!
Uploading using Computer or the Upload Button
You can click the Computer button and select the file you wish upload, then press ok. Alternatively, on the left side of your screen, you should see your name. Click on it and files should appear below. Click “private”. If you wish to place the file in a specific folder you have created, select that folder. (To create a folder, right click on private (Mac users: ctrl+click)). Click upload and select the document from your computer that you wish to upload. Press ok. The document will upload and you are ready to read!
How to Customize your Reading Experience
To adjust your settings, Step 1: Open Audio Options. Go to the audio options icon. It looks like a gear with a speaker inside of it. Clicking on the audio options icon will open a dialog box. This box will give you options to change your reader voice and reading speed. Step 2: Customize your voice, reading speed, and more. Select your desired voice and reading speed. We recommend trying several different voices to find your favorite!
Navigation and Playback
You can find the document in either your recently opened local files folder or in the folder you uploaded the document to. Pick your starting place. Decide where in the document you want to begin you reading. Click there with your mouse. You can navigate to other pages using the arrows on either side of the screen or the “go to” feature at the bottom of the screen. Press the play button in the upper ribbon to play.
How to Highlight and Add Notes in Kurzweil
Highlighting Tools
Open the Highlighters dialog by selecting the pen icon on the left side of your screen. Click the toggle button for interactive mode. In the document, drag-select the text you want to highlight, circle, or cross out. Then select the color you wish to use. If you decide you no longer wish to have something highlighted, deleting it is easy! Hover your mouse over the highlighted text. A small "X" in a box will appear at the end of the highlighted section. Click this "X" and that highlighted section will no longer be highlighted.
Types of Notes
You can also add notes in a document in Kurzweil. On the left hand tool bar, select the notes button. In your document, click where you wish to place the note. Then type or dictate your note! To delete a note, go back to the notes bar and select the red square with an "X" on it. Then, click the note you would like to delete.
| Note Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Voice Note | Create a recording of a note |
| Bubble Note | Create a note that will be read aloud to you. You can also use this feature to create question and answer style notes. |
| Sticky Note | A sticky note that you can type in. |
| Text Note | A textbox that you type in. |
Exporting Your Work
After you are don’t highlighting, open the highlighters dialog box and go to the area that says “Export Notes.” Then select “study guide.” When a pop-up box appears, press ok.