Reading Companion

Reading Companion is IBM's web-based literacy grant initiative that uses voice recognition technology to help children and adults learn how to read.

How it works

Users log on to the Reading Companion web site and are presented with material to read. An on-screen mentor, or companion, "reads" a phrase to the user and then provides an opportunity for the user to read the material, using a headset microphone. (Depending on the accuracy of what was read, the companion provides positive reinforcement (e.g., "You sound great!"), gives the user an opportunity to try again, or offers the correct reading of the words on the screen. As the user's skill improves, the technology reads less material so that the learner reads more.

Using this app students can use Reading Companion from Android devices.