Using Kurzweil 3000

Kurzweil 3000 (referred to as Kurzweil in this guide) is literacy support software that helps with reading, studying, writing, and testing. It has been designed to support the entire learning process and is effective for readers of all levels, from beginners to advanced readers. Kurzweil uses text-to-speech to read text out loud while highlighting the words or phrases being read. This bimodal reading support is very effective for students who have difficulty:

• staying focused on their readings
• decoding text
• processing text at a normal pace
• skipping lines or reading the same line repeatedly

There are three versions of Kurzweil:

• Kurzweil for the Web
• Kurzweil 3000 desktop application
• Read the Web Toolbar (browser extension)

We highly recommend using the web browser version of Kurzweil along with the Read the Web extension, and this guide has been designed to support these tools.

Why we recommend using Kurzweil for the Web

There are two main reasons we recommend the web version of Kurzweil. First, we have had problems with the desktop version crashing in the past. Second, most of the functionality that we recommend is available by using the web version along with the Read the Web browser extension. Ultimately, we have found that this works best for students and provides access to essential features and reliable performance.

Students registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) can request a Kurzweil 3000 account. Simply contact the library to get started!

You can access the browser version of Kurzweil at Kurzweil3000.com. You will then be asked to log in using the credentials provided for you by Library Accessibility Services (LAS) staff.

Kurzweil recommends using Chrome or Firefox to ensure you get access to as many features as possible. You can also access the web version on most mobile devices. Kurzweil provides updated information on mobile tablet and device compatibility.