Accessibility - OrbitNote Assistive Software
What is OrbitNote?
OrbitNote is a PDF reader that features various tools for focus, understanding, and annotation. As a note, OrbitNote only reads PDFs uploaded into the program, from a file browser or from OneDrive, and can’t read webpages or Word documents. Save any of these documents as PDFs, in order to upload and read themtn OrbitNote.
Who can use OrbitNote? Where do I access OrbitNote?
OrbitNote is available for UWM students registered with the Accessibility Resource Center, who also have digital textbooks & curriculum as an accommodation.
Where do I access OrbitNote? How do I upload a PDF?
OrbitNote does not need to be downloaded/installed, but instead is available by logging into OrbitNote while in a Chrome browser with UWM credentials. Or by accessing it from the Read&Write Chrome extension menu.
How do I upload a PDF?
In the Dashboard under “Open or drag a file here,” click on the option that matches the location of the PDF file. (If choosing Google drive, users may be asked to log into their Google profile and, if this is done, will only be able to access a few main features in the menu.) Alternatively, you can click “Image to PDF” to convert an Image into a PDF file.
While in the reading menu, you can open another PDF to be viewed by clicking the Add New Tab button represented by the plus icon next to your current document tab.
Files that do not already have accessible text may be automatically recognized by OrbitNote, so that the user will see a pop-up window asking to scan the document. Or, the user can manually scan a document by clicking on the scanner icon in the top right corner of the reading menu.
What are the basic features of OrbitNote?
The most commonly used features in Orbitnote are:
- Highlighters
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Eraser
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Play
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Stop
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Screen Masking
Highlighters: Highlight text by clicking the highlighter icon, then clicking and dragging your mouse over text. Color can be changed at any point by clicking the highlighted text and then choosing a new color.
Eraser: After clicking the eraser tool, click on any annotations, such as highlights, to remove them.
Play: Click the play icon to start reading from the top of the current page. To read only a section of a page, click and drag mouse over the text and then click the play button.
NOTE: After clicking Play, a pause button temporarily replaces it. By clicking the pause button, you can stop the reading, without losing your place.
Stop: Click the stop icon to stop text being read aloud.
Screen Masking: Clicking this icon will turn on the feature. This creates a bar that follows the cursor to help focus on what you’re reading.
NOTE: After turning the feature on, a mini toolbar pops up with three icons.
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Intersecting arrows icon: which can move the toolbar around by clicking and dragging it. Location will reset after turning off the Screen Masking tool.
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Screen masking icon: which will turn off the feature.
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Gear icon: which opens settings for Screen Masking customization.
What are some additional features of and customization options for OrbitNote?
Other toolbar features include:
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Shapes Drawing: Add rectangles, circles, polygons, or lines onto the document. Color, including fill color, line type and thickness are all able to be formatted. This can be useful to emphasis key words/phrases.
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Freehand Drawing: Click and drag mouse to draw. Color and line thickness can be changed.
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Text: Add text by clicking the document and typing or using speech-to-text by clicking Speech Input represented by a headset icon. Color, font, text size, and alignment can be formatted.
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Sticky Note: To add text/comments without taking up too much space. By clicking on the document, you can place an icon connected to a note. Then, type or use speech-to-text by clicking Speech Input represented by a headset icon, click away to minimize note, or hover over to reveal text in note. Limited color and icon types are available to change.
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Insert Image: Add images from your computer onto the document. By clicking on the image, you can increase or decrease the size.
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Math tools: Add math equations into the document. For more information, check out Equatio.
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Dictionary and Picture Dictionary: Provides definitions that can be read aloud, and symbols to help understanding certain words. Click and drag mouse or double click to select one word.
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Screenshot Reader: Click and drag mouse to select area of inaccessible text to make it accessible, rather than scanning the entire document.
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Translator: Provides translation of individual words. Click and drag mouse or double click to select one word. Languages can be changed in settings.
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Scan Text: Scan images uploaded to a file browser or in OneDrive to convert the image into a readable and accessible PDF.
What features can be Customized and where can I access customization options?
To access customization options, click the three dots in the top right corner, then click Settings. Then, choose the tab for the setting you’d like to customize.
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Text to Speech customizes voice and speed.
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Translation languages.
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Speech Input language.
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Screen Masking, where users can change background, reading color, and opacity. Height of the reading box can also be changed.
Where can students and instructors go for support with OrbitNote?
Check out articles from OrbitNote’s Support Page, or reach out directly by clicking the “Still need help? Contact us here” text from the same link. ARC’s Assistive Technology Coordinator may be able to provide help as well.
What are some alternatives to OrbitNote?
OrbitNote is a PDF text-to-speech reader offered for free by UWM and the Accessibility Resource Center. However, there are many other text-to-speech apps that work as well for students who are not registered with ARC.
Many of the MS Office 365 apps (such as Word) available to students and staff at UWM provide access to a text-to-speech feature, sometimes called Immersive Reader.
Canvas also provides an Immersive Reader feature.