You may not always want to read something that is written, and thanks to modern technology, you don't have to. There are many ways to get your phone, tablet or computer to read text to you. You can even photograph pages from printed books and convert the images to speed-readable text or audio files and have them read to you.
Whether you want to strip visual clutter from webpages, see how a webpage is structured and jump straight to the part you want, or listen to the printed word being read to you, you can do so for free.
Are these things really free?
At the time of writing, the following websites and apps were available for free, or at least had a free version you can use. Please check whether an app offers everything you need for free forever before becoming invested in using it. OneNote and MindView are premium products the University makes available to all our students for free.
What additional support do you offer?
If you have any specific difficulties with your vision or reading, please reach out to your Faculty Librarian, who can advise on what the Library can do to support you. You can find your Faculty Librarian's contact details on your subject page. We have access to alternative formats of works through RNIB Bookshare, equipment and software that can make learning easier for anyone who needs it. If you need help finding your Faculty Librarian, please get in touch with any member of library staff and we will be happy to help you.
Reading and writing
Print-to-text and text-to-speech converters
If you need to speed read or listen to something only available in print or that comprises an image of text rather than something your computer can read for you, you can photograph the pages of the chapter you want to speed read or listen to using your phone and then use OneNote or Robobraille to convert them.
Robobraille excels at reliably turning files, web pages and even images of printed books, journals, newspapers and magazines that you might not want to or be easily able to read into more accessible formats, from plain text to mp3 audio files, allowing you to use your computer, phone or tablet to help you speed read it or have it read out loud to you.
OneNote converts almost anything, including photographs of printed pages taken with your phone, into a screen-readable text file you can speed read or have read aloud to you. OneNote is available as part of Microsoft 365 (formerly Microsoft Office) and is available for free to all our students and staff.
Speed readers
People with dyslexia often find that some speed reading apps which show only one word at a time in fast succession focused on a single point on the page, help them to read more effectively. These same apps allow many more people to read much faster and improve memory retention because they remove the need to scan large volumes of text.
SwiftRead is a browser extension that takes files and webpages and shows you the text 1-3 words at a time (you choose how many), centred on the page, at a rate you choose. The way content is presented is highly customisable but the central word typically appears in exactly the same place, giving you a static focal point to look at while you speed-read the changing text. This helps most people read much faster, reduces visual distractions, can help people with dyslexia focus on one word at a time, and benefits anyone with a restricted field of vision or limited eye movement to read effectively and effortlessly at speed.
Spreeder is a free alternative that operates through a website, so if you cannot install the SwiftRead extension for any reason, Spreeder is a great alternative.
Help with your writing style
If you struggle with grammar or you would like help expressing yourself more clearly and concisely, these two popular apps can help:
Try both and see which you prefer. While premium versions are available via personal subscription, the most useful tools are included in the free versions.
Visual learning
Many people who think visually find it helpful to sketch ideas. A mind map that breaks a topic into branching trees of related ideas can show how concepts are structured and interrelate. Creating mind maps can help you understand the structure of an assignment or revision topic better, unleash your creativity, help you to collaborate, solve problems, and think critically. Other people find sketchnoting or creating image collages helpful for organising and connecting ideas, particularly for visual and creative projects. There are several apps and websites that can support both, and nothing is stopping you from creatively combining different approaches.
Mind mapping tools
- MindMeister is available as a free online app.
- MindView is only available to University of Portsmouth students and staff. It is a downloadable desktop app available from the University through AppsAnywhere. You may need to be connected to the University computer network (connect on campus or via the VPN) to log into AppsAnywhere.
Sketchnotes
Sketchnotes are a great way to record and connect ideas creatively and by hand. Take a look at our books and ebooks on sketchnoting.
Image collages
There are many ways to bring together images and annotate them to explore themes and ideas and to support your learning. Collages can be used to record field trips, collate and organise visual evidence, gather design ideas and artistic inspiration, curate photo albums and illustrate concepts. Many apps allow you to add text and notes so you can include your ideas and thoughts with the images. You might even turn a heavily annotated collage into a visually appealing infographic, conference or seminar poster. Not least, they are a potentially useful tool for self-expression.
Various bloggers list popular and free to use collage apps of the moment. Please check whether an app offers everything you need for free before becoming invested in using it.
Personal organisation
If you find mind mapping, sketchnoting, and other visualisation techniques overly complex and unwieldy or you simply seek an online way to order and update your life, these list management apps might be some of your new best friends:
- Workflowy offers flexible, taggable, collapsible lists to help record, organise and prioritise your thoughts, notes and tasks. The mobile app is simple and intuitive to use. You can just drag and drop items to create nested.
- Monday.com offers sophisticated project management tools and timelines for up to two people for free with a student account (and free trials if you need more people involved or more features). Allows you to manage multiple boards and organise projects with tasks and sub-tasks.
- Goblin Tools combines tools to organise your task list. Available as a website and a downloadable app, Goblin Tools helps estimate how long different tasks might take, breaks down tasks into a logical sequence of sub-tasks on request, offers guidance on understanding and adjusting the tone of content you have written, and even helps with life tasks, including what you can cook with the ingredients you have available.
Flashcards for learning and revision
Research has shown that flashcards are the fastest and easiest way of learning new information and the most effective way to revise.
Chegg Flashcards allow you to create mobile-friendly digital flashcards.
GoConqr allows you to go further and create flashcards, mind maps, notes, flowcharts, quizzes and presentations your quest to consolidate what you have learned.