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Canadian Communicate: SymWriter 2 is a word processor with an over 40,000 word symbol vocabulary that activates, inspires, and guides reluctant writers.
Fully English/French bilingual, SymWriter is a proven writing tool for:
- English and or French language learners
- Reluctant or struggling intermediate writers
- Students on the Autism spectrum or with cognitive or physical challenges
- French immersion programs
- Primary writers
Free Upgrade
Do you have Communicate: SymWriter Canadian Edition? If you do, you can upgrade with a free download.
If you don't, contact Bridges for upgrade Pricing.
En français
Écriture avec symbole facile pour tout le monde!
Communicate: SymWriter 2, version Canadienne, est un traitement de texte avec plus de 40.000 mots de vocabulaire avec symbole qui active, inspire et guide les écrivains réticents. Entièrement bilingues français/anglais.
SymWriter est un outil d'écriture prouvée pour:
- Les étudiants de langue française ou anglaise
- Les écrivains intermédiaires réticents ou en difficulté
- Les étudiants sur le spectre de l'autisme ou ayant des difficultés cognitives ou physiques
- Les étudiants des programmes d'immersion en français
Caractéristiques
- Écrire librement avec des symboles ou du texte
- Symbolisation intelligente basée sur des parties du discours
- Vérificateur orthographique avec symboles
- Environnements d'écriture structurées synthèse vocale, balayage d'accès adapté
Français et en anglais
- SymWriter passe du français à l'anglais avec aise
- Symbolisation complète dans les deux langues
- Synthèse vocale française et anglaise de haute qualité
- L'appui du vérificateur d'orthographe en français et en anglais
Symbolisation intelligente
- Utilise la structure et le contexte d'une phrase pour déterminer les symboles les plus appropriés.
- Permets aux utilisateurs de glisser et déposer des graphiques et des images aux documents à partir de pages Web ou importées à partir de votre ordinateur.
- Symbolisation de mots composés
Product Overview
Symbol Word Processor for Language Development
Simply type your sentences and SymWriter will convert your text into symbols. SymWriter uses natural language processing to present the best symbol match. High quality speech feedback reinforces the connections between words and symbols while guiding students in English or French.
SymWriter 2 is now packed with Canadian curricular symbols, place names and cultural references. Switch instantly from English to French and back for an ideal tool for teaching French in the primary grades or French Immersion Schools. SymWriter 2 is the ideal way to get your students writing in English or French.
Symbols Supporting Language Learning
Struggling writers can't get better without practice. With instant symbolizing to motivate and confirm meaning, no matter what the writing challenge is -- physical, cognitive, language unfamiliarity, learning disability ASD etc. -- SymWriter creates writers.
- Cognitively or physically challenged children: scribbling is a key step to writing, you'll be amazed how accessible writing grids with SymWriter's symbol and speech reinforcement can build on the earliest emerging literacy skills.
- Beginning writers and second language learners have help with small words, confusables, and new vocabulary.
- Junior and Intermediate writers at any age will find the science, geography, math and other symbols, clarify and solidify new curricular vocabulary.
Writing
- Write with symbols or text
- Environments supports new and emergent writers
- Create your own or use pre-made environments
- Download free and low-cost environments
- Show symbol choices, even in text mode
- Adjustable text and symbol size
- Import graphics to support specific words
Images
- The Widgit Symbol Set in colour and black white
- Easily import photographs and pictures
- Recolour symbols and change skin tones
- Copy and paste to and from other applications (Ctrl+Alt+C and Ctrl+Alt+V)
Support
- Smart Symbolising based on parts of speech
- Spell checking with symbols
- Full speech support
- Full access for one or two switches and switch scanning
Canadian Symbols
Canadianized by Bridges, SymWriter 2 is the ideal writing tool for teaching French in Junior/intermediate level.
SymWriter 2 switches from English to French and back with the click of a mouse: Full context symbolizing in both Canadian English and French.
- High quality French and English voices
- Canadian English and French Symbolized Spellchecker
- Paste in Canadian English or French text for instant symbolizing.
- Canadian specific cultural and social studies specific symbols in French and English and more coming -- for free!
SymWriter 2 reinforces Canadian curricular vocabulary with hundreds of Canada-specific symbols.
New Features
Format Painter
- Copy and paste formatting properties across Documents and Environments.
- The Format Painter is a new tool that can be used to copy the formatting properties (font, colours, symbol size, text size etc,.) from any content in your Document or Environment.
- Using the Format Painter, you can easily ensure consistent formatting throughout your writing and grids.
More Freedom when Editing Grids
- You can quickly customize the size of specific Cells in Grids while designing an Environment.
- Just highlight a Cell (or Cells) and then use the drag points around the border of the selection.
- A real time saver when you want a Grid featuring sentence starters in the first column of cells followed by single word sentence closers.
More Control Over Symbols
- Apply Cell actions across as many items as you like
- You can copy the assigned actions from any cell or button and add them to others.
- When you have a whole bunch of cells and buttons you want to do the same thing, it takes seconds to set it up
Copy Actions Across Multiple Cells
- Apply Cell actions across as many items as you like
- You can copy the assigned actions from any cell or button and add them to others.
- When you have a whole bunch of cells and buttons you want to do the same thing, it takes seconds to set it up
New Switch Scanning Features
- Set up a personalized configuration for Switch users.
- Directional scan mode
- The ability to use the mouse as a switch
- Customization settings for auditory scans
- Automatic scan speeds and coloured indicators.
For Teachers
Communicate: SymWriter is an easy-to-use symbol writing program. Symbols appear above the words as you type and ‚¬˜smart symbolising' analyses the text to help select the correct symbols. You can drop in photos and images to illustrate your document, or add them to a word to replace a symbol for more specific meaning.
SymWriter's flexibility allows you to create documents with just the level of graphic support you need. SymWriter is perfect for teachers who want to produce straightforward symbol-supported materials that are easily understood by learner
For Beginning Writers
When typing in text mode, students can see the meaning of the words in the symbol chooser. Symbols give the writer visual assistance, reinforcing meaning and improving confidence. SymWriter features text-to-speech and a spell checker with symbol support.
For Students Writing With Grids
SymWriter 2's interactive environments use on-screen grids to make writing accessible to users that need additional help. Users can select items from the grids (using a mouse, keyboard, touch screen or switches) to be automatically added to their document, switch to another grid, or to perform a range of actions.
The environment editor makes it easy for teachers to create their own activities or to adapt an existing environment. Environments can be as simple or as complex as you like, from enabling users to build basic sentences and play simple games to creating whole documents, acting as an on-screen keyboard or a powerful teaching aid for whiteboards.
Specifications and Technical Support
Recommended Running Specification
- XP (service pack 3), Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
- Pentium processor (800MHz min, Pentium 4 or above at 1Ghz min preferred)
- 256Mb RAM min, preferably 512MB or above and Sound Card
- 1GB hard disk space.
- Minimum resolution of 1024x768.
- Supports widescreen resolutions.
Video Tutorials
Help Sheets
Manuals and Guides
Bridges accepts institutional P.O’s (purchase orders).
Call us for a quote or just fax or email a P.O. on your letter head.
How secure is my online order?
Any information submitted through the web store is safe and secure. Bridges uses state-of-the-art security encryption methods to ensure the highest standards of security for its online customers.
What payment methods are accepted?
We accept Visa and MasterCard for online orders.
What if I do not have a credit card?
If you do not have a credit card, please call us at 1-800-353-1107 (8:30am - 4:30pm EST) to discuss alternative payment methods.
How do I know if you have received my order?
When your order has been completed, you will receive a confirmation e-mail that will be sent to the e-mail address that you entered in the "Registration” page before checkout.
Shipping
What shipping options are available?
Most of our items are shipped by secured courier, which takes 3-5 business days to reach the customer. Where service is not available, or due to the special requirements of the product, we will also use UPS, Puralator or Canada Post.
Ordering multiple, heavy-weighted items?
If our store can’t calculate your shipping costs during checkout, your order may fall outside weight, size, or destination restrictions, for online ordering.
Sorry about that.
Just contact us by email or phone and we'll figure out another way to get your order to you.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated individually depending on the weight and size of the item. This will be calculated automatically upon checkout and will be included in the total price when you go to the checkout.
How long does it take for me to receive my order?
Order processing time depends on availability of the product from the manufacturer, but typically products are shipped within 10-15 business days after the order is placed. See shipping options for the number of days it will take to reach you after it leaves our warehouse.
Do you ship internationally?
No, we currently sell our products and services only in Canada.
How can I track my order?
When the order is shipped out, you will receive an e-mail with a tracking number. If you do not receive this e-mail, please call 1-800-353-1107 (8:30am - 4:30pm EST) to receive your tracking number.
Returns
Do you offer a money back guarantee?
We offer a 21-day money-back guarantee unless otherwise noted. Products must be returned in a resalable condition as determined by Bridges. Returns are subject to a 20 percent restocking fee after 21-days. Many of our manufacturers offer additional limited warranties of longer durations on their products. Returns will no longer be accepted after a period of 90 days. Please call us at 1-800-353-1107 (8:30am - 4:30pm EST) or send an e-mail to info@bridges-canada.com for more information about manufacturer's warranties or returning your product.
Please note, customers cannot return software for a refund. However, we do offer a store credit for the full amount if returned within 21 days. After 21 days a restocking fee may apply.
How do I return a product?
To return a product you need to get a Return Authorization (R.A.) number from us. Please call us at 1-800-353-1107 (8:30am - 4:30pm EST), e-mail us at info@bridges-canada.com or fax us at 905-542-7242 to get an R.A. number and further instructions. Please note, Bridges will not accept returns without an R.A. number. The customer is responsible for shipping costs of returned products.
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