Wrise Accessible Mac Word Processor
Author: AssistiveWare
Published: 2015/01/28 - Updated: 2025/06/17
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: Electronics and Software - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Wrise is a new word processor for Mac that makes reading and writing accessible for everyone.
Introduction
AssistiveWare announced the release of its latest Mac OS X application Wrise, which will be introduced at this week's Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference in Orlando, Florida. This new addition to the AssistiveWare suite of assistive technology solutions is a word processor for Mac that makes reading and writing accessible for everyone.
Main Content
Designed to support reading comprehension and facilitate text composition, it can also be beneficial for individuals with dyslexia. Wrise offers several key features such as Text to Speech, word and sentence highlighting, zoom and Easy-Reading mode, through which texts become more comprehensible and eyestrain is reduced. Additional functionality such as Speak as you Type, word prediction and speech tags, can significantly reduce writing efforts.
Wrise is fully customizable and can be used to read selected text aloud in any Mac application. Users can personalize their reading experience by selecting their preferred voice, adjusting its speech rate and even fine-tuning the pronunciation of words. Moreover, it allows import of a variety of document types including PDF, Word (doc/docx), plain texts and RTF and with the intuitive formatting features texts are easily edited and styled. Powerful speech tags are available to further define reading speed, voice, language and volume and users can even create so-called custom tags to their own needs. Complemented by automatic language detection, tags enable users to effortlessly read multilingual texts. "Wrise is based on the recently updated GhostReader application distributed under our Convenience-Ware brand.
"Whereas GhostReader can be used for a wide range of activities such as podcast creation, proofreading and screenplay writing, Wrise specifically focuses on making reading and writing accessible for everyone through its reading and writing support features", says David Niemeijer, CEO and founder of AssistiveWare. "Wrise is the direct outcome of our March 2014 user survey that clearly highlighted the distinct differences between the needs of our mainstream users and special needs users."
System requirements:
- OS X 10.9 or later
- 64-bit processor
Pricing and availability:
Wrise 1.0 can be used with Text to Speech voices in many different languages, but the user interface is currently only available in English. The application is exclusively available through the Mac App Store at an introductory price of US$/EUR 29.99. After February 15 the price will be US$/EUR 59.99.
AssistiveWare, a leading innovator of assistive technology software for iOS and Mac OS X with over 125,000 customers worldwide, is committed to collaborating with the global community to make a difference in peoples lives. The company's flagship product, Proloquo2Go®, is an award-winning Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) application for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that provides a "voice" for people who have difficulty speaking or cannot speak at all. Founded in 2000, AssistiveWare was the first company to deliver universal access to Mac OS X with its award-winning Key-Strokes on-screen keyboard and the first to create genuine children's Text to Speech voices. Focused on its vision to empower people through innovative technology, AssistiveWare offers a wide-range of assistive technology products and services.