Logging Into NaturalReader Online

Open NaturalReader Online in the Google Chrome browser (to be safe... though it should also work fine in Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firebox).
Click the Account link on the left.
Click Log In.
Now you have two options:
1. Either enter your student email address into the "your email" box and click Next to enter your password
2. OR log in with Google, if that is how you activated your account.

Using the Mobile App

As I noted, the interface and functionality is the same in the web interface. All of the instructions that I provide for the online version are identical in the mobile app.

The first time you open the mobile app, you will need to log in with your student email address and the password that you created OR use the log in with Google option. In any case, logging in with Google is always safe.

Uploading Documents

NaturalReader Plus can read practically any type of file, including PDFs, Word documents, ePUB books, and even photographs of text - which is particularly useful in the mobile app. It cannot read e-books that have been locked down by the publisher, however.

To upload your file, do any of the following:

Click the "+ Add Files" link on the top left, then find your file and select it (just like you would upload anything else to a website).
Open the folder with your document in it, then drag the file icon from your computer to the main text field.
Open your document, select all of the text in it, and then copy the text into the main text field.

Note: If the file you're uploading is too big, contact me for help. NaturalReader has upload size limits: 200MB for PDFs, and 50 MB for all other files. It is rare for digital texts to exceed those limits - but it does happen. I can break a huge file into chunks for you.

Tip: Use Your Phone or Tablet to Read Physical Text

In the mobile app on a tablet or smartphone, follow these steps to read any physical document, label, or sign:

Tap or click "Add Files" on the top left.
In the Mobile App, tap or click "Camera Scan"
Position your mobile device's camera over the text and take a photo.
Tap "Use Photo" on the bottom right of the screen (or Retake if the photo is blurry or you didn't capture all of the text).
An Images box will pop up, with English selected as the default.
Click "Add More" to add photos of additional pages, or just click Done.

After a moment or two, you will see your photo appear in the Library view. Just tap it to open and read.

Reading a Document

With your document open in NaturalReader, click the Play button at the top of the screen to listen to the text.
To open a document that you've uploaded earlier, click the Library link on the top left, then click the document title once.

Choosing a Voice

NaturalReader provides many voices to choose from, including Plus AI, Premium, and Free. Students registered with the Cañada College DRC may choose any of the voices - but I recommend sticking with the Plus AI options, since they are all extraordinarily realistic.

The program also provides voices for dozens of languages, as well as different accents in English. Click the language box at the top of the Voices list (which appears when you click the speaker's picture at the top of the page) to see them all.

How to Change the Reading Voice

Click the speaker's picture at the top of the page, then click on the circle next to a name to choose that voice.

Note: If you are reading in a language other than English, then click the language field to choose the correct language.

When you find a voice that you like, you may pin it to the list: Open the voice list, hover over the name, and then click the pin that appears on the left.

From then on, just click the pin icon at the top of the voice list to see your list of favorites.

Changing the Reading Speed

Click the reading speed at the top of the screen to open the Select Speed menu, then move the slider up or down as desired.

Navigating a Long Document

To find a specific word or phrase, click the three dots on the top right, then click the Find icon to open the search bar.

To mark your place in a long document or digital book, add a bookmark by clicking the three dots on the top right, then clicking the Add Bookmark icon. Here's how to find your bookmarks later:

Click the three dots on the top right, then click the Bookmark List icon.
The Bookmark List window will open, with your bookmarked text listed.
Hover your pointer over the bookmark that you need, then click the Play button next to it.
The window closes and you're taken to that spot in the text. NaturalReader starts reading at that point.