SuperNova Features | Dolphin Computer Access

SuperNova logo

SuperNova Features

All visual, audio, braille and media features in the SuperNova range
 

Features in All Three SuperNova Editions

The SuperNova Control Panel has four feature category tabs: Visual, Speech, Braille and Media. Each SuperNova edition includes some or all of these feature categories.

To help you decide which SuperNova edition best suits you, choose from the list below and explore the features in detail:

SuperNova Control Panel enlarged and displayed on a laptop.

Visual Features

Visual tab features are available in all three editions of SuperNova:

 

Magnifier

SuperNova Magnifier Brand Icon

Magnifier & Speech

SuperNova Magnifier & Speech Brand Icon

Magnifier & Screen Reader

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader Brand Icon

Magnification Options

1 to 64 times magnification

Zoom in and out with control panel, shortcut keys or mouse wheel. 

8 magnifier views

Magnify the full screen, half of the screen, or apply magnification to a fixed or moveable window.

Touchscreen magnification

Use simple gestures to zoom in and explore on touchscreen devices

Advanced text smoothing

True Fonts makes text sharp and smooth at all levels of magnification. Available on Windows Desktop and Microsoft Office and 365, Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint. Use Bold Fonts to boost text clarity.

Automatic tracking

Magnification tracks the cursor and mouse, so you never lose your place.

Graphics showing a SuperNova magnified, split screen.
Graphics showing a SuperNova magnified screen.

Colour and Highlighting Options

Colour schemes

Adjust colours to reduce glare and make text easier to view. Choose from 24 preset colour schemes, or create your own.

Mouse pointers

200 high vis mouse pointers available. Set the pointer to a fixed size, or set to increase in line with the magnification.

Focus highlighting

Add a highlight to the mouse pointer, the cursor, the line and more.

Image enhancements

Advanced image sharpening boosts the clarity of images and makes them easier to view.

Multiple Monitors

Magnify across as many monitors as you like, with options for each screen, including:

Span mode

Stretches your application across multiple displays.

Side-by-side mode

Display a different application on each monitor (e.g. Microsoft Word on one, Microsoft Excel on another). Each can be set with its own magnification and colour scheme. Ideal for multi-tasking.

Clone mode

Display the same application on different screens with independent settings. Ideal for collaborating with sighted colleagues.

Presentation mode

Designed for PowerPoint presentations. Magnify your speaker notes while the audience views slides in their original size.

Mouse buffer

Keep track of the mouse when switching between monitors. Choose a resistance level, or use a Hotkey to switch to the next monitor.

Graphics showing a SuperNova on multiple monitors, with different settings on each monitors.
Desktop CCTV camera magnifying a paper document, which is displayed through SuperNova on a PC.

Connect & View

Connect a camera

Connect a web cam, document cam or CCTV to turn your laptop or PC into a video magnifier. Use to magnify and view letters, magazines, newspapers or printed learning resources. Find out more about SuperNova compatible cameras.

Connect to an interactive whiteboard

Magnify and view the class whiteboard on your screen. Ask your teacher to download the SuperNova Whiteboard Wizard for quick and easy set up. 

Accessibility options

Add magnification, change colours and rotate images. Cycle between full screen and split screen views, for easy notetaking. 

Explore further

Freeze the image to explore it in detail, or copy an image to the clipboard to view later.

Scan, read and annotate

Scan text from an image and listen to it read aloud. You can add annotations, which helps you complete printed forms and worksheets. Available in SuperNova Speech editions only.

Accessible Reading Modes

Doc Reader

Reflows documents, emails and web pages in a dedicated window, for accessible reading. Choose your preferred text size and colours. Speech editions include an option to read text aloud.

Line View

Scroll text from a document, email or web page across the screen as a single line. Adjust text size, colours and scroll speed. Ideal for people with a restricted field of vision.

Graphics showing a SuperNova in Doc Reader mode.
Graphics showing a a hooked area.

Advanced Visual Options

Margin release

Adds a highlight to the outside edges of the screen. This makes it easier to identify when the mouse pointer gets close to the edge.

Hooked areas

Capture and display a portion of the screen and keep it in view at all times. Useful for keeping track of time, viewing the address bar in a web browser, or the formula bar in Microsoft Excel.

Speech Features

Speech features are available in these editions of SuperNova:

 

SuperNova Magnifier & Speech

SuperNova Magnifier & Speech Brand Icon

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader Brand Icon

Graphics showing a SuperNova toolbar with speech options.

Speech Options

Character echo

Controls how much is spoken as you type. Select whether to speak characters, words or both. The SuperNova Magnifier & Screen Reader edition can also speak new lines and spaces as you type.

Speak text under the mouse

Read any text under the mouse pointer. Choose to read text immediately, or add a delay to only read aloud when the mouse hovers over the text.

Human-sounding Voices

Choice of voices

Up to four human-sounding voices available. This number may vary, depending on the user's language settings.

Voice preferences

Turn the voice on and off. Adjust the volume and speed. 

Synthesiser configuration

Switch the synthesiser to use any other voices available on your device settings.

Graphics showing a SuperNova toolbar with voice options.

Read From Here Mode

Listen to documents, emails and web pages read aloud from the cursor position. Read From Here includes:

Highlighting

Each word and line is highlighted as it is read by the speech.

Text style announcements

Choose whether to announce punctuation and capitals while reading.

Pause and navigate

Pause the speech, then continue reading from the last word read. You can also move to the next sentence or paragraph whilse the voice is reading.

Works when speech is off

If the speech is off, Read From Here will temporarily turn the speech on, so you don’t have to do this manually.

Graphics showing a SuperNova with a pink highlighted text.
Graphic showing a laptop with the Dolphin Item Finder on the screen.

Basic Screen Reading

Dolphin Cursor

Use a light version of the Dolphin Cursor to explore web pages and applications with the keyboard.

Quick navigation

Move the Dolphin Cursor directly to headings and links in web pages and documents.

Speak keys

Eight core Speak keys to announce the current character, word, line and more.

Sound Splitting and Audio Ducking

Use Sound Splitting to listen to the speech through one earphone, while listening to a video call or music through the other. Alternatively, use Audio Ducking to decrease the volume of the computer audio when the SuperNova voice is speaking.

Item Finder

Displays a list of links and headings in a web page. Select an item to move the Dolphin Cursor to it.

Screen Reader Features

Basic screen reading features are available in:

 

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader Brand Icon

Screen Reader Verbosity

Verbosity levels

Choose how much information the screen reader announces. Four levels to choose from – high (ideal for beginners), medium, low and minimum.

Advanced text style announcements

Choose which information is announced in documents and web pages. This includes blank lines, capitals, links, spelling errors and more. The speech can also announce text formatting, including font, size, colour, and whether text is bold, italic or underlined.

Advanced Speak keys

Over thirty Speak keys to announce the current character, word, line, paragraph, table and more. Also includes keys to speak, spell and phonetically read the focus.

Monitor markers

Enables the speech to announce changes on screen. Includes security notifications, file download progress, instant messaging notifications and more. 

Screen reader verbosity options on a laptop screen.
Graphic showing a laptop with the Dolphin Cursor on the screen.

Dolphin Cursor

The Dolphin Cursor enables people who are blind to explore applications and web pages using the keyboard. The Dolphin Cursor includes features to make it easier to explore the screen:

Find

Moves the Dolphin Cursor the next or previous instance of your search term. 

Select text

Select text from web pages and applications using your keyboard. 

Forms mode

Temporarily switches the Dolphin Cursor off so you can type into edit fields and select options from drop downs. 

Simulate mouse actions

Use your keyboard to perform mouse clicks and drag and drops.

Quick Navigation

Quick navigation keys

Move straight to items on web pages, Word documents and PDFs. Move to a heading, link, paragraph, edit field, button, checkbox and more. 

Item Finder

Lists all items within a web page or document, including headings, links, tables, spelling errors, Place Markers and more. Select an item to move the Dolphin Cursor to it.

Place Markers

Speeds up navigation on favourite web pages. Add a Place Marker to any text, heading, link, field or button, then skip straight to it the next time you visit the same page.

Graphic showing a laptop with the Item Finder on the screen.

Braille Features

The Braille tab features are available in:

 

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader Brand Icon

Braille Output

Braille displays

Supports over 60 Braille displays from industry-leading manufacturers.

Braille codes

Supports over 50 literary and computer braille translation tables, including Unified English Braille.

Braille verbosity

Choose how much information is relayed through your braille display. Choose from four levels: high (recommended for beginners), medium, low and minimum.

Physical mode

Shows the physical layout of the screen through your braille display. Ideal for understanding the layout of web pages and tables.

A laptop with braille output control panel buttons onscreen,
A laptop with Braille input control panel buttons onscreen.

Braille Input

Braille input keys

Use input keys on your braille display to type emails, documents and complete forms.

Cursor routing

Use the routing keys on your braille display to position the cursor and select links.

Dolphin Cursor

Use your braille display to control the Dolphin Cursor. This enables you to explore the screen entirely using a braille display.

Show Braille On Screen

Shows the braille output inside a small fixed window on the screen.

This feature enables your sighted colleagues and trainers to follow what is happening on screen as you use the braille display.

A laptop. with braille window at the top of the screen

Media Features

Media features are available in all three editions of SuperNova:

 

Magnifier

SuperNova Magnifier Brand Icon

Magnifier & Speech

SuperNova Magnifier & Speech Brand Icon

Magnifier & ScreenReader

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader Brand Icon

Scan and Read

Scan from scanner

Scan printed text and have it read aloud. Choose to open scanned text in the Doc Reader, or in Microsoft Word.

Scan from file

Scan and read text from image files and image-based PDFs.

Append extra pages

Add extra pages to your scanned text, then switch between them in the Doc Reader.

Annotate scanned text

Add text notes and highlights to scanned text. Ideal for completing worksheets and forms.

Please note: the Scan and Read feature is not available in SuperNova Magnifier.

User placing a document into a scanner.
A laptop with EasyReader for Windows on screen.

EasyReader

The EasyReader App is included with SuperNova. SMA holders also receive a free subscription to EasyReader Premium.

Accessible libraries

Find and read accessible books, newspapers and magazines with direct connections to accessible book services and talking newspaper stands around the world.

Accessible reader

Play, pause and navigate books. Read comfortably with your preferred text and audio settings.

Text reader

Open Word documents or text from the clipboard and listen to it read back.

EasyReader Premium

Synchronises your books list, reading positions, accessibility settings and more. Download books on Windows, then pick up where you left off on your iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone or tablet.

Entertainment Options

News

Subscribe to RSS news feeds. Choose an article to open it directly in your web browser.

Radio stations

Choose from a list of popular radio stations to listen to.

Podcasts

Subscribe and listen to a selection of popular podcasts.

SuperNova Media tab Entertainment options.

Help and Support

Help and support is always available in any edition of SuperNova:

 

Magnifier

SuperNova Magnifier Brand Icon

Magnifier & Speech

SuperNova Magnifier & Speech Brand Icon

Magnifier & ScreenReader

SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader Brand Icon

Illustration of a customer support worker wearing a headset and using a laptop.

In-Product Support

Remote Support

Enables the Dolphin Support team to identify and address issues with SuperNova on your computer.

Ask a question

Sends a message to the Dolphin team. Ideal if you have a question about how to use a particular feature.

Check for Updates

SuperNova checks for updates automatically. Updates are installed directly through SuperNova and contain new features and important fixes.

Getting Started

SuperNova manual

A comprehensive guide to all of SuperNova’s features and settings.

Context-sensitive help

Opens help for the application you’re currently using. Learn how to use SuperNova with Microsoft Office and popular web browsers.

Key describe mode

Press a shortcut key on the keyboard and find out what its function is in SuperNova.

Hotkey Helper

Search for shortcut keys to help you get the most out of SuperNova. Available in English only.

Video tutorials

View video playlists to learn SuperNova at your own pace.

SuperNova help options displayed from the control panel.

Buy SuperNova Packages

Buy a new tablet, laptop or desktop PC from Dolphin with SuperNova installed.

Explore Packages

Responsive Tech Support

A fast, meaningful response from the Dolphin product support team, every time.

Support Centre

SuperNova Benefits a Range of Sectors

Student using SuperNova on a laptop in class

Schools & Colleges

SuperNova gives students with visual impairments reliable technology that helps advance their learning. Dolphin provides support and training for students and staff.

In a large business meeting, an employee uses SuperNova on laptop to write notes

Professionals & Employees

Ensure colleagues with visual impairments reach their full potential at work. Businesses can rely on Dolphin software for simple deployment and responsive technical support.

A young woman is relaxing on a sofa and using SuperNova on her laptop.

Personal Use

Whether you're shopping online, creating documents in Microsoft Office, or reading printed letters or hard-copy documents -  SuperNova helps you get the task done.