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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:
Visual Features
Visual tab features are available in all three editions of SuperNova:
Magnifier & Speech
Magnifier & Screen Reader
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.
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.
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.
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 & ScreenReader
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Braille Features
The Braille tab features are available in:
SuperNova Magnifier & ScreenReader
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.
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.
Media Features
Media features are available in all three editions of SuperNova:
Magnifier
Magnifier & Speech
Magnifier & ScreenReader
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.
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.
Help and Support
Help and support is always available in any edition of SuperNova:
Magnifier
Magnifier & Speech
Magnifier & ScreenReader
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 Video Tutorials
Learn how to use each of the SuperNova features in these Dolphin video tutorials.
Choose a playlist below to watch the SuperNova features in action:
SuperNova Benefits a Range of Sectors
Schools & Colleges
SuperNova gives students with visual impairments reliable technology that helps advance their learning. Dolphin provides support and training for students and staff.
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.
Technical Information
SuperNova Blog Articles
- Assistive Technology for a Productive Workforce
- Make Your Self-Service Kiosks Accessible
- Case Study: Senior IT Systems Engineer
- Testimonial: SuperNova at Work, Mark Abel
- 6 Ways to Make Digital Content Accessible
- Growing Up With Braille
- SuperNova Case Study: Ruth
- Assistive Tech Levels the Playing Field