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Frequently Asked Questions

firefly
1. What is firefly and how does it supplement Kurzweil 3000 v13 Web License?
2. What are the primary differences in features between the installed version of Kurzweil 3000 Web License and firefly?
3. Why would I want to install Kurzweil 3000 Web License over using firefly or vice versa?
4. What is the Web Universal Library and how is it accessed/shared between both products?
5. I would like to add user accounts for use with Kurzweil 3000 Web License and firefly, what steps do I need to take?
6. What file formats can firefly open?
7. What mobile devices is firefly compatible with? The firefly iPad App is available.
Kurzweil 3000 General
1. Do you have a Getting Started document?
2. What are the system requirements for the latest version of Kurzweil 3000?
3. What is Kurzweil 3000 Professional Color in reference to?
4. What are the differences between the different editions of Kurzweil 3000 (i.e.: Standalone, Web License)?
5. Can my trial version be extended longer than 30 days?
6. Can Kurzweil 3000 recognize voice?
7. Does Kurzweil 3000 work on an iPad?
8. Does Kurzweil 3000 support English Language Learners?
9. What is the price of Kurzweil 3000 for individuals? What would be the best option for a parent?
10. Do you offer payment plans or other discounts?
11. What kind of research was completed that supports the efficacy of the product?
12. How do I get trained on using Kurzweil 3000?
13. Does technical support provide training?
14. What is the best way for me to get started?
Kurzweil 3000 Tips and Suggestions
1. Where can I get access to content for use in Kurzweil 3000?
2. How does Kurzweil 3000 work with PDFs?
3. What is Virtual Printing?
4. Why would I Virtual Print?
5. What is the KESI Taskbar?
6. Can books in Kurzweil 3000 format be distributed to specific students through the Web License Universal Library and not to others?
7. How do I know what scanners are compatible with Kurzweil 3000?
8. What are some practical tips for scanning print materials into Kurzweil 3000?
Kurzweil 1000 General
1. What are the system requirements for the latest version of Kurzweil 1000?
2. What are the differences between Kurzweil 3000 and Kurzweil 1000?

Contacting Technical Support

To contact Technical support, please see the information listed on the Customer Support page. Alternatively, you may access the Kurzweil 3000 Knowledge Book directly, for answers to common technical inquires.

firefly

1. What is firefly and how does it supplement Kurzweil 3000 v13 Web License?
firefly is a flash-based website that allows core Kurzweil 3000 functionality. The product functions as an extension of your Kurzweil 3000 Web License subscription, as you may access and upload files to the same web cloud storage area to share files between the products. firefly is only available with Kurzweil 3000 version 13 and higher of the Web License Edition.
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2. What are the primary differences in features between the installed version of Kurzweil 3000 Web License and firefly?
Kurzweil 3000 Web License has all the features of previous versions, and more. Note that it must be installed on client computers.

firefly is new and completely delivered online, due to this its feature set is still growing. Enhancements are being introduced regularly to firefly.

Please see the features page for firefly's capabilities.
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3. Why would I want to install Kurzweil 3000 Web License over using firefly or vice versa?
Kurzweil 3000 Web License would be preferred for students that require the full feature set of Kurzweil 3000 functionality.

At present, firefly would be primarily for on-the-go access and reading of Kurzweil files. For instance, in a public library, using an Android device, or via the firefly iPad application. Please review the features of Kurzweil 3000 compared to firefly to determine where you might employ each.
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4. What is the Web Universal Library and how is it accessed/shared between both products?
The Web Universal Library is web based file storage that you may access directly from Kurzweil 3000 Web License or firefly. Any file you save to the library in either Kurzweil 3000 or firefly is immediately accessible in both products and the firefly iPad application.
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5. I would like to add user accounts for use with Kurzweil 3000 Web License and firefly, what steps do I need to take?
First you would login to firefly with your account information. If you are the coordinator and do not have your account login, please fill out the activation form in order for your account to be fully activated; you will be emailed your credentials when processing is complete. If you are a teacher or a student, please contact your coordinator for your login information.

Once logged in, click "Users" at the top of the page. When the Users page loads you should see data entry fields near the top of the page i.e., First Name, Last Name. Please complete the fields and then click "Add New" to add a user. Note that for students, you will check the "Is Student" check-box. The student or teacher you are adding will receive an email with their login and password.
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6. What file formats can firefly open?
firefly is compatible with the .KES and .TXT format only, at this time.
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7. What mobile devices is firefly compatible with?
The firefly iPad App is available.

firefly should work on any device that is flash capable, as it is a flash based web product. Please review the firefly system requirements for more details. The Apple iPad is officially supported, if you would like the application you may search for Kurzweil in the Apple Store app or navigate directly through this link.

If you would like more details about firefly for the iPad, please view our firefly for the iPad product page.
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Kurzweil 3000 General

1. Do you have a Getting Started document?
Yes. The attached PDFs can help you get up and running with Kurzweil 3000 very quickly.
Download Getting Started on Windows here.
Download Getting Started on Macintosh here.
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2. What are the system requirements for the latest version of Kurzweil 3000?
Windows
Mac
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3. What is Kurzweil 3000 Professional Color in reference to?
Kurzweil 3000 Professional Color is the current license type available.

Professional Color - This is the full featured license type for Kurzweil 3000. It has all of the tools and features that are available in Kurzweil 3000, plus the ability to scan, open PDF files, along with optical character recognition (OCR) in color or black and white. The 30-day trial shares the same features as the Professional Color, but cannot be activated to full product.
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4. What are the differences between the different editions of Kurzweil 3000 (i.e.: Standalone, Network, Web License)?
Standalone - This edition is intended for use on individual computers. It comes with a serial number for activation and can be installed on up to two different machines, but used on only one of those at a time (i.e.: Only one person can use the license at a time), see End User License Agreement for greater detail. Standalone is best for individuals or small implementations.

Network - This edition involves a floating license server component. Licenses are installed from a USB Keydisk to a license manager hosted by the customer. Client software can then be installed on as many machines as desired, where they would then pull licenses from the server over the Local Area Network (LAN) connection. Network is best for single location school-based implementations.

Web License - This edition involves a floating license component that is web based (the licenses are stored on the Cambium Learning server and an Internet connection is required for access). A user database is configured by the customer to allow for unique user logins to the server. Clients can be installed on as many machines as desired, where they would then pull licenses from the server over their Internet connection. Web License is best suited to multiple location school, district, or other wide-area implementation.
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5. Can my trial version be extended longer than 30 days?
No. The FREE 30 day Trial cannot be extended or loaded on more than one machine. It also cannot be converted/activated to a full client version.
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6. Can Kurzweil 3000 recognize voice?
No, Kurzweil 3000 does not perform voice recognition/speech to text functionality.
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7. Does Kurzweil 3000 work on an iPad?
While Kurzweil 3000 does not run on an iPad there is a firefly application for the iPad.
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8. Does Kurzweil 3000 support English Language Learners?
Yes. Kurzweil 3000 provides a multi-sensory approach to learning by providing reading, writing, listening and speaking support. The information download tab in this section has several documents that can be downloaded that describes how Kurzweil 3000 supports English Language Learners.
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9. What is the price of Kurzweil 3000 for individuals? What would be the best option for a parent?
For users who need to access the most common digital formats, Kurzweil 3000 Professional Color is available. Contact customer service for more details on pricing. College students can contact customer service at customerservice@cambiumtech.com or 1-800-547-6747 to inquire about special college student pricing.
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10. Do you offer payment plans or other discounts?
Volume discounts are available to schools who are implementing the product throughout either the school or district. From time to time, we do offer special end of year promotions for schools/districts. At this time, we do not offer any discount to the individual purchase of the product.
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11. What kind of research was completed that supports the efficacy of the product?
Research & Efficacy
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12. How do I get trained on using Kurzweil 3000?
There are "How To" videos that can be accessed in the product via the Help menu. The product guides also contain step-by-step instructions. Videos are also posted on the Cambium Technologies YouTube channel. You can also arrange training, attend an online webinar, or access a FREE public webex. For more information, please go to our implementation and professional services section.
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13. Does technical support provide training?
No, Technical support primarily provides troubleshooting for issues you may encounter with the product; such as errors in the product. For training options it is recommended that you refer to the resources available to you, please see the list of resources located above.
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14. What is the best way for me to get started?
Download or order a Trial DVD. Install the software for FREE for 30 days. Then go to our YouTube channel and listen to other users tell how Kurzweil 3000 changed their lives. This is also a great place to find HOW TO videos and other helpful tools. Visit our FACEBOOK page and become part of the Kurzweil 3000 online social network.
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Kurzweil 3000 Tips and Suggestions

1. Where can I get access to content for use in Kurzweil 3000?
Kurzweil 3000 Content Resources
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2. How does Kurzweil 3000 work with PDFs?
It is important to recognize that PDFs can come in a variety of configurations (image, text, locked). This understanding is integral when deciding how best to work with PDFs. Here is a table to help describe the features of each PDF type and its accessibility to Kurzweil 3000.
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3. What is Virtual Printing?
Virtual Printing is a function of Kurzweil 3000 Professional Color and Black & White Editions for Windows that allows any electronic document that you could print on paper to be virtually printed into the KES file format for use in Kurzweil 3000. It is a very simple process to undertake. On your computer with Kurzweil 3000 Professional installed, open the document you wish to convert to Kurzweil 3000 format, within your File Menu choose Print, when the Print Dialog box opens, simply change printers from your standard paper based printer to the KESI Virtual Printer, then click print. The remainder is automatic and your file will open in Kurzweil 3000, converted, and ready to read!
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4. Why would I Virtual Print?
You would choose to Virtual Print a document for three, or more, reasons:

1. The document is in a file format that Kurzweil 3000 cannot read directly within the program.

2. The document is one that you would like to annotate using Kurzweil 3000 Study Skills tools or share with others using Kurzweil 3000

3. It is a document that requires answers to questions, i.e. Fill-in-the-Blanks, that will distort the original document with their completion and/or the document contains text that could easily be deleted in its current format.

There are many other reasons to Virtual Print a document. It is important to remember that this process converts the file into the KES format, which limits the ability to edit the source material, but provides the opportunity to apply the entire Kurzweil 3000 toolset and features to understanding the material or completing an important task.

A common example for the use of Virtual Printing is a teacher created test that includes fill-in-the-blank or essay responses that has been created in MS Word for which the teacher does not want the student to edit the questions or format.
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5. What is the KESI Taskbar?
The KESI Taskbar is a utility that installs with any edition of Kurzweil 3000 for Windows. It can be found in the lower right hand taskbar area of your Windows taskbar. If you do not see it after installation, try right clicking your taskbar and turning it on in the Toolbars menu (you may need Administrator privileges). Once installed, the KESI Taskbar is easy to use. Simply copy/paste or drag/drop text into the tool and it will read your material aloud to you. This is very useful when you do not have the time to convert an entire document or Kurzweil 3000 Professional is not available. Any text you can copy, the KESI Taskbar can read. Other options in the KESI Taskbar include: reading speed, reading voice, and dictionaries.
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6. Can books in Kurzweil 3000 format be distributed to specific students through the Web License Universal Library and not to others?
You can still copy .kes files to CDs or USB sticks and distribute media that way. Files can also be assigned to students privately or saved into a "public" folder using Kurzweil 3000's Universal Library cloud storage. The optional service offers unlimited cloud storage to save, open, upload, and distribute .kes files from within Kurzweil 3000. For ease of upload and download for all users, files should be limited to individual chapters, as opposed to entire texts.
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7. How do I know what scanners are compatible with Kurzweil 3000?
Kurzweil 3000 for Windows is designed to work with scanners that meet the TWAIN standard for image capture devices, which includes the vast majority of scanners available today. If you buy a flatbed scanner that is marked with the TWAIN logo you should have no trouble using that device with Kurzweil 3000 for Windows. If you are looking to use Kurzweil 3000 for Windows with a high-speed scanning device the easiest way to determine 100% compatibility is to order a Trial Edition of Kurzweil 3000 to test with your scanner. If you should find a device that doesn't work contact Technical Support.
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8. What are some practical tips for scanning print materials into Kurzweil 3000?
Whenever possible, locate reading material in a supported electronic format which may eliminate the need to scan

Use the highest quality source material possible (no pen/pencil marks, smooth and flat, free of smudged text, etc...).

Avoid scanning newsprint.

Close the lid of the scanner completely.

Save often while scanning.

Scan material in logical segments (chapters) versus an entire book to avoid extremely large files.

Test the quality of scanned material before continuing the entire process (Is the primary text reading well? Does the material read in order for the most part?).

Try scanning in both black/white and color to determine which provides the best results.

When necessary, adjust scan settings in the Tools>Options>Scanning menu.

Try a different OCR (optical character recognition) engine.

Adjust the brightness of the scan.

You can even adjust the scanning language to support English Language Learners (remember, Kurzweil 300 includes: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish voices).

Zone Edit to correct reading order.

Back up your scanned materials to another location.
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Kurzweil 1000 General

1. What are the system requirements for the latest version of Kurzweil 1000?
Windows
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2. What are the differences between Kurzweil 3000 and Kurzweil 1000?
Kurzweil 3000 and Kurzweil 1000 both offer similar functionality in that they are both reading/writing tools that provide OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and TTS (Text To Speech) utility. However, while Kurzweil 3000 provides a graphical user interface (i.e.: toolbars with buttons), Kurzweil 1000's navigation is intended to be more accessible to users who are visually impaired. This means that Kurzweil 1000 provides many keyboard shortcut commands while removing the graphical user interface. A starting point to determine which is best for your circumstances is to consider: Does the end-user access the computer using point-and-click with a mouse? If the answer is "yes", then Kurzweil 3000 may be indicated. If not, then consider Kurzweil 1000.
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