Parents' Guide to

Claro ScanPen

By Ashley Kemper, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Easy-to-use tool that gives voice to printed text.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad Paid Education
Claro ScanPen Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Claro ScanPen App Screenshot #1
  • Claro ScanPen App Screenshot #2
  • Claro ScanPen App Screenshot #3

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What’s It About?

CLARO SCANPEN opens immediately into the tool and allows users to take a picture of a page of typed text. Once the tool automatically scans the picture, kids can use their fingers to highlight the text they want read to them. Features include an X that allows kids to erase the current screen to scan something new, a settings gear to adjust the speed or tone of the computerized voice, and access to the photo roll. Users can select entire passages, independent sentences, or specific words to have read aloud to them. Once they're finished, kids click the X in the corner and move on to the next page. It's possible to buy additional reading voices from the settings, but that option isn't prominently displayed to kids.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The optical character recognition (OCR) technology that converts text to audio is as good as it gets. Arguably, the most impressive feature is how quickly it allows kids to snap a picture, process the page, highlight, listen, and move on to the next page. Though not intended to replace reading-comprehension instruction, this app levels the playing field for content-heavy reading tasks, especially as kids gather information to meet classroom demands. One disadvantage is that the voice reading the text is computerized, so emphasis is not always placed on the right words in a sentence. Also, if a page is not scanned clearly, the computerized voice will only read independent letters it identifies: Some kids may not understand what's happening and may grow more confused about what they're hearing. As they use the app and learn how to troubleshoot the blurry parts of text, kids will grow more confident in the process. So long as the user takes a clear picture of typed text (not handwritten), this tool makes text much more accessible to kids who struggle with reading.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about problem-solving and persevering: For kids with different learning needs, assistive technology can be a useful tool to level the playing field with their peers. Families might discuss the importance of using tools to overcome reading challenges.

  • Talk about appropriate times to use assistive technology; for instance, when someone is talking, it may be inappropriate to scan a book and have it read aloud. On the other hand, kids might use headphones to scan and hear signs or directions when visiting a new place.

App Details

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