Kurzweil 1000 makes printed or electronic text accessible to people with blindness and visual impairments — speaking text aloud in a variety of natural-sounding voices that can be modified to individual preferences. Kurzweil 1000 combines traditional reading machine technologies such as scanning, image processing, and text-to-speech with communication and productivity tools. It delivers quick access to a wealth of information including online books, magazines and encyclopedias. Features for note taking, summarizing content, and outlining text are also included.