At BETT 2023, Google announced several educational features coming to Chromebooks this year. Notably, ChromeOS and the Chrome desktop browser are getting Reader Mode.
As with Android last year, accessing this reading view is curious from the sidebar of a desktop browser. This is a new option in the drop-down menu that already has Reading List and Bookmarks. It is designed to reduce “distracting elements on the screen, such as images and videos, to help you focus on the main content of the page.”
Reading mode is displayed next to the original page, and you can increase the width of the panel at any time. Several fonts are offered with the ability to increase/decrease the text size, change the background color (light, dark, yellow, blue) and adjust the line spacing/margins.
Reader Mode will be coming to Chrome (Mac, Windows, Linux) and ChromeOS (version 114) later this year.
Meanwhile, the Screencast app was announced last year, allowing any teacher to record and annotate their Chromebook’s screen, as well as put their face and voice in a corner. Google then transcribes the spoken words and uploads the recording to Google Drive for easy class sharing.
Soon Google will provide recording and transcription support for Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, Italian and other new languages, as well as adding animated clicks/presses and the ability to highlight keyboard shortcuts. Finally, the new web player will allow students and educators to “view screencasts in any browser on any device.” These Screencast updates will begin rolling out with ChromeOS 112 in April.
Cast Moderator, which allows educators and students to share their Chromebook screen or Chrome desktop browser on a supported Google TV device, will soon support Dutch, Spanish, and Japanese, with “Cast Moderator Hardware” coming to Europe and Asia “later this year.” ” Besides:
Soon, any presenter will be able to pause the live screen to continue working on their laptop (for example, to take notes during a presentation). Teachers will also be able to switch the displayed tab without ending the broadcast session.
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