multiple readers

You asked . . . Steve answered!!

Sometimes there are two or more students in a class who would like to see the live transcript at the same time.  While this can be done by projecting the transcript onto a big screen, or by having the students cluster together around a single computer showing the transcript, there's a better option to consider: use the new cute and inexpensive netbook computers to have the transcript shown on multiple computers spread around the classroom.  

There are two ways to make the multiple-reader system work using TypeWell software.  One method uses the standard Transcriber software, and the other method uses the premium version of the Transcriber software.  The basic multi-reader technique is described at http://typewell.com/linking.html#tworeaders. 

That basic technique works great with the standard Transcriber software for many scenarios.  But, the basic technique does have a limitation: a reader can't type questions back to the transcriber without garbling the text the other readers see.  That's a drawback when the transcriber's duties include voicing the students' typed questions back to the class.

As described at the link above, that "garbled text" drawback is solved when you use the Premium version of TypeWell, with Skype linking.

There is a somewhat complex techie reconfiguration that can solve the "garbled text" problem for users of the Standard version, who use regular wireless-linking mode.   You'll need a tech guru to set up this  techie reconfiguration; but if you need this feature, it'll be worth it!   Besides, you need challenges like this every so often to keep the techs entertained.  :-)

Tech Details

The overall technique is to set the IP address on the Transcriber computer to 192.168.247.1, and the IP addresses on the two reader computers to 192.168.247.5 and 192.168.247.6.  Then we'll make the Transcriber able to access those higher addresses (5 and 6), but will leave the readers unable to "see" each other since they only see 1 through 4.

The detailed steps to do this are:

1. Set the IP addresses on the computers as shown above.
2. Close TypeWell on the Transcriber computer, if it was running. 
3. On the Transcriber computer only, edit the text file typewell.ini.  This is in the TypeWell system folder.  To locate this folder, read the section called "Locating the TypeWell system folder" on Kyp's Tips.
4. In the typewell.ini file, find the [Link] section.  If there is already a line somewhere below that saying wirelesssearch=4, change it to 8 instead.  If there's no such line, then insert a new line just below [Link] that reads: wirelesssearch=8
5. Save the file.

That's it!  Start TypeWell on all the machines.  They will all link together, but the typing on a Reader laptop will be sent only to the Transcriber, and not the other Reader.

Steve