The Soliloquy Reading Assistant, developed by Waltham, Mass.-based software company Soliloquy Learning Inc., has been used for several years by students in kindergarten through 12th grade. CCRI is one of the first colleges to try the technology...

...But the power of the system is in the software, which can evaluate reading skills as a user reads prepared text into a microphone. Soliloquy can track mistakes such as skipped words or mispronunciations. It also measures reading speed and can test users’ abilities to understand what they’re reading with comprehension questions...

...Many users have already experienced improvements, CCRI instructors said, because they’re getting one-on-one attention and they don’t feel the pressure of reading out loud in front of a class...

...CCRI officials said 40 to 60 students are taking the basic reading class and using the computer technology this semester...Already, CCRI wants to expand the program to assist all students who test below a 10th-grade level.