Getting Started with AssisT

Welcome to AssisT!

You’ve just installed augmentative learning technology designed to superpower how you read, write, and learn.

Beyond Accessibility: Technology That Empowers

AssisT isn’t just an accessibility tool - it’s designed to help everyone learn better.

You might think “accessibility tools” are only for people with disabilities. But think about it differently:

• Text-to-Speech isn’t just for dyslexic students - it’s for anyone who learns better by hearing. Speed readers. Multitaskers. Auditory learners.
• AI Summarization isn’t just for ADHD students - it’s for anyone tackling dense textbooks, research papers, or overwhelming reading lists.
• OCR isn’t just for visual impairments - it’s for anyone who needs to extract text from images, PDFs, or scanned documents.

Augmentative technology levels the playing field. Everyone has different learning strengths. AssisT helps you leverage YOUR strengths instead of struggling with your weaknesses.

Whether you’re neurodivergent, neurotypical, a visual learner, an auditory learner, or just someone who wants to learn more efficiently - AssisT is for you.

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Important: Where AssisT Works

This is the most important thing to know before using AssisT.

AssisT doesn’t work on every website by default

To protect your privacy, AssisT only works on educational platforms out of the box:

• Canvas LMS (*.instructure.com, *.canvas.com)
• Moodle (*.moodle.org, *.moodlecloud.com)
• Google Classroom (classroom.google.com)
• Google Docs (docs.google.com)

If you try to use AssisT on other websites, nothing will happen. This isn’t a bug—it’s by design.

How to Enable AssisT Everywhere

Want to use AssisT on Wikipedia, news sites, research databases, or any other website? Here’s how to enable it (this only takes 30 seconds and you only need to do it once):

Step 1: Click the AssisT icon in your Chrome toolbar

Step 2: Look for the “Enable Everywhere” button (you’ll see a yellow banner)

Step 3: Click the button. Chrome will show a permission dialog that says:

“AssisT wants to: Access your data on all websites”

Step 4: Click Allow

Step 5: Reload any tabs where you want to use AssisT

That’s it! AssisT now works on every website you visit.

Why does Chrome show that scary message?

Chrome requires all extensions to ask permission before they can access websites. This is a privacy protection—it ensures you know exactly where an extension can run.

AssisT never collects or sends your data anywhere. Everything runs locally in your browser. We just need Chrome’s permission to add accessibility features to web pages.

You can revoke this permission anytime in Chrome Settings → Extensions → AssisT → Site access.

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Step 1: Basic Setup

Now that you understand permissions, let’s set up AssisT.

Opening AssisT

Click the AssisT icon in your Chrome toolbar. You’ll see:

• Quick Start presets at the top (one-click setup for common needs)
• Feature sections organized by category
• Settings button (gear icon) for advanced options

Choose a Quick Start Preset

The fastest way to get started is to pick a preset that matches your needs:

Preset	Best For	What It Enables
ADHD Focus	Staying on task	Pomodoro timer, progress tracking, simplified interface
Dyslexia Support	Easier reading	OpenDyslexic font, wide spacing, reading progress bar
Sensory Sensitive	Reducing overwhelm	No animations, muted colors, media blocking

Click any preset to apply it instantly. You can always customize individual settings later.

Or Customize Manually

If you prefer to set things up yourself, AssisT organizes 35+ accessibility features into these sections:

1. Reading Help — Text-to-Speech, Reading Mode, Dyslexia Mode, OCR
2. Writing Help — Speech-to-Text, Sticky Notes, Annotations
3. Look Up Words — Dictionary, Translation, Highlight Menu
4. Reading Aids — Reading Guide, Focus Mode, Magnifying Lens
5. Pointer & Zoom — Custom Cursor, Screen Zoom
6. Visual Comfort — Color Overlays, Text Customization, Reduced Motion
7. Productivity — Pomodoro Timer, Text Statistics, Simplified Interface
8. School Tools — Citations, LMS Integration
9. AI Assist — Summarization, Simplification, Assignment Breakdown, and more

Toggle features on/off as needed. Settings are saved automatically and sync across devices when signed into Chrome.

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Step 2: Try Your First Feature

Let’s make sure everything is working. Here are three easy features to try:

Try Text-to-Speech

1. Go to any webpage (remember to enable AssisT everywhere first, or use Canvas/Moodle/Google Classroom)
2. Select some text with your mouse
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space to hear it read aloud
4. Press again to pause

Try Reading Mode

1. On any article or document, press Alt+R
2. The page transforms into a clean, distraction-free view
3. Press Escape to exit

Try the Reading Guide

1. Press Alt+G to enable
2. A horizontal line follows your cursor, helping you track where you’re reading
3. Press Alt+G again to disable

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Step 3: Set Up AI Features (Optional)

AssisT includes 9 powerful AI features like summarization, text simplification, knowledge graphs, and assignment breakdown. These are completely optional and offer four different modes to match your needs.

The Inline Mode Switcher

You can switch AI modes directly from the popup — no settings page needed:

1. Open the AI Assist section in the popup
2. Click one of the mode chips: Off, Cloud, Browser AI, or Local AI
3. A contextual panel appears with mode-specific controls
4. Every AI feature shows a status bar so you always know if AI is available

Choose Your AI Mode

Mode	Privacy	Setup	Best For
Off	N/A	None	Don’t need AI (35+ features still work)
Browser AI (WebLLM)	100% Private	Download a model	Easiest private AI — no installation
Local AI (Ollama)	100% Private	Install Ollama	Most powerful private AI
Cloud AI	Sent to provider	Paste API key	Most capable, latest models

Option 1: Browser AI with WebLLM (Easiest Private AI)

AI runs entirely in your browser — no software to install at all:

1. Click the Browser AI chip in the popup
2. Browse available models in the model picker
3. Click Download on a starter model (recommended: gemma-2b or phi-3.5-mini)
4. Wait for the download (shows progress bar — 2-3GB depending on model)
5. Click Load to initialise the model

That’s it! Models are cached in your browser and load quickly on subsequent uses.

Benefits: Zero installation, completely private, free, works offline after download.

Option 2: Local AI with Ollama (Most Powerful Private AI)

AI features run on your computer using a free tool called Ollama. This gives you the most capable models with full privacy.

This option requires using the command line (also called Terminal or Command Prompt). If you’ve never used it before, don’t worry — we’ll walk you through every step.

Quick Setup for Windows (10-15 minutes)

Step 1: Download Ollama from ollama.com/download and run the installer (just like installing any other program).

Step 2: Open Command Prompt. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard (the key with the Windows logo, bottom-left)
2. Type cmd
3. Click Command Prompt when it appears in the results
4. A black window with white text will open — this is the Command Prompt

Step 3: Download an AI model. In the Command Prompt window:

1. Type (or copy and paste) exactly this: ollama pull qwen3:8b-q4_K_M
2. Press Enter
3. You’ll see a progress bar — wait for it to reach 100% (this downloads about 5GB)
4. When it says “success”, the model is ready

Step 4: Verify it works. While still in Command Prompt:

1. Type: ollama --version
2. Press Enter
3. If you see a version number (like ollama version 0.5.x), everything is working

You can now close the Command Prompt window. Ollama runs in the background automatically.

Quick Setup for Mac (10-15 minutes)

Step 1: Download Ollama from ollama.com/download. Drag it to your Applications folder and open it.

Step 2: Open Terminal. Here’s how:

1. Press Cmd+Space to open Spotlight search
2. Type Terminal
3. Press Enter
4. A window with text will open — this is the Terminal

Step 3: Download an AI model. In the Terminal window:

1. Type (or copy and paste) exactly this: ollama pull qwen3:8b-q4_K_M
2. Press Enter
3. Wait for the download to complete (about 5GB)

Step 4: Verify it works. Type ollama --version and press Enter. If you see a version number, you’re set.

Already Comfortable with the Terminal?

Here’s the quick version:

1. Install Ollama from ollama.com/download
2. Run: ollama pull qwen3:8b-q4_K_M
3. Done — AssisT auto-detects Ollama at localhost:11434

For detailed instructions, see our complete Ollama Setup Guide.

Verify It’s Working

Once Ollama is running, click the Local AI chip in the popup. AssisT automatically detects Ollama and shows your installed models in a live dropdown. Select your preferred model and you’re ready to go.

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Option 3: Cloud AI (Most Capable)

For the most powerful AI with the latest models. Just paste an API key and you’re ready to go.

Trade-offs: Requires internet, data is sent to the API provider (not to Fiavaion). Some providers charge per use, but Google Gemini offers a free API key with generous daily limits — no credit card needed.

Privacy note: Your API key is encrypted with AES-256 and stored locally — never sent to Fiavaion servers.

Step 1: Get an API key from your chosen provider (see tabs below).

Step 2: Click the Cloud chip in the popup’s AI mode switcher.

Step 3: Select your provider from the dropdown, paste your API key, and choose a model.

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9 AI Features You’ll Unlock

With any AI mode enabled, you get:

• Summarize articles and documents (brief, detailed, bullet points, or ELI5)
• Simplify complex text to your reading level
• Break down assignments into step-by-step tasks
• Generate study questions (Socratic Tutor — with smart hint filtering)
• Compare multiple documents and sources side-by-side
• Visualize concept connections (Knowledge Graph)
• Analyze source credibility (Citation Analyzer with CRAAP test)
• Generate personalized study paths
• Listen with expression (Emotional TTS)

Every feature shows a persistent status bar so you always know which AI mode is active and whether it’s available.

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Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Memorize these shortcuts for faster access:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+Shift+Space	Play/Pause Text-to-Speech
Ctrl+Shift+S	Stop Text-to-Speech
Alt+R	Toggle Reading Mode
Alt+O	OCR Screenshot
Alt+Shift+D	Dictionary Lookup
Alt+F	Toggle Focus Mode
Alt+G	Toggle Reading Guide
Alt+Y	Toggle Dyslexia Mode
Alt+T	Translate Selected Text
Alt+N	Create Sticky Note

All shortcuts can be customized in Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts.

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Accessibility Tip: Minimize UI Clutter

NEW: AssisT now includes a UI clutter minimization toggle for users with sensory sensitivities or visual processing difficulties.

What It Does

Reduces visual noise in the AssisT popup interface by:

• Hiding decorative elements
• Simplifying button styles
• Reducing color and contrast variations
• Creating a cleaner, more focused layout

How to Enable

1. Click the AssisT icon to open the popup
2. Look for the minimize clutter toggle button in the header
3. Click to enable minimalist mode
4. The interface immediately simplifies

This setting is saved automatically and persists across browser sessions.

Who Benefits

• Users with ADHD who need minimal distractions
• Users with autism who prefer simpler interfaces
• Users with visual processing disorders
• Anyone who finds standard UI overwhelming

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Troubleshooting

”AssisT isn’t doing anything!”

Most common cause: You haven’t enabled AssisT on all websites yet.

1. Click the AssisT icon
2. Click “Enable Everywhere”
3. Allow the permission
4. Reload the page

”AI features aren’t showing”

Check your AI mode in the popup:

1. Open the AI Assist section — check the mode chips at the top
2. If Off is selected, click Browser AI, Local AI, or Cloud to enable AI
3. For Local AI: Make sure Ollama is running — go to localhost:11434, you should see “Ollama is running”
4. For Browser AI: Make sure a model is downloaded and loaded
5. Each AI feature shows a status bar — check it for specific error messages

”Text-to-Speech isn’t working”

1. Make sure TTS is toggled ON in the popup
2. Select some text on the page
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space
4. Check your computer’s volume

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Next Steps

You’re all set! Here’s what to explore next:

• Not sure which features are right for you? → Take the Discovery Quiz
• Want personalized settings? → Set up a User Profile
• Need to cite sources? → Learn about Citation Management
• Using Speech-to-Text? → See Voice Commands Reference

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For Educators & Parents

Setting up AssisT for students:

1. Install the extension on the student’s Chrome browser
2. Click “Enable Everywhere” so it works on all their school sites
3. Have them select an appropriate Quick Start preset (ADHD Focus, Dyslexia Support, or Sensory Sensitive)
4. Review the keyboard shortcuts together

Privacy assurance: Settings are stored in Chrome’s synced storage (follows the student across devices when signed into Chrome). No personal data ever leaves the device. AI features (if enabled) also run entirely on the local computer.

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Need More Help?

• Full Tutorials — Detailed guides for every feature
• Keyboard Shortcuts Reference — Complete shortcut list
• Privacy Policy — How we protect your data
• Report an Issue — Found a bug? Let us know