BEST Websites for Assistive Tech: Text-to-Speech Tools and Related Resources

Part 2 in a series of articles about Assistive Technologies for Challenged Readers

Text-to-speech (TTS) is a form of speech synthesis that converts written text into a spoken voice output, or speech. Text-to-speech allows a computer, device, or application to speak by giving it a voice.

Text-to-speech was originally used to improve the accessibility of computers. This allowed visually-impaired and other challenged readers to listen to digital content that they were originally unable to read. It was also used to provide a voice for persons who had lost their own voices for a variety of reasons (injury, illness, etc.). Today, text-to-speech technology is used in medical devices, audio and announcement systems, emergency alerts, e-learning software, interactive voice response (IVR) systems and many other technological products. This same technology can be indispensable for readers with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and other issues that often impact reading success.

More recently, the demand for text-to-speech has grown rapidly. By combining text-to-speech and speech recognition capabilities, individuals are able to interact with technology as they would with another person through conversation. Because of the hands-free user interface this creates and employs, barriers are greatly eased or even eliminated for many challenged readers and learners.

Text-to-speech technology has become a significant part of the technical world and will increasingly become an even larger part of our daily lives. Through the text-to-speech tools from the websites and resource links provided below here, we hope you will discover just the right technology for your child, a struggling student or even yourself in order to enhance the reading and learning experience. In that way, an individual's quality of life will be significantly improved, too.

TextAloud MP3 for PC (FREE Trial)
http://www.textaloud.com/

GhostReader for Mac (FREE Trial)
http://www.convenienceware.com/ghostreader

ReadSpeaker (as used with this and all other articles in this blog-FREE Demo)
http://www.readspeaker.com/

NaturalReader for Mac & PC (FREE Version Available)
https://www.naturalreaders.com/index.html

NeoSpeech Text-to-Speech (FREE Demo)
http://www.neospeech.com/?gclid=CJu3yrX8lNECFVa5wAodgj0DRw

VoiceOver and Speak Selected Text (included in Mac operating system)
VoiceOver: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/mac/vision/
Speak Selected Text: http://osxdaily.com/2012/09/15/speak-selected-text-with-a-keystroke-in-mac-os-x/

Speak Selection and Speak Screen (included in iOS)
Speak Selection: https://help.apple.com/ipad/8/#/iPad9a247097
Speak Screen: https://help.apple.com/ipad/8/#/iPadfd740569

Speak command for Microsoft Word for PC (FREE to configure)
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Using-the-Speak-text-to-speech-feature-459e7704-a76d-4fe2-ab48-189d6b83333c?CorrelationId=d85e4603-d659-4086-9e3e-e187ddec1f9a&ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US&ocmsassetID=HA102066711

Bookshare Web Reader extension for Chrome on Mac, PC; Safari on Mac; Chromebook (Requires Bookshare Acct.)
https://www.bookshare.org/cms/get-started/how-read-books/read-your-own

Read2Go (iOS app for Bookshare books-$19.99)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read2go/id425585903?mt=8

Voice Dream Reader (iOS and Android app for Bookshare books and other text)
iOS ($14.99): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-dream-reader/id496177674?mt=8
Android ($9.99): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=voicedream.reader&hl=en

GoRead (Android app for Bookshare books-FREE)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.benetech.android&hl=en

Darwin Reader (Android app for Bookshare books-$14.95))
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ndu.mobile.daisy.full&hl=en

iBooks for Mac, iOS - Use device's built-in text-to-speech
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/mac/learning-and-literacy/

Acapela Text-To-Speech (FREE Demo)
http://www.acapela-group.com/

Nuance: RealSpeak (FREE Trial)
http://www.nuance.com/index.htm

Have Siri Read Articles To You on iPhone or iPad
http://osxdaily.com/2016/10/31/have-siri-read-screen-ios/

Sources:

My Assistive Technology Toolbox by Shelley Haven, ATP, RET
http://techpotential.net/attoolbox

The Benefits of Text to Speech by ReadSpeaker
http://www.readspeaker.com/benefits-of-text-to-speech/

What Is Text-to-Speech: Text-to-Speech Definition by Neospeech
http://www.neospeech.com/what-is-text-to-speech

For more information about assistive technologies for challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com

BEST Websites for Assistive Tech: Audiobook Resources

Part 1 in a series of articles about Assistive Technologies for Challenged Readers

If you know or help a challenged reader, you also know that the RIGHT technologies can make ALL the difference in the world for an individual's level of reading success. Being aware of the BEST technology available for a specific reading issue will increase the possibility of that same individual experiencing even MORE reading success.

When printed media presents problems for some readers, there are helpful tech options available to allow such individuals to read with more comfort, focus, comprehension and retention, improving the over-all reading experience. In this article, we present text-to-speech as just one type of technology that can significantly help and support all types of struggling readers.

Text-to-speech technologies convert printed text into spoken words using synthesized voices. This type of technology is built into most computer operating systems, mobile devices, and e-book readers. In addition, there is a range of software, apps and extensions that also provide this support. This text-to-speech technology provides much support for the many readers who need it in the form of audiobooks, recordings of human narrators reading aloud.

Resources for Audiobooks---When LISTENING Is a Better Option

Kindle Fire and Immersion Reading
Kindle Fire's VoiceView features IVONA's natural language text-to-speech voice.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TSUGXKE/ref=sv_devicesubnav_1#tech
Immersion Reading (Video)
See the e-text highlighted while listening to narrated audiobook.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccwBwnhD9SE

Audible app (for Mac, PC, iOS, Android, Windows Phone)
https://www.audible.com/sw

All You Can Books
http://www.allyoucanbooks.com/

Overdrive Media Console
Borrow digital audiobooks and e-books from local libraries.
https://app.overdrive.com/

Learning Ally Link (for Mac, PC, iOS)
https://www.learningally.org/link

Learning Ally Audio
iOS app for Learning Ally audiobooks.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/learning-ally-audio/id418888450?mt=8

Learning Ally Audio
Android app for Learning Ally audiobooks.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.learningally.learningallyaudioandroid&hl=en

Sources:

Assistive Technology Tools for Learning Differences, ADHD, and Executive Function Challenges
by Shelley Haven ATP, RET
http://techpotential.net/attoolbox

AT Toolbox-Assistive Technology Tools for Education---Text To Speech
http://www.attoolbox.com/text-to-speech/

For more information about assistive technologies for challenged readers, please visit:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of:
Brennan Innovators, LLC at www.focusandread.com