Text-to-Speech Screen Readers and Software for Computers

• Quick Reference Guide to Reading Systems: View a detailed FAQ devoted to reading systems for the visually impaired.
• Web-based Text to Speech Programs: See a comparison chart of various text-to-speech programs.
• TextSpeech Pro: Download TextSpeech Pro for your Mac and convert your text into a file you can listen to.
• Browsealoud: Get free software for your PC or Mac that reads text selected by mouse on compatible Web sites.

Speech in Existing Standard Software

Text-to-speech Conversion in Microsoft Word

1. Open a Word document.
2. Click on Tools > Speech, and the Speech Toolbar will appear.
3. Point your cursor where you want speech to begin.
4. Click “Speak in the Language Toolbar.”

Text-to-speech Conversion for PDF Files

For PDF files, text-to-speech conversion is built into Adobe Reader 8.0 and later:

1. Select Set up > Edit > Preferences > Reading > Read Out Loud Options.
2. Then choose Activate in View > Read Out Loud > Activate.

Thumb Drives

Copy a book or any long document to a thumb drive, along with a screen reader, such as Browsealoud and SmartRead. Plug your thumb drive into any computer and it will be ready to read.

Text-to-speech in Mac OS X 10.5

1. Press “Command” and “F5” at the same time to start voice cover.

Scan-to-Speech Conversion

• OpenBook: Convert your physical books to speech by scanning them into your computer.
• SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance): This stand alone product scans and reads your documents aloud.
• Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 Professional: Learn about the built-in scanner and computer and watch a video of the author discussing his inventions.
• KNFB Reader: Take a photo of your book or document, and your cell phone will read the content to you. Read reviews of the KNFB reader: “Kurzweil develops first seeing eye cell phone”  and “Cell Phone that Reads for the Blind."
• Voice Stick: Wave your voice stick over Braille text, and it will read aloud the content to you.
• An inexpensive alternative approach is to scan the document on any scanner. Buy one that can scan bound books. Make a picture of the document. Then run it thru OCR software such as IRIS, Kurzweil 1000 or FineReader, converting it to real text. Then read that file out loud with a screen reader.

Speech-to-Text Conversion

• Dragon Naturally Speaking Speech Recognition Software 9.0+: Control your computer with the sound of your voice -- no need for typing or controlling a mouse.
• Serotek: Get complete text-to-speech and speech-to-text software thru System Access software by Serotek.
• Macintosh Dictate: Discover Mac’s speech-to-text conversion software.
• Microsoft Speech Recognition: This is part of the MS Word Speech Toolbar that must be taught to recognize your speech.

Mac Voice-Over Commands

Speech Recognition for Macs

• Macintosh Dictate: Navigate and edit existing documents with the sound of your voice.
• Hack Attack: Make your Mac’s speech recognition work for you. Watch a video and read along as the author explains how to fully utilize this feature.