text to speech reader

text to speech reader

The Benefits of Using a Text to Speech Reader

1. Introduction

The use of TTS for people with vision problems or with learning disabilities has resulted in numerous kinds of software and research into making TTS easier to use, and into making the computer understand the text it is reading better. Since TTS attempts to remove the difficulty of reading from those who find it hard, it is important not to simply create a new difficulty in understanding the aloud text. TTS has been found to improve comprehension of material when the listener follows along with the text as it is being read. Also, TTS has been found to reduce eye strain which reading can cause, as well as being a comfort to those with pain from conditions which reading aggravates. TTS with synchronised highlighting can improve the reading speed of the user, and easy access to TTS can actually help users with disabilities access their computer and the material it presents more often.

Text to speech (TTS) readers are programs that can read any digital text and present it aloud to the listener. They have been around for some time, but are coming into increased importance and utility as the world is turning more and more to digital text for information and entertainment. TTS readers have considerable utility for people with various disabilities which make reading difficult, as well as for people without such problems.

2. Accessibility and Inclusivity

Those with visual impairments almost always require reading and learning assistance. Traditionally, this involves the use of a human reader or purchasing books on tape in a specialized format, which is both costly and not always available. Text-to-speech is a great alternative at a fraction of the cost. Electronic content from the web can be easily translated and audio is readily produced. This provides an efficient and cost-effective way for the visually impaired to consume information. Audio can be paused and played at any time and does not require the assistance of another person. Text-to-speech also has the added benefit of providing more access to information, as not all print material is available in specialized formats.

There are over 200 million people with dyslexia in the world and it has been online for over 20 years. This is a minority that has gone 20 years without access to website reading. The unrestricted use of the internet and its services includes, but is not limited to, electronic government, electronic commerce, virtual learning environment, etc. Unless these services are accessible, it is difficult for people with disabilities to fully participate in today’s society. Text-to-speech technology opens the internet to this group of people. With an application that reads and translates web pages, people with dyslexia can understand and absorb the information on a web page. This will dramatically improve their literacy skills and further their integration into today’s society.

3. Increased Productivity

Adults with learning disabilities are not the only people who can benefit from this technology. Stroke victims and the elderly with age-related macular degeneration, which robs a person of the central part of their vision, may experience reading difficulties that are much like those of a child with a learning difference. A number of people have low literacy skills but have managed to keep this fact hidden. Such individuals can benefit from text-to-speech technology in every way that has been mentioned thus far.

Text-to-speech technology is quite useful for high schoolers who struggle with reading comprehension or have other learning differences. When it’s uncomfortable, difficult, or impossible for such students to read classroom materials, this technology can be a life-saver. Text-to-speech can also help students who might otherwise struggle with decoding get the pronunciation and intonation right when it comes to learning to read a foreign language.

4. Enhanced Learning and Comprehension

Everything in life has its positives and negatives, and Text to Speech Readers are no different. This type of software not only reads text, but the published text is also highlighted, potentially enhancing reading and comprehension for struggling readers. This multi-sensory method has the potential to improve reading skills and make the reading experience more enjoyable. According to TTRS, highlighting text as it is being read is a great way to improve word recognition, tracking, and reading fluency. It also helps with “flow”, which in turn increases comprehension. The software is beneficial for auditory learners, who remember information better when it is presented through sound, and it also has the potential to improve reading and comprehension for ESL students. Creating an enjoyable reading experience is essential to developing lifelong reading habits, and many struggling readers are turned off of reading when they lack comprehension of the text or when reading is just too much work. With the creation of eBooks and eTexts, individuals with learning disorders, who struggle with reading and comprehending text, can now have access to a growing number of texts in alternative formats. TTS software now comes standard with Adobe Reader and many word processing programs. If it can be assumed that TTS software will be available to students at an affordable price, and that the quality of TTS voices will continue to improve, it is a very safe assumption to say that all text based digital information will eventually be displayed as highlighted text with synchronized audio. This would mean that TTS will eventually be the access method to the information for anyone who struggles with reading.

5. Conclusion

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to make information accessible for everybody. With text to speech technology, the print disabled, and people who have a literacy difficulty are now able to consume vast amounts of information from the web that once seemed unobtainable. This could be anything from studying for a qualification, or simply just wanting to keep up to date with current events usually prevail on traditional media. Text to speech has bridged the gap that traditional reading methods have isolated people with reading difficulties. With a future where technology is king, it’s fantastic to have a tool that can empower people, and give them the information that they need and want.

An implementation of text to speech in mobile technology has opened up the doors for people that once were not able to read a text message, or perhaps, an email. This can also be a very useful tool for someone on the go, since it enables the option of listening to a message while doing something else. This can be anything from listening to an email whilst driving, or having your phone read a shopping list while cooking. With the rise of interactive virtual assistants, like Siri, it’s very likely that text to speech will play a much larger role in our lives, and be an extremely valuable tool for a wider range of people.

Like with any technology, text to speech is developing. But at this point in time, it’s already a valuable tool for people who can’t read traditionally. By converting text to speech, users are able to continue reading a document or a piece of text without having to actually look at it. This can be a very useful tool for someone who is trying to multitask, but continue to absorb the information from an article or a document.