Easy Access via Text Readers

What is a Text/Screen Reader?

This is a software that helps people that are visually impaired use their computer more efficiently; this application can be used on any Operating System. This can be available for free online as there are various different websites that can also offer this service. These applications and software's provide the correct support for visually impaired users and other individuals as well as providing natural voices. Text Readers allows users to play the information at a customized rate and volume with the added option of having the text highlighted.

How does a Screen/Text Reader help the individual?

Whether the user is blind or partially sighted, this software will give back the information that they have been provided through speech or braille. The information can be passed through speech via the Text to Speech application that is installed with the software and it can also be passed via braille through an external hardware device.  

How does the Screen/Text Reader work?

Using this software is quite easy as it is accessible through a variety of keyboard shortcuts which carry out a specific task such as reading documents or listening to music. It also works with scanners which allow documents to be printed with a 99% success rate. 

Natural Reader Software 

There are various different software's that have this application in place whether you have to pay or its free of charge. A popular software that is most  commonly used is 'Natural Reader' as this has the Text to Speech application with natural sounding voices; this software converts text from webpages, PDF files, emails Microsoft documents and an optional change from text to audio files such as MP3. 

Power-Talk

Another software that also has Text Reader is Power-talk which is a free program that allows individuals to have the option of Power-point presentations to be spoken out loud.

Purpose of Text Readers

There are various different reasons to why this software can be used. The most common reason to why it is used is that people can be able to listen to documents, emails and books; the purpose behind this is that some individuals suffer from strong headaches and eye strain or are blind. 

Another purpose could be that the Text Readers are designed for dyslexic users; this will help them due to the option of having highlighted words while they are being spoken as it will help them with reading.