Text Readers
From ITCH
== Text Reading == (all original text)
Talking books with human voices are the best option. It is possible to download human read talking books from Project Gutenberg.
* More about talking books and Project Gutenberg
In my experience text readers which in someway highlight the word being read have improved some dyslexic students reading dramatically. Not only do they enable the dyslexic individual to 'read' and focus on the meaning the exposure to print helps bridge the added disadvantage that 'not reading' and not being exposed to print often exacerbates.
There are several good free text readers. Readplease is my favourite and Natural voice reader is also good and has some added features that I will outline.
Text readers can be an essential tool for inclusion. The free ones can read documents directly by saving them as text files. Text can also be copied and pasted into them. Using the shortcut keys is vital and being able to minimise documents easily or specific windows is very helpful. Use the Ctrl A for selecting and Ctrl C and Ctrl V for copying and pasting. Narrator which is an inbuilt screen reader found in the accessibility options can read text from Notepad (accessories sub menu) in an emergency.
To quickly minimize windows and return them to where they were use the toggle command Windows D.
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Microsoft Reader
Microsoft have a free text reader at http://www.microsoft.com/reader/downloads/pc.asp
The sound support needs to be downloaded separately. It is also possible to separately download a feature that enables you to create 'books' in Word with the click of an icon.
Natural Voice Reader
Natural Voice Reader http://www.naturalreaders.com/ has an additional feature to Readplease plus which enables you to 'read to file'. This allows you to listen to your document being read on a CD player or MP3 player. It takes awhile to create the file but I have found with 512mb ram with a powerful processor it takes about 2 minutes to create 18 minutes of speech.
It also puts an icon on the internet tool bar and can read from the internet. It docks with an application which is a feature in Readplease plus and not the free version.
Readplease
Readplease and Readplease Plus web
Readplease. Readplease plus is a fully customisable text reader which has some additional features to its free counterpart Readplease such as fast forward, rewind and text highlighting. Readplease Plus is available online from www.readplease.com at a cost of $49.95 for a download. Readplease the basic text reader is free. It enables the user to customise the document reader both with colour of font and background and also voice and speed of reading. Mispronunciations can not be corrected in the free version but phonetic spelling can be entered in Readplease plus to render the correct pronunciation.
Readplease plus can become a floating bar that can dock with your application.
Reader Sensory Software
This is one you have to pay for although its cost given the quality of the voice is very reasonable.
It does have a 60 day trial so is worth having a go. Its very easy to learn to use and customise.
