Text-to-Speech Devices and Programs

Screen reading programs are specialized software programs or hardware and software packages that also convert electronic text to speech. Text can be entered directly into a text file through the keyboard or scanned from a printed document. Developed specifically to read text from a variety of different genres (e.g., literature, textbooks) and sources (e.g., book, web page), screen-reading programs usually have more powerful pronunciation rules and more program control options than talking word processors or hand-held devices. Users can control features such as speed at which text is read, voice pitch, and quality of the synthetic speech. Many programs also contain other features to support reading and writing, as we discuss below. These systems often enable the reader to listen to text and/or access definitions of words in other languages through bilingual dictionaries or through additional components that can be purchased to operate with the system.

CAST e-Reader (CAST) can take content from the Internet, word processing files, a scanner, or the keyboard, and convert it to speech. In addition to controlling speech and navigation options, the program also permits the user to take notes and receive speech feedback while typing. A full-featured demo version for Windows platforms can be downloaded from the CAST website for a 2-week or 10-trial period.

The Kurzweil 1000 and 3000 (Kurzweil Educational Systems) also read text from a variety of sources. These systems contain tools that support both text comprehension and writing. Individual words can be selected for pronunciation, syllabication, or definition. Students can highlight main ideas or supporting details, add annotations in writing or by voice, and store these in a separate file. The system also includes word prediction and spelling tools.