We are pleased to introduce a free service that speech enables our website for those with reading difficulties. It offers a practical website access service to people who find it easier to listen to, rather than read the content of our website. How does it work?
When you move your mouse over the text on a website, Browsealoud will read that word, sentence or paragraph to you, highlighting the text on the screen as it reads.
Once installed, it can be customised to allow you to choose from a number of male or female voices and change the speed, pitch and volume of the reader. If desired, it can also read an entire page from where your cursor points. Other features include a Text Magnification Display option and Talking Dictionary.
Browsealoud makes using the Internet easier for people who have low literacy and reading skills, English as a second language, dyslexia and mild visual impairment. It is not designed as a screen reader for the blind or anyone with a severe visual impairment. If you need this technology, there are commercial third party products available, such as JAWS and SuperNova.
How to install and use Browsealoud
Browsealoud is free to use. All you have to do is simply install the free Browsealoud software.
Step 1
Download the software from the Browsealoud website.
Note: You only need to do this ONCE and the software is FREE.
Step 2
Once the software is installed on your computer you will be able to listen to any website offering the Browsealoud service. Important information for people who do not use a mouse
Browsealoud is designed to be used primarily by mouse movements. If you are unable to use a mouse, you should enable mouse keys.
To enable mouse keys on a PC:
- Open the control panel
- Select accessibility options
- Select the mouse tab
- Switch on mouse keys you will be able to control the mouse using your numeric keypad
This will allow you to navigate to text on web pages which would normally be inaccessible using the keyboard. You can change Browsealoud settings by double clicking on the Browsealoud icon in the system tray.
The Browsealoud website provides a number of video tours to help you use the system and personalise it to your requirements.