Accessibility software is a key aspect of almost every device in the market today. These features allow users with certain impairments to have the same opportunities of access as those without. Engaging with written content has always been a challenge for some users with visual difficulties, and many documents, websites, articles, and pages have barriers for a rising percentage of people.
Since a majority of the internet is text-based, this can mean that users without the necessary reading skills or sight won’t have access to the news, can’t connect with their friends or family on social media, can’t find directions to the nearest restaurant, and so much more. Thankfully, recent applications of text to speech services have transformed the way this kind of content can be absorbed so that these barriers can be mitigated.
IMAGE: PEXELS
Articulating Meaning From Written Text
A few instances where these services find usage are within mobile devices like phones and e-readers, as well as desktop PCs. Some text to speech programs can be found prebuilt into many computers accessibility settings, while others can be found by downloading software and services. For the general consumer, a text to voice can be helpful in articulating the meaning behind written words if individual users aren’t able to read or understand them.
Some businesses have even adapted this technology to improve their service offerings. For example, you might have heard these synthesized voices give you directions following an emergency alert or seen them used with voicemail messages.
The benefits of text to voice systems are that they can be performed instantaneously without the need to give individual resources to specific websites or pages. This kind of program is part of a broader umbrella that can be extended to the whole device used by the customer, no matter how complicated the written material is.
It doesn’t even have to be an option in the text reader itself, since many third-party systems and text-to-talk platforms like Notevibes all offer resources to get those words narrated to users, instantly and with a variety of voice options as well.
The Versatility Of Usage For Users
It’s important for users to have the means which make the largest amount of content available to them. Individual disabilities might make this difficult, but since written content is so important and makes up such a large portion of communication, these solutions were implemented to give everyone an equal opportunity to understand it. Certain accessibility innovations have found usage by a consumer base even outside the intended purpose.
Text to voice technology is no different, as something once meant for enhancing the interpretation of the written text has evolved into something that many users are utilizing to enhance convenience and time saving such as reading e-books aloud during long commutes or generating voices for video games characters.
When accessibility and convenience work hand in hand, it’s possible for innovations like these to go beyond their intended purpose and in this case, offer another way for users to connect with their written materials, be it work documents, online articles, novels, or any other kind of online writing.
If you are interested in even more technology-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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