What is Text-to-Speech Technology

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology on a computer refers to the combination of text appearing on the computer display together with the computer speaking that text aloud with a digitized or synthesized voice. Digitized speech is a recorded (or digitized) human voice speaking, and synthesized voice is a computer-generated voice speaking the text. This tutorial focuses on TTS software tools that use synthesized speech to read any text.

There are a wide range of TTS software tools available. Shareware programs are available via the Internet from shareware sites. If you search for text-to-speech (with and without the hyphens) you can locate inexpensive or freely available software. Typically shareware and freeware programs are limited in their capability, however, they are useful for trying out the technology.

Screen readers are commercial TTS software for users with visual disabilities. An example is JAWS by Henter-Joyce (www.hj.com) a division of Freedom Scientific. Screen readers not only read text files but also give the user other audible navigation support such as reading the user interface, indicating where the user’s cursor is on the screen, and indicating when the user’s cursor has passed over a folder.

Text readers are commercial TTS software tools for users who read below grade level because of a learning disability, English as a second language, a reading disability, or low vision. Examples of commercial text readers are:

CAST eReader published by CAST, Inc. (www.cast.org)
Kurzweil published by Lernout & Houspie (www.kurzweiledu.com)
textHELP published by textHELP Systems Ltd. (www.texthelp.com)
WYNN published by Freedom Scientific (www.hj.com)

TTS software programs vary in their features. In the Features and Functions of Text-to-Speech Software section of this tutorial you can read more about various features of TTS software.