What is Text to Speech Technology?

Text to speech is a technology built into software applications that enables the conversion of basic text into voice data. These programs are frequently used by people that have difficulty reading or those with physical disabilities. Text to speech technology is not only beneficial to those with disabilities, but all computer users, especially those who need to read a lot of text on any given day. This technology can make reading extremely fast, and in some cases, make the experience much easier on the user's eyes.

Text to speech technology has been implemented into various speech recognition applications, giving users the ability to have text read back to them after creating a document. This increases proficiency in proofreading, as the user is able to read through text in search of errors while hearing it at the same time, a factor that makes it easier to identify and correct mistakes.

How Text to Speech Technology Works

Text to speech controls generally resemble that of a recorder. This setup includes a play/pause button, stop button, reverse button and a forward button, giving the user full control of the materials being read. Some programs include volume controls, while others can be controlled with the volume of the associated computer. In almost all instances, text to speech programs are fully customizable, allowing the user to completely personalize their reading experience.

Most programs allow users to copy, cut and paste the text they want to read into other applications where the text can be read aloud. Some of them offer a feature that enable integration within a web browser, allowing text to be read from the internet. There are also several people that utilize text to speech technology to read back their eBook purchases.

Text to Speech Programs

Text to speech technology has become popular in software applications. As more people are relying on it, more operating systems are being developed with built-in text to speech and speech recognition software. Some are available at no cost on the internet and compatible with various operating systems, while others are costly and specifically designed for certain platforms. Premium applications have more features and offer the user a greater range of voices to choose from.

While they are all based on the same underlying text to speech technology, not all of these programs are created equal. Therefore, you should always carefully read the list of features, specifications, and most importantly, the system requirements before purchasing or attempting to install any software on your computer. If not, you may find that the program works incorrectly, or in a worst case scenario, not at all.

Price and Availability

The price for text to speech software varies significantly and might cost you anywhere from $15 to hundreds of dollars, depending on the manufacturer and feature set. The more capability the program has, the more it will cost. Fortunately, the popularity of text to speech technology has resulted in numerous companies developing various products. By doing a little research, you should be able to find a quality program from $100 to $150.