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Microsoft MVP

 

Screen readers

 
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All Forums >> Web Development >> Accessibility >> Screen readers 		Page: [1]
 
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		Screen readers - 8/26/2005 16:12:34   
A couple of cheap/free screen readers I've discovered today while searching for something less temperamental than the one I've been using, which are really useful for for testing the accessibility of sites in:

Text Aloud
pwWebSpeak

Text Aloud has the option to add in a toolbar to IE so you can control it from within IE - unfortunately it doesn't work with FF :). You can also use it for reading emails and you can paste Word documents etc. into the program and have them read out to you - useful for long documents and checking grammar and spelling. There's a trial download and the full version costs $29.95.

pwWebSpeak is a freebie for personal use of for checking site accessibility but you don't get any support unless you buy the licence. It's similar to IBM's Home Page Reader in that it's a stand-alone screen reader browser - very useful for checking the order of the content on your page and it highlights links and reads the alt text on images and title attributes, form labels etc. It's more basic than HPR (which is around $100/£100), but fine for checking sites, and what can you expect for free? :)

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~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
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jaybee

 

Posts: 14175
Joined: 10/7/2003
From: Berkshire, UK
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/26/2005 16:36:30   
quote:

what can you expect for free?


Fangs which sits in the toolbar of Firefox. Doesn't read the text to you but shows you what will get read.

Foxy Voice which sits at the bottom of FF browser. Click on it and it reads the page to you.

Both can be picked up in FF extensions.

_____________________________

If it ain't broke..... fix it until it is.
:)

:)
GAWDS
Now where did I put that Doctype?

(in reply to womble)
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 5:18:15   
Ah, I knew there was a reason I had Fangs! Never did manage to get Foxy Voice to work though - tried unistalling/reinstalling both Foxy Voice and FF and it makes no difference - the little smiley just sits there in the corner looking bewildered and refuses to speak. :)

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~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
:)

(in reply to jaybee)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 5:39:27   
You have to download and install a piece of microsoft nonsense to make Foxy Lady speak.

I find it works fine when I have the speakers plugged in but when I use a headset it just mouths the empty words at me.

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:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to womble)
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 5:53:33   
Yup, got the microsoft stuff as well and it still refuses to speak, speakers or headset - maybe it just doesn't like me :)

_____________________________

~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
:)

(in reply to Donkey)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 6:12:42   
If you are using the Foxy Lady voice she is very tempremental, You have to be nice to her and get in her good books or she just ignores you. Like most women in my experience. She also doesn't like it if you force her to read out long strings of swear words (although it can be good fun).

_____________________________

:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to womble)
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 6:24:18   
As if I'd try and get any text to speech software to read anything with long strings of swaer words in it! :)

_____________________________

~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
:)

(in reply to Donkey)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 6:43:39   
Sorry I forgot that you ladies wouldn't do such things and don't know any of the required "industrial" language anyway.:)

_____________________________

:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to womble)
caz

 

Posts: 3547
Joined: 10/10/2001
From: Somewhere south of Chester, UK
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 7:40:06   
quote:

She also doesn't like it if you force her to read out long strings of swear words (although it can be good fun).

In the Control Panel>Speech, using the Text-to-speech properties and choosing LH MIcheal for the voice; if you slow the voice speed then you get more intonation with "(although it can be good fun)". The same with "Nowhere near Wimbledon Common". Slightly suggestive :)

Have you specified that the sound output should "Use the preferred audio output device"?

This is the first time that I have used Foxy Voice to read an OF page and 5 minutes of ads have to be sat through before it gets to the posts. (Patience is a virtue).

_____________________________

Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will dance, or more on your keyboard.
Cheshire cat. www.doracat.co.uk

I remember when it took less than 4hrs to fly across the Atlantic.

(in reply to Donkey)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 7:45:54   
quote:

This is the first time that I have used Foxy Voice to read an OF page and 5 minutes of ads have to be sat through before it gets to the posts. (Patience is a virtue).
I just highlight the bit I want to hear then right click and select read aloud.

_____________________________

:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to caz)
caz

 

Posts: 3547
Joined: 10/10/2001
From: Somewhere south of Chester, UK
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 10:43:33   
quote:

ORIGINAL: Donkey

quote:

This is the first time that I have used Foxy Voice to read an OF page and 5 minutes of ads have to be sat through before it gets to the posts. (Patience is a virtue).
I just highlight the bit I want to hear then right click and select read aloud.


Duh, thanks. I think that I need a new avatar...

_____________________________

Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will dance, or more on your keyboard.
Cheshire cat. www.doracat.co.uk

I remember when it took less than 4hrs to fly across the Atlantic.

(in reply to Donkey)
jaybee

 

Posts: 14175
Joined: 10/7/2003
From: Berkshire, UK
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 12:19:11   
I've only got the Sam voice.

_____________________________

If it ain't broke..... fix it until it is.
:)

:)
GAWDS
Now where did I put that Doctype?

(in reply to caz)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 13:38:11   
Don't worry it goes with the butch uniform:)

_____________________________

:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to jaybee)
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 13:40:12   
I don't know what I've done (as far as I know I haven't changed anything) - but I've got it working! :)

_____________________________

~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
:)

(in reply to Donkey)
caz

 

Posts: 3547
Joined: 10/10/2001
From: Somewhere south of Chester, UK
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 13:49:33   
Oh good :)
I find the female voice is much less irritating for everyday use, but if you need to read swear words a la Donkey, then the male voice is much more appropriate.:)

_____________________________

Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will dance, or more on your keyboard.
Cheshire cat. www.doracat.co.uk

I remember when it took less than 4hrs to fly across the Atlantic.

(in reply to womble)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 14:10:43   
quote:

Oh good :)
I find the female voice is much less irritating for everyday use, but if you need to read swear words a la Donkey, then the male voice is much more appropriate.:)

I disagree it is much better to hear the lady talking dirty.:)

_____________________________

:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to caz)
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 14:30:41   
Of course we could just invite Donkey round to swear rather than using the Foxy lady :)

I've just tried Sam, and he doesn't sound right at all swearing. I've a couple of NeoSpeech voices from some software I installed ages ago that sound much more natural. My Foxy lady doesn't do swearing though - I know, I tried (typed some naughty words Donkey taught me in the preview box in the control panel>speech window)...and the %*&/^$ computer censored it - the NeoSpeech voices bleep out naughty words!!!

/watches while Donkey toddles off to try it himself :)

Seriously though, I've been trying out Foxy Voice and the pwWebSpeak one on various sites this afternoon, and it really makes you realise just how much 'rubbish' screen readers have to wade through to get to the main content - a definite big pro for using skip links!

_____________________________

~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
:)

(in reply to Donkey)
caz

 

Posts: 3547
Joined: 10/10/2001
From: Somewhere south of Chester, UK
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 14:54:07   
quote:

Seriously though, I've been trying out Foxy Voice and the pwWebSpeak one on various sites this afternoon, and it really makes you realise just how much 'rubbish' screen readers have to wade through to get to the main content - a definite big pro for using skip links!


Exactly. Also a big plus for semantic ordering of content before the other elements of a page, with a skip to navigation option as well.

_____________________________

Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will dance, or more on your keyboard.
Cheshire cat. www.doracat.co.uk

I remember when it took less than 4hrs to fly across the Atlantic.

(in reply to womble)
Donkey

 

Posts: 3892
Joined: 11/13/2001
From: Blackfield United Kingdom
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 14:55:10   
quote:

Of course we could just invite Donkey round to swear rather than using the Foxy lady
I never swear in the presence of young ladies Rachel as you well know.

Is there anywhere you can go to download different voices, I've got 4 - Sam. Mike, Mary and sample tts voice (some weirdo who sounds like a computer in the first series of star trek). Mary is the best, but even if you slow her down as suggested by CAZ (and what woman doesn't benefit from slowing down slightly :)), she still sounds a bit boring. I'd like a more lively voice perhaps a latino or a soft irish brogue. Any Ideas?

_____________________________

:)

I have a higher and grander standard of principle than George Washington. He could not lie; I can, but I won't.
Samuel Clemens

(in reply to womble)
womble

 

Posts: 5597
Joined: 3/14/2005
From: Living on the edge
Status: offline

  		RE: Screen readers - 8/27/2005 15:37:38   
You can get some of the Neospeech ones from NextUp.com.
They only have 4 though and they're a little on the pricey side.

This might of some use to you

_____________________________

~~ "A cruel god ain't no god at all" ~~
:)

(in reply to Donkey)
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