MendoClick™
Screen Reader

TextAloud can read aloud any text you can copy to the Windows "clipboard," as well as any text file (files ending in .txt). About all that is excluded, then, are pictures and text that is in picture format instead of text format. All you need is the software; everything else is already part of your Windows system. The default computer voice is very good, but still a computer voice, alas.

You can set the TextAloud screen reader to pop up anytime you copy anything to the clipboard. Then you can move it to the screen reader to have it read immediately or later. You can also ignore the TextAloud pop-up window and continue with your copy or cut-and-paste operation, and the TextAloud window will disappear on its own after the number of seconds you have previously specified.

I love this screen reader because I can queue it up and walk away, reducing demands on my eyes and body. I consider it ergonomic as it reduces body stress. It also saves time. I can queue it up to read a number of articles while I am searching the Internet, making dinner, sorting papers, or doing yoga.

I have just begun to use TextAloud and do not have an MP3 player (other than my computer), so I cannot comment on its ability to convert text files to MP3 files. It is a great idea, though, because you can then convert text to a form you can take with you and listen to anywhere with your portable MP3 player.

For visually impaired people, this is probably not the program to use. There are screen readers designed specifically to help blind people navigate screens. Some screen readers also (or instead) target people with other reading problems, like dyslexia. (I would be happy to provide more information if you contact me.) TextAloud merely reads whatever you copy into it from beginning to end.

I recommend this shareware to anyone not needing specialized reading help. Download the free trial to be sure you can get used to the computer voice. (My bias is that you should get used to computer speech to help you understand individuals who must use it for talking. Nevertheless, you may prefer to read the screen with your eyes.)

NextUp.com also offers WeatherAloud and StocksAloud. If you buy more than one of their products at once through the NextUp.com site, you can receive a discount.

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