Free+text+to+speech


 * Text-to-Speech**
 * Why consider Text-to-speech (TTS)? Two reasons - **
 * 1. It is essential for struggling readers; when text is digital it is now accessible and**
 * 2. it  supports the writing process, especially when editing and revising work**

Note: Our databases are adding text-to-speech features for their articles. Check out [|Joyce's blog post]. Ask your librarian if the school offers any of the Gale products with text-to-speech features.

Mobile Devices

 * iOS  Devices have ** Speak  Selection** (TTS) with highlighting built in for iPads running iOS  6 or 7. You must turn it on. Settings > General > Accessibility > Speak Selection > On > Highlight Words. Adjust the "Speaking Rate" to what works
 * Speechify - Check this out - developed by a Brown University Graduate who is dyslexic.

Computer Resources

 * Without a doubt, the **BEST** option is the ** Read and Write for Google Chrome ** extension. It's the reason to use Chrome. Show every student! They can listen to their work as part of the editing process. AND, it adds a browser add-on which allows you to listen to any text read to you, single words, paragraphs or whole pages
 * Speechify - Check this out - developed by a Brown University Graduate who is dyslexic. It is device agnostic and worth exploring
 * Capti - Explore the free option. Can save an Add to Capti bookmark and then open the text on your mobile device.
 * Announcify - a Google Chrome Extension which reads any website  . One unique feature - it blurs the paragraphs that aren't being read so you can focus on the paragraph that you are listening to.
 * SpeakIt[|!] -free for the Google Chrome browser. Supports multiple languages
 * Balabolka  - Free text-to-speech download, can also download a portable version that runs off a USB thumb drive <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">.   can save as wav or MP3 file.
 * <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">[|DSpeech]  - scroll down for a very cool free text-to-speech AND speech-to-text tool. PC only
 * My Study Bar - includes text to speech features, PC only.
 * Natural Reader - another free text-to-speech software program which converts any written text to speech (Word, pdf, <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">websites , emails)
 * Orato - [[image:Orato.png]] (scroll to the free download) PC only. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">allow  for color choices, highlighting of words or sentences as they are read.
 * <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">[|PowerTalk]  - free text-to-speech for PowerPoint presentations
 * [|Read The Words]- Register first, upload file or choose <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">text or <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">website  to read, a recording is generated which you can listen to online or download to an mp3 player, upload to a blog, etc. Very Cool tool worth letting your students explore.
 * <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">[|SpeakingFox]  - a free Firefox extension for the <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">Mac which converts text in Firefox to audio
 * [|Spoken Text] - online text-to-speech MP3 converter
 * [|ReadPlease]- there is a free version and a pay version.
 * [|Simultaneous Stanza Reader] - <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">SSReader  is a free large font reader for Macintosh OS X that speaks text files aloud and displays the text stanza-after-stanza, simultaneously. The program works well with free books from [|Project Gutenberg]. Watch a [|quick introductory Video here]
 * [|Text to Speech] (offers a variety of languages)
 * [|The Freedom Stick] - download PC or Mac Version, provides a full suite of accessible <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">supports
 * Voki - a free program that allows educators and students to create and share online avatars using text-to-speech technology. Voki works from any and anyone can place a <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">voki  in a blog, website, or send in an email. Voki is being <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">relaunched   now (late 2010) and is offering more tools for educators.
 * <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">[|WordTalk]  - a free text-to-speech program for the PC that works within WORD and Outlook and highlights each word that is read. Includes a talking spell checker and a talking thesaurus. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">WordTalk   was upgraded in January 2009 and now includes the ability to save, and you can convert your text file to a wav or MP3 file. Makes this free download even more valuable. (Seems to be trickier with Office 2010 and Vista or Windows 7)
 * <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">[|YakIToMe]  [|!] - Listen to important documents, PowerPoint presentations, emails, RSS feeds, blogs and novels. <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_noSuggestion GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">YAKiToMe   ! <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">is   multi-lingual (English, Spanish, French<span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark"> ... ) and brings you the world's best text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis technologies. Easily converts to podcasts.


 * Free Speech-to-Text (Speech Recognition) **


 * It is built into Windows 7 and 8 and Mountain Lion Operating Systems.
 * If your student has a Smartphone, it is probably built in.
 * Speech Recognition is built into the latest iPod Touches and iPads. When you are connected to wifi, use the microphone key on the keyboard to use it. To turn on speech recognition, go to <span class="GINGER_SOFATWARE_correct"><span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark">Setttings  <span class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark"> > General > Siri > ON
 * With **Google Search** on smart devices, Google Voice is available - allows you to speak your search.