Software and apps
A screen reader is a piece of software which converts the text on a screen to synthetic voice. This is called Text to Speech. It is the primary form of access that people who are blind or have significantly impaired vision use to access computers and the web.
Most new computers, and some smartphones and tablets, have a screen reader built into them.
Screen readers
- Voiceover – Apple Mac’s built-in screen reader
- NVDA (non-visual desktop access) – free screenreader
- JAWS (for Windows)
- Supernova screenreader (for Windows)
- Window Eyes (for Windows)
- Narrator – Windows’ built-in screen reader
- ORCA (for Linux)
- WebAnywhere – all browsers, all computers
- Thunder – free screenreader
Other software will also read aloud from within specific programmes.
- AMIS software – for reading DAISY standard talking books
- Audiobook Cutter – for splitting up large MP3 files
- WebbIE – a set of programmes that make it easier to do everyday tasks on a computer
- Browse aloud – not a fully functional screen reader but may be useful for those whose first language is not English or for those with reading impairments.