Text-to-Speech
- 1. Using the Text-to-Speech feature on MacBook Pro Hello! How to make on-screen text come alive!
- 2. Why use Text-to-Speech? • Students with disabilities – Vision – Dyslexia – Reading Comprehension – Physical limitations
- 3. Go to the in the top left corner of the menu bar, click and choose “System Preferences”.
- 4. Under “System”, choose “Speech”
- 5. “Text to Speech” should be highlighted
- 6. Under “System You can preview the voice and Voice” choose speaking rate by clicking “Play” the appropriate voice. Under “Speaking Rate” choose the appropriate speaking speed for your student(s).
- 7. Next we are going to set the text-to-speech feature to speak to the student when the text is highlighted and a key combination is pressed.
- 8. Place a checkmark in Click “Set Key…” to “Speak selected text set a key combination. when key is pressed”
- 9. Now choose a key combination that you and your student will remember. We will use Control+T as an example. Remember you must highlight the text on the computer screen, then press the set key combination (in this case, Control+T) in order for the student to hear the text.
- 10. To change more VoiceOver Settings, click “Open Universal Access Preferences…”
- 11. You can personalize the computer for each student no matter what disability: Click on each tab below to change settings: “Seeing” “Hearing” ”Keyboard” “Mouse & Trackpad”
- 12. Click the following link to see example of the Text-to-Speech feature: http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php? video_id=270954 Note: Video may not play in Firefox; utilize Safari, Chrome, or Internet Explorer
- 13. Other Text-to-Speech Programs iPad –iSpeech (free) Web-based –Speak It! ($1.99) –Text2speech PC –Windows XP and Vista –Natural Reader •Also available for MAC •Free download available –Text to Speech Converter •Free download
- 14. If you have any questions or comments about the tutorial, please see C. Shanko in room 120!