Ways to Make Your Computer Read Documents to You
Computers have become an essential part of our lives. They offer countless benefits, including the ability to read and process large volumes of data and documents. However, the task of reading long documents can be a tedious and time-consuming task. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle this issue, and in this article, we’ll go through five ways to make your computer read documents to you.
- Text-to-Speech Software – One of the most useful features of modern-day computers is their ability to convert text to speech. Several free and paid text-to-speech software are available online that can read your documents aloud. Most of these tools also allow you to adjust the speed, volume, and even the voice of the speaker. Some of the popular text-to-speech software include NaturalReader, Balabolka, and Read Aloud.
- Microsoft Word – One of the most widely used word processing software, Microsoft Word has inbuilt text-to-speech features. This feature can be found in the “Review” tab of the ribbon. The “Read Aloud” function will read the text highlighted in the document. You can also adjust the speed of the voice, the pitch, and the volume.
- Google Docs – Google Docs is a free online word processor that comes with Google Text-to-Speech built-in. To activate this feature, open the desired document in Google Docs, click on “Tools” in the top menu, and select “Accessibility Settings.” In the “Accessibility” pane, turn on “Screen Reader Support,” and the option to use the Ctrl+Alt+X keyboard shortcut to activate the screen reader will become available.
- PDF Readers – Many PDF readers come with text-to-speech features that can read out the content of the PDF document. Adobe Acrobat Reader and Foxit Reader are two of the most popular PDF readers with text-to-speech features. Once the software is installed, open the PDF document, and click on the “View” tab. From the drop-down menu, choose “Read Out Loud” and “Activate Read Out Loud.” You can also adjust the settings for voice and speed.
- Online Tools – Several online tools are available that can read your documents aloud without the need to download software. One such tool is Web Reader, which reads web pages and documents aloud. To use Web Reader, copy the URL of the website or document and paste it into the Web Reader tool. The tool will then read the content aloud.