Our site is Speech enabled, what it means
We have now speech-enabled our website, which means that you can have the text on the pages read out aloud to you. All you have to do is download free software onto your personal computer and the site will be read aloud to you. The free software is called Browsealoud.
Browsealoud is a program known as a Windows browser plug-in. Plug-in's are designed to work with your browser software, such as - Internet Explorer 4 upwards or Netscape Navigator. Once you install the Browsealoud plugin onto your PC, you can have East Staffordshire Citizens advice Bureau web pages read aloud to you. Once installed any site that is speech enabled with Browsealoud will also be read aloud to you.
Why speech enable our website?
We have Speech enabled our website to provide an additional way of accessing our site content for people who find it hard to read. This includes those with dyslexia or learning difficulties, those for whom English is not their first language, or anyone with a mild visual impairment. It is not designed to replace other screen readers.
What is Browsealoud?
Browsealoud is a program that enables you to have website content read to you. You hear the text spoken aloud whenever you move your cursor over the text content of the pages you are viewing. Browsealoud is free to download. Once installed you have the ability to change the way the voice is controlled.
Does it work on all pages?
Browsealoud will read every webpage on our site. It can also read pdfs in Adobe Reader Version 6.0 onwards. This meets the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C's) Level A guidelines for accessibility.
Can I customise Browsealoud?
Yes. You have full control over the way the voice sounds. Once installed, you will have a Browsealoud Icon in your system tray, which is usually at the bottom right hand corner of your screen (where you can find your system clock). Right click on the icon and choose 'open Browsealoud settings' from the menu.
The speech tab on the settings window enables you to choose whether to have a male or female voice, change the speed of the voice, pitch and volume of the reader. To read the entire page from where your cursor points, check the 'Continue reading from pointer' box. Otherwise Browsealoud will only read the individual sentences your cursor points to.
For further help and assistance with the Browsealoud product take a look at the Browsealoud FAQs on their website.
Downloading Browsealoud
Click on the image below and you will be taken to the Browsealoud site where you will find full instructions about how to download and install the software. Once installed the Browsealoud icon will be placed in your system tray.
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