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Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is an application that uses a speech synthesizer to read documents and more outloud. It is available for free with generic voices or sold with high quality CereProc or AT&T Natural Voices at the lowest prices in the industry.

Features and Uses

Read documents, emails, web pages, clipboard contents and Windows dialog boxes out loud in one of many high quality voices.

Add up to 11 high quality AT&T Natural Voices to Ultra Hal (above) and any other SAPI compliant application.

You can use advanced CereVoice by CereProc to achieve voices that sound real and have character.

Assists people with reading disabilites (including dyslexia) and concentration problems (including ADD/ADHD). By reading along as it speaks you combine yourvisual and auditory senses to help comprehend and concrentrate on the topic.

Quickly devour large amounts of reading material through speed reading. Simply set the speech speed high and read along as the program flashes on the screen the word it speaking.

Using the science of rapid serial visual presentation the program helps reduce eye movement while reading and adds supplementary fast spoken speech for increased comprehension.

Text can be saved as an audio file for transfer to an audio CD or iPod/MP3 player so you can listen on the go.

Helps with proofreading your own work. Hearing your documents spoken outloud makes it easy to spot mistakes.

Can be useful for the visually impaired. With the clipboard reading functionality you can highlight any text in any program with your mouse and then hit CTRL-C to read it outloud.

Download Now

Click here to download the free version of the Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader. The free Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader includes many high quality computerized voices. Also available for purchase is an Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader bundled with AT&T Natural Voices. These voices provide synthesized voices almost indistringuisable from real human speech. Click here for more info and to hear the voices for yourself.

Help Contents

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader Interface
Opening and Reading a Text File
Choosing and Configuring a Voice
Using the Clipboard for Reading Internet Pages and Email
Automatically Reading Standard Windows Dialogs
Converting a Document into WAV Audio File

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader Interface

By default, the Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader starts with your computer and puts its icon in your system tray. You can start the Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader by clicking on the "ear" icon in your system tray, as illustrated here:

The program needs to be running in order to automatically read dialog boxes, clipboard contents, and instant messages. If you do not plan to use any of these features and do not wish for the program to automatically start with your computer, you may simply remove its shortcut from your startup folder located in the start menu. You can always manually start the program from its own shortcut located in the start menu. Once you start the program, you will see an interface like this:

7)When the program is speaking the current word being uttered appears centered here. If you keep your eyes focused here you can read along without moving your eyes. If you increase the speech speed using the slider you can engage in speed reading using the science of rapid serial visual presentation

Opening and Reading a Text File

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is very similar to the Windows program WordPad. It can open any text file (*.txt) or rich text file (*.rtf). This program can be used to edit, format, and save text files just like WordPad. You can change font type, size, alignment and color using the controls in the toolbar and menu bar.

To open a file simply click on "File" and "Open". Find the location of the file and click "Open". This program will only open .TXT and .RTF files. If the document you wish to open is not one of these formats, you should either convert the file into a text file or simply copy and paste the text.

If you wish to read the entire document, simply click on the "Read All" document. If you wish to read only part of the document, first make a selection of the text by holding down the left mouse button and dragging your mouse over the text. After it is selected (highlighted) you may push the "Read Selection" button to read just that part.

If at anytime you wish to stop or pause the speech you may push the "Stop" button. If you wish to resume the speech, simply click the "Read Selection" button as the program automatically selects the remaining text whenever you push "Stop".

Choosing and Configuring a Voice

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is compatible with any SAPI 4 or SAPI 5 compliant speech synthesizer. This program includes the voices "Mike", "Mary", and "Sam" and variations of these 3 voices. It is possible you may have other voices installed also. To select a voice, simply click on the drop down list located on the right hand side of the interface and click on a different voice:

Once you choose a voice, you may change its speed, pitch, and volume using the 3 slider controls shown above. These controls may be changed while the program is speaking. Most voices also have advanced speech and pronunciation settings available. To change pronunciation settings, click on "Options" in the menu bar and then "Pronunciation Settings for Current Voice" To change advanced voice settings, click on "Options" in the menu bar and then "Advanced Speech Options for the Current Voice"

Using the Clipboard for Reading Internet Pages and Email

The clipboard function of the Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader automatically monitors your clipboard for text changes. Every time you copy some text into the clipboard, this program will automatically read it out loud. This can be great for reading internet pages out loud and email messages. First, make sure this option is turned on. If it is not, simply click on "Options" in the menu bar and put a checkmark by the option that says "Read Clipboard When Text is Copied"

Now, lets say you are browsing an Internet page and you would like the program to read it outloud. Simply select (highlight) the text you would like to be spoken by holding the left button down and dragging the mouse over the text. After you selected the text you can copy it by pressing CTRL-C or by clicking on "Edit" and "Copy" As soon as you do this, the Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader will automatically start speaking this text. You can use this method to make every program speak!

Automatically Reading Standard Windows Dialogs

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader program is able to automatically read out loud all standard windows dialogs that pop up. For example if you try closing a document without saving it first, it will pop up a dialog asking whether you wish to save it or not. The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader will automatically read this dialog and all other standard dialogs out loud. If you wish to use this function make sure this option is turned on. If it is not, simply click on "Options" in the menu bar and put a checkmark by the option that says "Read Text From All Dialog Boxes"

Converting a Document into WAV Audio File

The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader program is able to both speak documents out loud and convert them into Windows PCM WAVE (.WAV) files. It will create a 16-bit 22kHz mono wave file, as this is what most speech synthesizers actually output. To convert text into a WAVE file first open the document so that it appears inside the application. Next click on "File" from the menu bar and click on "Convert Text into WAV audio file" The program will ask you where to save your WAV file. Give it a location and click "Save". Next the program will ask you what voice you would like it to use. Choose a voice from the list and click "OK" The program will then convert the text into an audio file. It will give you a time estimate of the process and show you its progress. After its done you will have a WAVE file that you can listen to, burn to audio CD, or convert to MP3!

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The Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is an application that uses a speech synthesizer to read documents and more outloud. It is available for free with generic voices or sold with high quality AT&T Natural Voices or CereProc voices at the lowest prices in the industry.

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Tobii Dynavox Global: Assistive technology for communication

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Communication apps, speech generating devices, eye trackers and eye gaze/eye-controlled devices for people with disabilities and special needs who require AAC.

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Welcome

Welcome to the Tar Heel Reader, a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens, the IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 to 3 switches. Click here to learn more about alternative access methods.

You may write your own books using pictures from the huge collection at Flickr or pictures you upload. All books should be complete, edited, and revised to the best of your ability before publishing them to the site. While you are working on them, please save them as drafts.

Note the little well icon in the upper left corner of the page; clicking it will allow you to access the main menu. You can also click the settings icon to change settings on some pages.

Your browser is unsupported. The site should work for finding and reading books but you will not have switch access or the ability to write books. We recommend that you upgrade to a modern browser or install Chrome Frame.
You are in Classic mode. You will not have access to all of the features of the site but it may work better on older computers and web browsers. Click this text to leave Classic mode.
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This site is also available in other languages. To help with translation, contact us.

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Welcome to the Tar Heel Reader, a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens, the IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 to 3 switches. Click here to learn more about alternative access methods.

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Welcome

Welcome to Tar Heel Gameplay, a collection of free, easy-to-play, and accessible games. Each game is speech enabled and may be accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens and 1 to 3 switches.

You may create your own games using videos from the huge collection at YouTube.

Note the little well icon in the upper left corner of the page; clicking it will allow you to access the main menu.

Tar Heel Gameplay is being developed and tested in the Google Chrome browser. It may work in other modern browsers but save yourself some confusion and try it with Chrome.

Your browser is unsupported.

Ready to get started?
Latest Announcements

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Welcome to Tar Heel Gameplay, a collection of free, easy-to-play, and accessible games. Each game is speech enabled and may be accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens and 1 to 3 switches. You may create your own games using videos from the huge collection at YouTube.

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Your subscription means everyone can enjoy the benefits of Read&Write across all platforms including Windows, Mac, Google Chrome, Edge, iPad, and Android.

Our Learning and Training resources for each product can be accessed at any time on our website. Get up to speed with our software through our learning resources, then verify your expertise by taking part in our certification program.

Our support site gives you access to lots of common questions that other users of our software have about the technical stuff. If you can't find what you're looking for there, then our Tech Support team is on hand at support@texthelp.com 9-5pm every day to help with troubleshooting or technical problems.

We're always working on making our products better, so any improvements or enhancements are pushed out automatically to you, there's no upgrading to do on your part.

Plus, coming soon you'll get free access to the Texthelp Academy for how-to information, video tutorials, product webinars and lots more.

All of this is included as part of your subscription. We do not charge any extra for these services.

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C-Pen boosts overall efficiency and helps employees with reading disabilities to optimise their performance without compromising integrity or security.

Are you a researcher, journalist, or lawyer who reads significant amounts of texts and highlights or extracts important paragraphs? Or maybe an administrative assistant entering data into business systems or databases? Regardless of your profession and task, C-Pen bridges the gap between printed text and computers and makes life easier. It's like a digital highlighter, but instead of marking text with yellow, it scans the text and data, transmitting it to the computer without touching the keyboard. Efficient and reliable, C-Pen Productivity products are designed with the purpose increase efficiency and productivity.

Empower your employees

Today 10% of the population have some degree of dyslexia, which means that some of your employees probably face it. Although they have developed strategies to cope with it, you as an employer can give them better conditions. Doing so will also boost their self-esteem as they get less dependent on others. ReaderPen Secure is a great help when reading reports or attending courses. The employee can confidently handle situations where they otherwise would have to confer with others to secure that they fully have understood the meaning of the text they have read. ReaderPen Secure doesn't save any information on the device, thereby protecting both the users' integrity and the company's security.

Make your research easier

Processing large amounts of printed text is often a natural part of everyday work life, especially in journalism or law. Living in the digital age can be an obstacle because we want to import parts of the printed text to our word processor. And with Connect, you can easily do just that. Simply mark up the quote or paragraph as you would with a marker pen, and it appears on your smartphone. Then you can edit it, send it to your computer or share it with your colleagues.

Streamline your paperwork

Much administrative work in an office or logistics comprises entering numbers and texts from different documents, like delivery notes, invoices, and receipts, into a computer. Sometimes it's for an Excel file, and sometimes it's registered directly into the business administration system. In which case, it's often a cumbersome task that demands a lot of time and effort. To bridge the gap between printed text and the computer C-Pen has developed the USB-connected digital highlighter TS1. Anything you highlight is instantly scanned and pasted into your computers' active application, like Word and Excel or your CRM or ERP system. Besides making your job easier, it also secures the quality of the data and reduces reading errors.

Models for the workplace

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Assistive technology at work empowering employees' productivity - C-Pen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you a researcher, journalist, or lawyer who reads significant amounts of texts and highlights or extracts important paragraphs? Or maybe an administrative assistant entering data into business systems or databases? Regardless of your profession and task, C-Pen bridges the gap between printed text and computers and makes life easier.