Ggg Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 What do you recomend for TEXT to Speech? What do you recomend for e-reader pen? What are some good sites that read books? Thank you, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 14 hours ago, Ggg said: What do you recomend for TEXT to Speech? What do you recomend for e-reader pen? What are some good sites that read books? Thank you, Lisa I don’t know answers to your questions but am also interested in e-reader pens and text to speech. I don’t understand your last question. Do you mean things like Aaudible and Learning Ally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 On Win and MacOS machines, text to speech is a built-in function and needs to be enabled. Google the instructions. On our Windows machines, we use TTS in Word and Adobe. On the Mac, you highlight what you want to be read aloud and then hit a specific keystroke. You'll need to look the keystroke info up under MacOS settings. For Internet browsing, there is an extenson called SpeakIt that may be added to the Chrome Browser. For books, son's Kindle Touch and Fire both have a built-in TTS function that works with TTS enabled Kindle books. We also use TTS for books on Androids and the iPad using an app called Voice Dream. Lastly, on my Ipad, I can highlight whatever I want to be read aloud, select the speak option, and the device reads the highlighted selection. We don't use a pen reader; however, you may want to take a look at the Claro app for iPads and iPods. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 On 6/22/2018 at 8:27 AM, Pen said: I don’t know answers to your questions but am also interested in e-reader pens and text to speech. I don’t understand your last question. Do you mean things like Aaudible and Learning Ally? Yes - Asudible or Learning Ally...does either have text books? Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 On 6/22/2018 at 9:01 AM, Heathermomster said: On Win and MacOS machines, text to speech is a built-in function and needs to be enabled. Google the instructions. On our Windows machines, we use TTS in Word and Adobe. On the Mac, you highlight what you want to be read aloud and then hit a specific keystroke. You'll need to look the keystroke info up under MacOS settings. For Internet browsing, there is an extenson called SpeakIt that may be added to the Chrome Browser. For books, son's Kindle Touch and Fire both have a built-in TTS function that works with TTS enabled Kindle books. We also use TTS for books on Androids and the iPad using an app called Voice Dream. Lastly, on my Ipad, I can highlight whatever I want to be read aloud, select the speak option, and the device reads the highlighted selection. We don't use a pen reader; however, you may want to take a look at the Claro app for iPads and iPods. Thank you I had no idea Win had text to speech-- Can you get text books on a Kindle reader? Thank you, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 We have acquired textbooks through Learning Ally (yearly cost) and Bookshare.org (free). A proof of disability is required for both accounts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arliemaria Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 11 minutes ago, Heathermomster said: We have acquired textbooks through Learning Ally (yearly cost) and Bookshare.org (free). A proof of disability is required for both accounts. What is bookshare like? What type of books? Is the voice robotic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Son uses the Voice Dream app to download and use Bookshare books. There are multiple digital voices available with Voice Dream, and some voices are free while others are low cost. Bookshare books may be listened to online, but we have no experience with that feature. Son has also requested and received text books in Bookshare format. It took about 4-5 weeks for Bookshare to process his requests. Anyone can search books available without a Book Share account... https://www.bookshare.org/cms/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 Bookshare has a robot reader. Learning Ally has humans. Both have textbooks With enough lead time it theoretically is (or at least used to be) possible to have them put a textbook assigned for a class into their offerings if it isn’t already. I don’t currently have either so am not up to date on this I just succeeded in getting my new iPhone to read pretty much any text on it, such as from Kindle or Hoopla or Library 2Go. I found I liked and could understand the default male UK voice better than the American one. My ds has known how to do this for a couple of years, but I am a dinosaur. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arliemaria Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 We’ve mostly been requesting nearly every Playaway from our library system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 For text to speech software, I have found that Snap N Read is the cheapest/best option that has OCR. It does not do numbers will and is very ropotic sounding, but it has been very good with PDFs and etextbooks that don't come with audio. It came on a disc, but I loaded a copy onto a USB so my DS can take it with him and use on any computer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 On 6/23/2018 at 11:20 PM, arliemaria said: We’ve mostly been requesting nearly every Playaway from our library system. So I should check with the library for Playaway--thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 On 6/24/2018 at 11:53 AM, City Mouse said: For text to sorach software, I have found that Snao N Read is the cheapest/best option that has OCR. It does not do numbers will and is very ropotic sounding, but it has been very good with PDFs and etextbooks that don't come with audio. It came on a disc, but I loaded a copy onto a USB so my DS can take it with him and use on any computer. Thank you - I will need to check into this, I really like the idea of putting it on a USB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 On 6/23/2018 at 11:11 PM, Heathermomster said: Son uses the Voice Dream app to download and use Bookshare books. There are multiple digital voices available with Voice Dream, and some voices are free while others are low cost. Bookshare books may be listened to online, but we have no experience with that feature. Son has also requested and received text books in Bookshare format. It took about 4-5 weeks for Bookshare to process his requests. Anyone can search books available without a Book Share account... https://www.bookshare.org/cms/ Thank you - I will look into Voice Dream--he needed a book for his Worship Arts Intership and we purchased it through Amazon Audible it sounds robotic, but he is able to answer all the end of chapter questions so it is working. I plan to look into it all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4KookieKids Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 On 6/23/2018 at 11:20 PM, arliemaria said: We’ve mostly been requesting nearly every Playaway from our library system. Yes, our library also has Hoopla and Overdrive subscriptions that we make HEAVY use of. Overdrive, in particular, will let us borrow 10 at a time on *each* persons account... In a family of 6, that goes an awfully long way.... I don't know that they have textbooks, but they have a substantial collection of books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 1 hour ago, Ggg said: Thank you - I will need to check into this, I really like the idea of putting it on a USB. That was supposed to say Snap N Read. I really need to proof read before I post. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 2 hours ago, Ggg said: Thank you - I will look into Voice Dream--he needed a book for his Worship Arts Intership and we purchased it through Amazon Audible it sounds robotic, but he is able to answer all the end of chapter questions so it is working. I plan to look into it all... Audible has live human readers—IME usually they are excellent. I guess you got a bad one, but I don’t think VD will help with Audible recordings. I tend to listen to a sample of Audible books before buying. Sometimes I have even searched for favorite narrators, and taken a look at what they have recorded. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Are you working with PC and Android or Mac and iPhone products? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 My son isn’t bothered by digital voice, and he listens to books at an accelerated speed. All voices, digital or otherwise, sound strange when accelerated so it makes no difference to him. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2012/06/04/do-you-read-fast-enough-to-be-successful/#66667e0b462e It’s important that our students learn to listen to books at 300-450 wpm if they are college bound. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 OP, how old is your student? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 15 hours ago, Pen said: Are you working with PC and Android or Mac and iPhone products? He has PC, Android phone and my husband has an old ipad he can use if needed(I think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 5 hours ago, Heathermomster said: OP, how old is your student? He will be 16 in Aug. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 5 hours ago, Heathermomster said: My son isn’t bothered by digital voice, and he listens to books at an accelerated speed. All voices, digital or otherwise, sound strange when accelerated so it makes no difference to him. https://www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2012/06/04/do-you-read-fast-enough-to-be-successful/#66667e0b462e It’s important that our students learn to listen to books at 300-450 wpm if they are college bound. Good to know thank you so much-hopefully he will because he loves to talk so fast that one needs to ask him to slow down 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 15 hours ago, Pen said: Audible has live human readers—IME usually they are excellent. I guess you got a bad one, but I don’t think VD will help with Audible recordings. I tend to listen to a sample of Audible books before buying. Sometimes I have even searched for favorite narrators, and taken a look at what they have recorded. Well was in a hurry and wanted to make sure he could get the work done for church-- and honeslty this is all new and working on learning for everyone --I so appreciate it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ggg Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 16 hours ago, City Mouse said: Snap N Read Looking it up now--thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Yes to what Heathermomster said. My older ds now listens at such an accelerated speed that the type of voice really doesn't make a difference. He mainly uses Learning Ally because he has it on his phone, but also sometimes VoiceDream/Bookshare. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted June 28, 2018 Share Posted June 28, 2018 8 hours ago, Ggg said: He has PC, Android phone and my husband has an old ipad he can use if needed(I think) All the things he has are not ones I am very familiar with. But Try the voices available on the iPad assuming that they are the same as for Mac. I prefer Alex and Daniel. Some people I know prefer Samantha. Alex is free on my Mac and Daniel and Samantha are free on my phone. There are enhanced versions available for a fee but I’ve been okay with the standard ones. If PC and Android have preinstalled free TTS voices too, it might be helpful for him to listen to them in the same way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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