This is a speech-enabled website
This website is now
speech-enabled, which means that you can download free software
onto your personal computer and have the site read aloud to
you.
The free software is called Browsealoud, and
is used on over 2,000 websites in the UK and USA. Browsealoud is a
Windows browser plug-in designed for use with Internet Explorer 4
upwards or Netscape Navigator. If you install the Browsealoud
plugin onto your PC, you can have the web pages on the Ryedale
District Council website read to you (and our other sites and other
public websites that are speech-enabled).
Why speech enable our website?
Speech enabling our website provides an additional way of
accessing our 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 solution that allows you to have website
content read to you. As you move the cursor over text, it is spoken
aloud. Browsealoud is free to download and you have control over
the voice, word pronunciations and speech highlighting.
How does it work?
[updated May 2008] Browsealoud is now a zero install solution
and can be easily downloaded onto a PC or a USB keydrive and used
anywhere. Browsealoud highlights each word as it is spoken to aid
comprehension, improve reading and show users where they are on the
page.
Browsealoud now reads websites with a high quality
local voice.
Browsealoud New Advantages:
- Instant Speech feedback with no delays
- Reads Secure Sites with a High Quality Voice
- Reads Intranets with a High Quality Voice
- Firewall friendly
Continued Browsealoud Functionality:
- Dual Colour Highlighting
- Text Magnification Display
- MP3 Output
- Talking Dictionary
- International Languages
- Reads PDFs in their original format
- Reads Accessible Flash and Alt Tags
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. Once plugged in, look for the Browsealoud icon in your
system tray, which is usually at the bottom right hand corner of
your screen (beside the 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 a male or female voice,
and change the speed, 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 you point to.
For further help and assistance with the Browsealoud
product take a look at the Browsealoud FAQs on their
website (opens new window).
Downloading Browsealoud
Click on the image below (opens new window) and you will be
taken to an external site where you will find full instructions to
carry out the download and installation. A Browsealoud icon will be
placed in your system tray which is at the bottom right of your
browser desktop.
