Text-to-Speech Engine -- Great Freeware for Larger Texts...

[Peter Frank]

...I've used this for years with no problems. Just copy & paste texts into the program & hit the play button. You can adjust the voices to taste (male, female, speed). The text also scrolls & is highlighted as it's spoken (font size is adjustable).

As far as I can tell, "ReadPlease" installs no spy-ware -- http://readplease.com

Direct link to free download -- http://readplease.com/downloads/setupreadplease2003.exe

I have no personal interest in this software; I just think we as a group could benefit from being able to process material faster. Please let me know if you've tried it (be sure to see what happens when you click on the faces of the voice icons).

[Taxloss]

1. Reading is faster than speech.

But the program looks interesting.

[brainshrub]

2. No offense, I'll wait a bit before I DL it.

With so few posts, you might just be trying to advertise.

Besides, reading is fun.

[Gman]

3. This is great for folks that are low vision or blind

Text to speech/magnifier software like Zoomtext or JAWS are overly expensive. This could help a lot of people that don't have access to software for the low vision and blind.

[patdem]

4. Have you tried this software, or do you know anything about it?

I think the second link should explain what the 'free' is..a 'free trial' or the 'free' languages...just asking?

[Gman]

7. No,

I haven't tried the free software. I am familiar with Zoomtext and JAWS.

[alfredo]

5. shouldn't your OS have text to speech capabilities?

I've been using it since the mid to late 90's. Harry Shearer and Marilyn Manson use it it in their shows. It comes standard on OSX and older versions of the Mac OS.

[KnowerOfLogic]

6. My old Sound Blaster 16 (1993) is the best T-to-S program i've seen,

at least among the free ones; i'll see if this one's any better.

[Peter Frank]

8. O.K...

...If you have a better program -- fine. I also have "Dragon/Naturally Speaking." But not everyone has access to a good Text-to-Speech program.

You've exposed an elitism that turns allot of free thinkers off to this board. Go ahead -- put down free software that will help some people digest what's being said here.

I am certainly no idiot, but I have been diagnosed as having adult A.D.H.D. This kind of software balances the playing field for persons who have difficulty maintaining focus while reading long texts.

If you want to marginalize some of the same population that Bush does -- keep behaving aloof & superior. ...And continue your alienating natural allies.

If Bush doesn't get it, he can't help it. You can.


I'm just a little pissed off right now about how America (represented by GW) is still being dragged kicking & screaming into the world. What an ignorant MF*ker who isn't even advised well enough to know that it looks good for America when she is on the forfrond of aid to the world.

Our pres. is certainly the most critically myopic leader in our history. God have mercy on us.

[Peter Frank]

9. kick

:kick:

[housewolf]

10. I'd love it if this works

After so many years of staring into computer screens, I find it harder and harder to read on a computer moniter. I find that anymore, I just skim things. If there was a way to listen instead, that would be great!

[Peter Frank]

11. Try it...

...& let me know how you like it. I have nothing to gain but turning other people on to a cool discovery. I'm sorry that some people are so jaded that they think there always has to be an angle.

[RC]

12. The freebie works.

The voice doesn't quiet sound human, But it has already helped me proof read something I wrote.

[Peter Frank]

13. Thanks man...

...this is a very cool tool.