Speech Central: AI Voice Reader is a comprehensive text-to-speech application designed to enhance accessibility and productivity for users, particularly those with visual impairments, dyslexia, and other reading challenges.
What the Product Does
Speech Central is an innovative app that converts written text into spoken words, allowing users to interact with various types of content, including websites, RSS feeds, documents, and ebooks, through an audio interface. This makes the web and other digital content more accessible for individuals with eyesight disabilities or reading difficulties.Key Features and Functionality
Advanced Text-to-Speech Engine
- The app utilizes a proprietary text-to-speech engine that enhances the output of Apple’s voices and AI voices from OpenAI, Azure, and Google. This engine infuses readings with emotion and variation, providing a more natural and engaging listening experience.
Document and Format Support
- Speech Central supports a wide range of document formats, including PDF (including scanned documents), Microsoft Word (.docx), Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx), OpenOffice/LibreOffice (.odt, .odp), .html, .txt, .rtf, and ebook formats like .epub, DAISY, and .fb2. It also supports emails in .eml format, provided the documents do not have Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Web and RSS Feed Integration
- The app offers robust web support, allowing users to listen to articles and headlines from websites and RSS feeds. Articles can be added from the headlines page or directly from Safari, and users can send articles from their desktop browser using the Pocket extension.
Customization and Accessibility
- Speech Central includes customizable audio buttons, which can be programmed to enhance productivity and accessibility. The app is tested to be accessible with VoiceOver and includes a dyslexia-friendly font. It also integrates with Bookshare and Project Gutenberg, providing access to a wide range of accessible books.
Annotation and Organization Tools
- Users can annotate texts by marking favorites, bookmarking important paragraphs, and adding comments. These annotations can be exported to Microsoft Word (.docx) format. The app also moves read articles to an “Old Articles” section, which supports search and filtering features and keeps content available offline.
Multi-Language Support
- Speech Central supports text-to-speech in dozens of languages, making it a versatile tool for users worldwide. It is compatible with iOS, Android, Macintosh, and Windows devices.
Additional Features
- The app includes features like CarPlay support, Siri Shortcuts, and integration with the latest iOS and macOS features such as the Touch Bar, drag and drop, 3D Touch, and Spotlight Search. It also allows users to import various text file formats and sync their web articles list across devices using Pocket.
Pricing and Tiers
- Speech Central offers both a free tier and a premium tier without a subscription. The free tier is limited by quantity rather than quality, ensuring that users can still benefit from the app’s features without a subscription.