Can my iMac read chosen (Highlighted) Text aloud to me?

OK, so this isn't really a switchers question per-say, but I couldn't find a more appropriate place to ask it...

Years ago, I MEAN YEARS ago, on my PC I had a simple app that allowed me to select text (Highlight it) right click, and choose 'read aloud' My text would then be repeated back to me in a male or female voice.

Then as PC's got more advanced, the program morphed and became much more convoluted, with little characters (MS Agents?) appearing at the bottom of my screen reading the text, and then it all got overly complicated. As Windows is very good at doing...

So, it got me thinking. Is there a way to do this either built into Snow Leopard, or as a simple download?

I'm NOT looking for some 'all singing - all dancing' full on major program to assist the visually impaired that wants to read every key push, or link I hover over... JUST MY SELECTED TEXT... And then shut up ? lol

If anyone can point me down a good path, I'd be grateful. I tried googling mac text to speech, but ended up with a load of links to freewear apps dated 2002.

Yep, it comes built-in:

Select some text in any cocoa-based app (Textedit, Safari etc.) and then choose "Speech > Start speaking".

Open Safari and try it with your post now...

TGITC said:

I'm NOT looking for some 'all singing - all dancing' full on major program to assist the visually impaired that wants to read every key push, or link I hover over... JUST MY SELECTED TEXT... And then shut up ? lol

Click to expand...

If you're working with the visually impaired...you can also go to:

System Preferences > Universal Access

This control panel has all sorts of settings to assist folks. Settings for:

- hearing (have the computer speak text)
- sight (enlarge or "zoom" text)
- special settings to "fine" adjust mouse control
- even settings to allow someone to be able to type only using a mouse

HTH,

- Nick

Hmmmm.... Your right ! It DID work with safari. But.... (Theres always a but, isn't there?) I do like using chrome.

Perhaps theres a plugin ? I shall have to go look

One question though. What is a cocoa based app? Is that something thats built for mac specifically? Or does it mean something else?

Cocoa means that the application was designed using a certain set of Apple services and methods. Cocoa has the advantage that applications get a lot of features built-in "free", such as spell checking, text-to-speech etc.

You could try to see if this is any good:
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/ndlkpkpmcgbfpbfaofanlofaaealkonb?hl=en

Open System Preferences
Click on Speech
Click the Text to Speech tab
Check the "Speak selected text when the[sic] key is pressed
Click the Set Key... button
Note the key combination, or change it if necessary

This should work in any application

technologist said:

Open System Preferences
Click on Speech
Click the Text to Speech tab
Check the "Speak selected text when the[sic] key is pressed
Click the Set Key... button
Note the key combination, or change it if necessary

This should work in any application

Click to expand...

Perfect advice, exactly what I needed to hear! Thankyou

TGITC said:

I do like using chrome.

Click to expand...

Uh oh! Malware sighting!

no sound now.. grrr..

pigoo3 said:

If you're working with the visually impaired...you can also go to:

System Preferences > Universal Access

This control panel has all sorts of settings to assist folks. Settings for:

- hearing (have the computer speak text)
- sight (enlarge or "zoom" text)
- special settings to "fine" adjust mouse control
- even settings to allow someone to be able to type only using a mouse

HTH,

- Nick

Click to expand...

i just went into safari and tried it and it wouldnt work for me. in fact im not getting sound from anything right now. grrrr... ive checked the speaker icon and it doesnt show its on mute. ive tried clicking the speaker key using command as well... but nothing seems to work. im not having a good day.judych