Electronic research databases provider EBSCO Publishing (EBSCO), US, has added text-to-speech (read aloud) support to EBSCOhost databases, including its major school and public library databases, by embedding Texthelp Systems' SpeechStream toolbar. Users will be able to take advantage of this new feature, provided at no additional cost, with any full-text articles available in HTML.
Text-to-speech support, already featured in EBSCO's English Language Learner Reference Center, allows users to read along while a human-sounding voice speaks the text on the screen. The support toolbar provides significant assistance to those for whom text-to-speech capabilities are highly valued such as English Language Learners, users with low vision, slight physical and/or learning disabilities, as well as eBook and PDA users.
Utilising the text-to-speech feature via the EBSCOhost platform provides many advantages. Users have the ability to read-aloud by selected text, sentence, paragraph, or continuous reading with dual colour synchronous highlighting. User control of read-aloud personalises the learning experience for each user. Users can control reading speed as well as select between three different high-quality voices - American, British or Australian. These options also enable teachers and professionals to incorporate the features as a tool for teaching English and reading.
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