Speech enabling our website
Wolverhampton City Council can now offer a new facility to aid accessibility on our website for those users with reading difficulties. See our press release for launch details.
We have teamed up with specialist software company Texthelp Systems to provide a service which gives our visitors the chance to listen to www.wolverhampton.gov.uk
All you have to do is simply download and install the free Browsealoud software by following the steps below.
Why have we speech enabled 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 literacy, dyslexia or learning difficulties, or those for whom English is not their first language.
Browsealoud is not designed to replace other screen readers.
What is Browsealoud?
Browsealoud is a browser plug-in 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?
You download a free, small browser plug-in to your computer. Once the plug-in has been installed, content on this site can be spoken aloud.
Where else does it work?
Browsealoud will work on other websites where the company or organisation subscribes to the service. Websites that subscribe to Browsealoud include:
A list of subscribing sites can be found on the Browsealoud website.
Does it work on all pages?
Browsealoud will read all web pages on our site www.wolverhampton.gov.uk. It can read most PDF created under Adobe Reader version 6.0 onwards however, most PDF files on our website are version 5.0 or older.
System requirements
- Operating Systems: Windows 98, 2000, XP, ME or NT4
- Pentium 350MHz Processor
- Sound Card and Speakers
- 128 MB RAM (256MB recommended)
- 20 MB Free Disk Space
- Recommended Browsers: Firefox, Internet Explorer 5.5 upwards, Netscape Navigator 7, Mozilla 1.7.3 upwards.
Installation
Before you install the software, you can get further information by visiting the Browsealoud website.
If your computer is owned by a company or organisation, you are advised to contact your IT Helpdesk to check if you have permission to download and install the Browsealoud software.
Step 1
To install the software, go to the Browsealoud website.
Step 2
Download the software and follow the installation instructions.
Using Browsealoud
Note: When Browsealoud is running pressing the ctrl key will toggle the reading facility on/off.
The Browsealoud system, when installed will sit running in the background, until you enter a Browsealoud enabled website.
If using windows you may notice the Browsealoud icon in your system tray:
When enabled, Browsealoud is shown as blue rings and a red tick icon in your system tray.
Right clicking on this will allow you to open up the Browsealoud settings.
Right click and press exit to turn off Browsealoud. The service will restart when you select Browsealoud from the programs menu
Speech
Here you can alter the pitch, speed and volume of the speech facility. Simply move the slider left or right until you get your preferred sound.
You can also choose male or female voices which has options set for you.
Pronunciation
You can add a dictionary of words and how to say them phonetically in this section.
For those words, particularly Welsh words and names, which Browsealoud has difficulty in pronouncing.
If you find there are any words which are not being correctly pronounced by the Browsealoud software, contact the Webmaster.
Updates
You have the opportunity to update your information on a regular basis with this section.
There are options to download more voices, updates to the software etc and also the chance to update your list of websites that Browsealoud can access.
Miscellaneous
This section allows you set your preferences on how Browsealoud works with your computer and how it functions when accessing websites.
Support
Wolverhampton City Council does not and cannot provide software and user support for Browsealoud software.
If you experience problems with the software, contact Browsealoud.
Liability
The Wolverhampton City Council cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any inaccuracy, error or conflict of software, however caused, as a result of downloading, installing or using th Browsealoud software.
Wolverhampton City Council makes no guarantee, warrantee or claim about the suitability or compatibility of Browsealoud software relating to your computer, systems or between other software.