How to Use Text to Speech Recognition in Windows Vista
Trying to use Text to Speech on your computer? Text to Speech can help you if you are sight impaired or need some extra editing help. If you are a Windows Vista user, it’s easy to activate speech recognition software. Follow these steps and your computer will be talking back to you in just a few minutes.
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Things You'll Need
- Windows Vista operating system on your computer
- Computer speakers with sound enabled
Instructions
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1
Test your computer speakers and sound. For example, you should be able to listen to music CDs, MP3 files and videos online. After confirming that the sound is working, start the Text to Speech program.
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2
Open the Text to Speech program, Narrator, by clicking on the “Start” button. Click on “All Programs,” then “Accessories." Choose ”Ease of Access” and then click on “Narrator” to open the program.
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Change the options for Narrator so the program will start in a minimized window. Click on the check boxes to have Narrator announce system messages and notifications.
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Click the active window and press "CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR" to have Narrator read the entire window. To read the title, press "ALT+HOME." To silence the speech, press "CTRL."
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5
Click on the "Exit" button in Narrator to close the Text to Speech program when finished.
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Tips & Warnings
Text to Speech is not available in all languages. To test your sound for Text to Speech, click “Start”, then “Control Panel” and finally double-click “Speech.” On the tab that reads Text to Speech, click on “Preview Voice” to hear the test voice.
You can also use Narrator on older Windows computers using a very similar technique. Visit the Microsoft website if you have any difficulties with activating Narrator in other operating systems such as XP (see Resources below).
