- A screen reader is a software program that enables a blind or visually impaired user to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen with a speech synthesizer or braille display. JAWS, J ob A ccess W ith S peech, is the world’s most popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing.
- Free Screen Reader; Use Skype for Business for Mac with your keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in Mac OS screen reader, to make and receive audio calls. Skype for Business for Mac automatically detects your devices, such as a headset, microphone, and speakers. ReadSpeaker is a screen reader software for Mac or PC that allows documents, web.
A screen reader is a software program that enables a blind or visually impaired user to read the text that is displayed on the computer screen with a speech synthesizer or braille display. According to statistic data, there are 285 million blind and vision impaired people in the world who need the right tools to contribute to society. Download from Website. WebAnywhere is an online, free screen reader tool for any web browsers and can be used without installing any software or application. Using this tool blind people can access web browsers on any system or desktop easily and listen to the text on the screen using this screen text reader for browsers.
About 95% of the web is inaccessible for persons with visual impairment. But, this does not necessarily mean that persons with visual impairment cannot walk hand in hand with the ever-growing digital world. Assistive software, called screen readers, can be installed on any computer. These software pieces make it easier for persons with visual impairment to use the computer and browse the Internet on their own. Thus, screen readers are very important for enhancing information accessibility for people with visual impairment.
Screen readers are the software that either read the texts displayed on the computer or display them on an attached braille display.
Here we are giving you the list of most popular screen readers. But, before installing any one of them, make sure the software is compatible with your OS and braille screen (if you use one). It would also be good if you check command structure and keystrokes of the software beforehand to make sure you can easily learn them. Some of the given screen readers are paid software, while the others are free. If you feel the need to upgrade to a paid version of a screen reader, do it happily because this will be the best investment — an investment for self-dependency.
Most Popular Screen Reader Software (Both Free and Paid)
1. Job Access With Speech (JAWS)
This is one of the most popular screen readers all over the world. It is compatible with all versions of Windows OS since Windows Vista. JAWS helps you surf the internet, read out any text on the computer screen including e-books, word-processor. To run JAWS on your computer you need 1.5GHz processor speed and 4 GB RAM. It is a pretty common computer configuration these days. So no worries!
2. Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA)
This software is the most popular among the free screen readers. For the first time users, this can be the best option to get familiarized with the screen readers. To run this software smoothly, you need 1.0 GHz processor speed, 256 MB RAM, and 90 MB storage space. This free software supports 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions since Windows XP.
3. Apple VoiceOver
This is the best screen readers for Mac users due to its deep, OS-level integration that has been specifically designed for Mac OS X. If you are a Mac or iPhone user, this is the ultimate screen reader for you. In addition to the normal functions of screen readers, VoiceOver has been mapped to the touchpad and gestures — making it a smart screen reader.
4. Orca
Linux has recently gained a good popularity. If you use Linux as your OS, Orca is the best screen reader for you. Obviously, there are a few more screen readers for Linux but Orca is the most popular one. Orca has also been included in the Ubuntu installation CD to allow the blind and persons with visual impairments to get audible interaction during the installation process just after a few keystrokes.
5. Dolphin Screen Reader
This paid screen reader is popular among individuals as well as organizations due to its high-quality features. Before buying this software, make sure you have a processor equal to or faster than 1.5 GHz, 2 GB RAM and a storage space of 5 GB. Unlike most of the other screen readers, Dolphin Screen Reader provides you with a natural-sounding text-to-speech voice. And, the software is packed with all the features one can expect from a top-quality screen reader.
This is WeCapable’s handpicked list of best screen readers. If you have used a screen reader that, according to you, deserves to be on the list of best screen readers — please communicate to us through your comments. We love to hear from our readers!
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'Best Screen Readers for Persons with Visual Impairment.'Wecapable.com. Web. October 2, 2021. <https://wecapable.com/best-screen-readers-free-paid/>
Wecapable.com, 'Best Screen Readers for Persons with Visual Impairment.' Accessed October 2, 2021. https://wecapable.com/best-screen-readers-free-paid/
Free Screen Reader For Mac Download
Nvda Free Screen Reader Download
'Best Screen Readers for Persons with Visual Impairment.' (n.d.). Wecapable.com. Retrieved October 2, 2021 from https://wecapable.com/best-screen-readers-free-paid/