Text-to-speech technology with ReadSpeaker

ReadSpeaker is a web-based tool that allows you to listen to online content instead of reading it. It can be used by students and teaching staff at Karolinska Institutet, and doesn't require any software to be downloaded. You can use it to have any text on a Canvas page read out loud to you in a natural-sounding voice. It supports both English and Swedish and has features like word lookup and translation.

Within Canvas, you can also access ReadSpeaker's DocReader, which lets you listen to audio versions of files that have been uploaded to Canvas, such as PDFs, PowerPoints, or Word files. Additionally, ReadSpeaker TextAid is a personalized tool that you can install in a module. This allows you to upload documents, highlight or annotate them, and download audio file versions of your documents in the library.

How do I use ReadSpeaker?

The ReadSpeaker listen icon at the bottom left of the course enables students to listen HTML content to be read out loud to them.

Talsyntesens pil-symbol är markerad i den globala menyn i webbläsarvyn av Canvas.

Activate ReadSpeaker

Once you have activated the program by clicking on the arrow icon you will be able to access a menu with settings and various other options, including just reading the page out or parts of the page.

Tio punkter markerar de olika funktionerna i talsyntesens utfällda meny som du kommer åt när du aktiverat Readspeaker via pil-symbolen i den globala menyn.

Click on Listen/Lyssna to start the reading out loud of the texts on the page from start to finish. The speaker icon will activate the listen button.
Open the settings menu to set individual preferences, including reading speed, highlighting colors, text magnifying, and automatic scrolling.
Make your individual preferences for text highlighting, colours, scrolling.
Select language and voice for reading out loud.
Select what you want to listen to.
Activate enlarging the text during the reading
Activate pop-up menu - open the dialog window for further options.
Activate focus for parts of text.
Download as text read in a sound file ie mp3 format.
Detailed guide how all functions in ReadSpeaker work. This includes keyboard shortcuts etc.

Videos

ReadSpeaker in Canvas for students

This video (2.17min) is for students:

In depth video

This video (3.47min) shows a more detailed view of your options in Canvas

TextAid via ReadSpeaker in Canvas

You teacher can enable the TextAid feature in a module in your course. This will allow you to access TextAid and upload a document eg pdf to be read out loud:

You will find many more videos from ReadSpeakers own site.