As the use of smartphones has become an integral part of our daily lives, it is essential to have a device that caters to all our needs, including accessibility. This is where the feature of text-to-speech (TTS) on Android comes into play. Text-to-speech technology allows users to have their mobile devices read out any text displayed on the screen. It is an excellent feature for individuals with visual impairments, dyslexia, or language barriers. In this article, we will discuss how to enable and customize text-to-speech on Android devices.
How to Enable Text-to-speech on Android
Enabling text-to-speech on Android is a relatively simple process. Follow these steps to enable this feature on your device.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Android device.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap on the “Accessibility” option.
Step 3: Tap on “Text-to-speech output” under the “Services” section.
Step 4: Enable the toggle switch next to “Google Text-to-speech Engine.”
Step 5: If you want to change the speech rate, voice, or language, tap on “Settings” next to “Google Text-to-speech Engine.”
Once the text-to-speech feature is enabled, you can use it on any app that supports it.
Customizing the Text-to-speech Output
Apart from enabling text-to-speech on your Android device, you can also customize the output according to your preferences. Here’s how.
Step 1: Open the “Google Text-to-speech Engine” settings as shown in the previous steps.
Step 2: Under the “General” section, you can adjust the speech rate by moving the slider left or right. The higher the rate, the faster the speech will be.
Step 3: Under the “Language” section, you can select the preferred language for the text-to-speech output. You can also download additional languages by tapping on “Install voice data.”
Step 4: Under the “Install voice data” section, you can also delete any previously installed languages by selecting them and tapping on “Delete.”
Step 5: Under the “Settings for Google Text-to-Speech Voice” section, you can choose the preferred voice for the text-to-speech output.
Step 6: Once you have made the desired changes, click on your back button or home button to save the settings.
Using Text-to-speech in Different Apps
Once you’ve enabled and customized the text-to-speech feature on your Android device, you can use it in various apps that support it. Here’s how you can use it in some commonly used apps.
1. Using Text-to-speech in Google Play Books
Google Play Books has an inbuilt text-to-speech feature that allows users to listen to books in their library. To use this feature, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Google Play Books and select the ebook you want to read.
Step 2: Tap on the “Aa” icon to access the ebook settings.
Step 3: Scroll down and tap on “Enable Skim Reading” to enable the text-to-speech feature.
Step 4: Tap on “Ok” when prompted to enable Skim Reading.
Step 5: Tap on the “Read aloud” icon at the bottom of the screen to listen to the book.
2. Using Text-to-speech in Google Translate
Google Translate is a useful tool for individuals who have difficulty understanding different languages. To use text-to-speech in Google Translate, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Google Translate app and select the languages you want to translate between.
Step 2: Type or paste the text you want to translate.
Step 3: Tap on the “Speak” button at the bottom of the screen to listen to the translated text.
3. Using Text-to-speech in Messaging Apps
Text-to-speech can also be used in messaging apps to listen to received messages. Here’s how you can use it in popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger:
Step 1: Open the messaging app and select the conversation you want to listen to.
Step 2: Tap and hold the message you want to listen to.
Step 3: Select the “Speak” or “Voice message” option to listen to the message.
Conclusion
Enabling and customizing text-to-speech on Android is a straightforward process that can significantly improve the accessibility of your device. With this feature, individuals with different abilities can conveniently use their mobile devices without any limitations. The ability to customize the text-to-speech output also allows for a personalized experience. So, if you haven’t yet enabled this feature on your Android device, follow the steps mentioned above and start using it for a better and more inclusive experience.