Narrator
Narrator is a free screen reader utility included in Windows to assist users with visual impairments. It reads text on the screen aloud and describes some interface elements.
texttospeech
accessibility
visual-impairment
Narrator: Free Screen Reader Utility for Visual Impairments
A free tool included in Windows, Narrator reads text on the screen aloud and describes some interface elements to assist users with visual impairments.
What is Narrator?
Narrator is a free screen reading utility built into Windows that allows blind and visually impaired users to read text displayed on the screen via text-to-speech. It describes interface elements, buttons, menus, text content in apps, and more to help users navigate and interact with their computer.
Key features of Narrator include:
- Reads aloud text on web pages, documents, dialog boxes and more using synthesized speech
- Navigates by paragraph, line, word, character or sentence
- Describes user interface elements like buttons, links and menu options
- Echoes keyboard input and mouse clicks
- Offers keyboard shortcuts for navigation and control
- Supports over 35 languages for text-to-speech
Narrator aims to provide basic screen reading functionality out of the box in Windows, without needing to install, learn or purchase a separate screen reader. It may not offer all the advanced features that commercial screen readers have, but it makes Windows accessible for blind or vision impaired users at no additional cost.
Narrator Features
Features
- Text-to-speech engine that reads text on screen aloud
- Can read text from documents, web pages, dialog boxes, menus
- Adjustable voice speed and pitch
- Keyboard shortcuts for navigation and reading
- Highlight cursor that follows reading position
- Screen magnification
- Braille support
Pricing
- Free
Pros
Free built-in utility for Windows
Easy to learn and use
Customizable voices and speech options
Supports many languages
Integrates well with Windows and Microsoft Office
Cons
Limited customization compared to premium screen readers
Not as robust for advanced users
Lacks some features for web accessibility
May not read complex documents/interfaces well
Voice can sound unnatural at times
Official Links
The Best Narrator Alternatives
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