Pericles is a free, open source text-to-speech screen reader for Windows. It allows visually impaired users to navigate their computer and have on-screen text read aloud with natural sounding voices.
Free, open source text-to-speech screen reader for Windows, enabling visually impaired users to navigate and have on-screen text read aloud with natural sounding voices.
What is Pericles: Text to Speech Screen Reader?
Pericles is a free, open-source text-to-speech screen reader application for Windows. It is designed to help visually impaired individuals access and interact with their computers by reading text on the screen aloud. Pericles utilizes high-quality text-to-speech voices to read text from documents, web pages, chats, menus, and more.
Key features of Pericles include:
Natural sounding text-to-speech voices that are easy to understand.
Customizable voice speed and pitch controls to fit the user's preferences.
Keyboard shortcuts for quick navigation and reading controls.
Compatibility with popular Windows applications like web browsers, email clients, word processors and more.
Support for reading text in multiple languages.
Open source codebase that is community-driven and transparent.
With its straight-forward interface, quality voice engine, active development community, and free open source license, Pericles offers an excellent screen reading option for blind and visually impaired Windows users looking to smoothly access digital content.
Pericles: Text to Speech Screen Reader Features
Features
Text-to-speech engine
Screen reader
OCR support
Magnification
Braille support
Customizable voices and speed
Keyboard shortcuts
Supports over 40 languages
Pricing
Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Natural sounding voices
Lightweight and fast
Highly customizable
Works with many programs and websites
Active development and support community
Cons
Limited documentation
Steep learning curve
Voice quality not as good as commercial options
Limited support for advanced screen reader features
Speechify is an AI-powered text-to-speech software application that reads text aloud. It was created specifically for consuming long-form content like books, articles, academic papers, and other documents that users might otherwise not have time to sit and read.Some of the key features of Speechify include:Natural-sounding voices thanks to advanced text-to-speech...
Balabolka is a versatile text-to-speech software for Windows that can read text aloud from a variety of file formats. It supports PDF, DOC, DOCX, HTML, EPUB, FB2 and plain text files. Balabolka can open website URLs and read their content out loud as well.Some of the key features of Balabolka...
NaturalReader is a paid text-to-speech software application developed by NaturalSoft Ltd. It can convert text from documents, webpages, PDF files, and ebooks into spoken audio. Some key features of NaturalReader include:Support for over 25 languages and accents such as English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and moreNatural sounding male and female...
eSpeak is an open source, compact, multi-lingual software speech synthesizer for Linux, Windows, and other platforms. It was released under the GNU General Public License in 2005. eSpeak uses a "formant synthesis" method, which allows it to generate speech quickly and use little memory. It supports over 70 languages and...
Voice Dream Reader is a popular text-to-speech app that makes digital content more accessible for people who struggle with reading. It can convert documents, ebooks, web articles and more into natural sounding speech so users can listen instead of read.Some key features of Voice Dream Reader include:High-quality text-to-speech voices with...
TextAloud is a robust text-to-speech software application developed by NextUp Technologies. It can convert text from a variety of sources such as documents, webpages, RSS feeds, PDF files and more into natural sounding speech using built-in voices.Some key features of TextAloud include:Supports over 70 built-in voices with customizable speed, pitch...
Read Aloud is a popular text-to-speech software that reads digital content out loud. It highlights words, sentences, or paragraphs as it reads them aloud, allowing users to follow along with electronic documents, webpages, PDF files, and more. Read Aloud offers natural-sounding voices in multiple languages and accents.This software is useful...
ReadSpeaker is a customizable text-to-speech (TTS) software used to convert written content into natural sounding speech. It can be integrated into websites, mobile apps, e-learning platforms, e-books and documents to make them more accessible for people with reading difficulties like dyslexia or visual impairments.Some key features of ReadSpeaker include:High-quality voices...
Simple TTS Reader is a powerful yet user-friendly text-to-speech software for Windows. With its minimalistic design and intuitive controls, it makes it easy for anyone to convert text into natural sounding human speech. It supports reading text from common file formats like DOC, DOCX, PDF, EPUB, HTML and more.Some key...
The Read Aloud Extension is a useful browser extension that reads text on web pages out loud using text-to-speech technology. It works in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge to make website content more accessible for people who benefit from listening rather than reading text.Some key features of the Read Aloud Extension...
GhostReader is a free, open-source speed reading software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. It utilizes the RSVP (rapid serial visual presentation) method to display text one word at a time in quick succession, allowing users to read through content more efficiently.Some of the key features of GhostReader...
Kurzweil 3000 is an educational software program designed to help struggling readers and individuals with learning disabilities. It comes with a variety of features to assist with reading comprehension, writing skills, study skills, and more:- Text-to-speech technology that reads digital documents aloud with dual highlighting for listening and reading at...