ebooks with audio / reading the text out loud?

[Throbbing Angel]

Hi, due to failing eyesight, an olympic level of distractability, lack of concentration, memory issues etc. etc.

I find it easier to 'read' a book if it is being read out loud as I am looking at the text at the same time. I have done this in the past but have forgotten how I did it. I assume it was on my iPad or Kindle tablet or a smartphone.

I want to read an ebook whilst the device highlights the paragraph or sentence and reads it out loud - either using the audio book of the text or some sort of machine voice/screen reader(?) type thing.

I have:

• an older kindle 7 tablet
• a 5th Gen iPad
• a Chromebook
• an android phone

Any ideas how I can achieve this? I'm not sure what I need device or software-wise.

I currently use Amazon and Audible but can invest in summat else as long as it works for me.
I want to read more and am struggling - this would help a lot, cheers. Dunno if resources designed for the sight impaired might be the way to go. I would like to use what I already have if at all possible as Kindle on iPad seems more than adequate - larger fonts, different screen colours, loud speakers/BT headphone compatible etc. But can it read to me as I look at the page and highlight the section I am reading?

Been told to keep my brain active with puzzles, quizzes, reading or anything else you enjoy that stimulates your mind.

#MCI

 

[editor]

Google Play Books will read out any book you've bought so will work on Chromebook/phone and most other things.

 

[D'wards]

I have an android phone which takes a memory card. I downloaded a load of audiobooks and put some on that and downloaded an audiobook app

 

[xenon]

On the iPad go into accessibility and enable speech, select to speak or swipe down with two fingers to read the screen. This is different to voice-over which is a full screen reader.

On the kindle there is only a full screen reader called voice view. Which you probably don’t want as you have to use different gestures to interact with it. However you may be able to ask Alexa to read your book.

 

[xenon]

On the android phone you might be able to install the android accessibility suite. In there is something called select to speak. Again don’t use talk back, that is a full screen reader.

 

[RubyToogood]

Both iOS and Android have built in screenreaders which you can turn on in the settings under Accessibility. The iOS one is better. Set up a shortcut to turn it off too as otherwise it can be irritating. The iOS one is generally better.

e2a: ignore me, xenon's advice is better.

 

[xenon]

You could use the screen reader on the chrome book called chrome vox. But I can’t remember how offhand.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

cheers all - will look into these suggestions over the next few days, probably over the weekend,

more suggestions welcome if you've just landed here - don't take this post as meaning I've resolved the 'issue'

thanks all

 

[Throbbing Angel]

On the iPad go into accessibility and enable speech, select to speak or swipe down with two fingers to read the screen. This is different to voice-over which is a full screen reader.

On the kindle there is only a full screen reader called voice view. Which you probably don’t want as you have to use different gestures to interact with it. However you may be able to ask Alexa to read your book.

tried this[accessibility/enabled speech] on the iPad using the Kindle app.
it reads text out but doesn't highlight it as it goes, whereas it does highlight it if it is a pdf or a webpage - odd.

still searching
found my kindle tablet - charging now - will see what happens on that in Kindle app

 

[Throbbing Angel]

RE: ^^^this^^^

I still haven’t used the kindle tablet since I charged it mainly because I don’t like it/too small.

I have however tried the accessibility method above - which is OK - and have since discovered the Matchmaker service on Amazon which finds the Audible books for the eBooks you have. Which is exactly what I need.

I’ve been reading ebooks that I have the audiobook for too on my iPad. It increases my focus massively having the words on screen, the audio accompanying it and the words lighting up as they are spoken.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Matchmaker thingy - you need to be logged in, obvs. Can’t find the equivalent in the app.

Amazon Sign In

www.amazon.co.uk

I assume Amazon Sign In will take you there too - that other URL is from my page when logged in.