Enhancing text to synthesised speech systems for the blind

A number of systems are available which provide a synthesised speech representation of text encoded as ASCII characters. When combined with an optical character reader, the resulting systems offer visually impaired and blind individuals access to printed material which is flexible and responsive to their individual day-to-day needs. These `personal reader´ systems can avoid delays associated with the production of audio tapes of books and articles, and the difficulties of arranging human readers. After monitoring two individuals´ use of one personal reader system to give access to printed materials, the author decided to consider what features of a personal reader system could present problems for the visually impaired user. The following areas are examined: properties of speech derived from text; strategies in reading and listening; contrasting structures for text and speech; matching the perspective of the blind user; and enhancing personal reader systems