Is there software or an app to read random text in Dutch?

Answer

Best

There are numerous options for having texts read aloud in Dutch. The Kurzweil 3000 (www.sensotec.be) and Sprint Plus (www.sprintplus.be) software packages offer more options than just a reading function in Dutch. They also provide support for writing and reading in foreign languages ​​and include various study functions. On the one hand, this translates into a higher cost price. On the other hand, you can then use multiple support options within the same software package. The app that you can place next to these software packages in terms of options is AppWriter NL (http://www.appwriter.dk/appwriter-ipad/).

There is certainly also cheaper and even free reading software for Dutch that you can install on your computer (clipboard readers). You can also use apps to read aloud, although we do state that this is still a young and variable market. Moreover, you should keep in mind that only software programs and apps with built-in OCR software can also read photographed (scanned) texts. If the OCR software is not built into the program or the app, you can install it additionally. For example, we think of Omnipage (www.nuance.com) for your computer, but there are also free and paid OCR apps for both Android and Apple. You can easily find these with the search term ‘OCR’ via Google Play or in the iTunes store.

You may have already used such an app with integrated OCR in combination with Google Translate to have the text of a photo read aloud. If you turn the photo into a readable PDF file, you can also use the apps Pdf to Speech (Android) and vBookz PDFVoiceReader (Apple) in addition to Google Translate. When using apps to read aloud, you have to take into account a possible lower sound quality and a less good overview of the text (page mirror). This is what you may have experienced yourself. The range of apps for smartphones is in any case more limited compared to those for tablets. Unfortunately, we cannot deduce from your question which app you are currently using.

We are happy to make some additional suggestions:

• With your iPad or iPhone you can choose to have selected texts spoken by making a small adjustment in the settings: Settings > General > Accessibility > Speak selection. This reading aid speaks websites, e-mails, text messages, notes… when you choose to do so. On this website you will find more information about these and other speech options in the different operating systems (IOS 5, 6 and 7).

• SpeakIt! is a free plugin in Google Chrome. This allows you to have selected texts on the internet read aloud in multiple languages, including Dutch. Download Google Chrome and then search the web store for the SpeakIt! application. The installation is simple and fast.

• The following clipboard readers may be interesting to install on your computer: TextAloud (www.nextup.com), Sensospeak (www.sensotec.be), DocReader (www.jabbla.com), NextUp Talker (www.nextup.com) and Claro Read Pro (www.claroread.nu). Take a good look at which functions these clipboard readers support or not so that you can install the clipboard reader that best meets your question.

Eline Van Kerckhove

Code Thomas More, expertise dyslexia and dyscalculia

www.thomasmore.be/code