In the modern world of technology and information, no one can afford to not have a voice. Fortunately, through the use of speech synthesis software, users are able to create their own artificial voices and sounds in order to convey messages, express their opinions, and return to being functional members of society. This article will provide an explanation of what speech synthesis software is and will list a number of speech synthesis programs that can be used to create artificial speech.

What is Speech Synthesis
Speech synthesis is the process of creating an artificial voice by entering text or performing a specific task. Speech synthesis software, also known as  text-to-speech software, is a class of programs that allow users to create these artificial voices through the use of easy-to-understand tools and features. Each speech synthesis program varies slightly from other speech synthesis software and may include different voices, functions, or tools. The layout of each speech synthesis program will also be different but almost all speech synthesis programs are easy enough to understand that even the most inexperienced beginner can immediately start creating their own artificial voices.

Text Aloud
TextAloud is a speech synthesis program that is able to convert text from various Windows applications such as MS Word, Excel, and Notepad and into an artificial voice. TextAloud can mean everything to someone who is blind but it can also be helpful to users who are not disabled at all. For example, a user could use TextAloud in order to listen to their documents instead of reading them. This service would be most effective for eBooks in MS Word or PDF formats.

Natural Readers
Natural Readers is similar to TextAloud and can be used to read any document on the user’s computer. As Natural Readers is a free software, it is available for both a free demo on the software’s website and can also be downloaded to the user’s computer absolutely free of charge. The software is able to read text from MS Word, Excel, PDF documents, webpages, and even email messages. The software has 13 different voices and users are able to change the voice’s speed and pitch. Natural Readers is also available in 10 different languages including US English, UK English, French, Canadian French, German, Spanish, US Spanish, Italian, Swedish, and Arabic.

iSpeech
iSpeech is yet another speech synthesis program that is able to read text aloud. iSpeech includes a free demo that is available on their website and does not require a download. iSpeech does provide an actual software, however, that is also available for free. iSpeech can read documents on the user’s computer but iSpeech’s most prized feature is the “DriveSafe.ly Program”. The DriveSafe.ly Program prevents automobile accidents by reading the driver’s text messages, emails, and text from other applications on the driver’s mobile phone.

yRead
yRead is able to read text from documents and display it in a single-column window that is then read aloud by the software. YRead is available in multiple languages and supports multiple voices. YRead is also able to import voices and languages from other speech synthesis software. The program is also able to stream what it reads to a specific mp3 file so that read text can be played back at a later time.

eSpeak
eSpeak is a free, open source speech synthesizer for Windows and Linux that can translate text into speech in multiple languages. ESpeak is compact and takes up little room, provides multiple voices, and can save speech output as a .wav file.