How to use Readaid
Interface
The Readaid interface avails itself of the Microsoft Edge look and feel to offer new users a low learning curve. It is neither a plugin nor an extension, so it brings no changes to the browser's native structure. Once added to the Favorites Bar or a Favorites Folder, a simple click on the Readaid icon will open the homepage, with full functionality pre-loaded within MS Edge.
Why MS Edge specifically
Both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, arguably major players on the browser market, offer text-to-speech functionality for purposes of accessibility and immersion. However, downloads and settings are in order, and full access to the 40 or so supported languages and such options as audio speed or voice selection may be locked behind paid subscription plans. MS Edge being a member of the Office 365 Suite, it lends its capabilities to Readaid on any device on which that core Suite is installed, including tablets and smartphones. This how-to will focus on desktops and laptops.
Display
Whether on a Landscape or Portait display, the Readaid tab will resize to user preferences. It will not interfere with other open tabs. Actually, multiple Readaid tabs can be opened if more than one text is being reviewed.
Side bar menu button
When Readaid is displayed in portrait orientation, the menus are collapsed into a side bar button.
Clicking the side bar button opens the full content menu.
Input box
The Readaid text input box displays the instruction "Triple click to replace..." Once triple-clicked, it will display a border.
Paste your text
The text to be read aloud can be pasted (Ctrl+V or Right click > Paste) to replace the initial instruction and fill the input box. The input box will resize to accommodate your text. A scroll bar will be added when pasted text exceeds window height.
Text direction and alignment
Readaid should import text direction and alignment from the source application, typically MS Word or Notepad. Depending on your machine's default language settings, content may paste/align in reverse. In the example below, Arabic text is aligned LEFT instead of RIGHT.
Set text direction as needed
Readaid provides for text direction and alignment adjustments through a familiar context menu.
Launch Read Aloud
Readaid is now set to read out the pasted content. Any selected word will indicate the Read Aloud start point. The Read Aloud launch button is at the right side of the MS Edge browser address bar, next to the Add to favorites (bookmark) star.
Adjust voice settings
Again, Readaid will adopt your default language settings. If your text is in a different language, Readaid will skip to default language content and numeric items, if any. To set to required reading language (Voice), pause Readaid and open the Voice options menu.
Need for Speed
Once familiarized with the application interface, users may actually find it convenient to select higher reading speeds. The aural/auditive input during a review should foster focus, vigilance and efficiency, making it easier to spot issues. Faster readout speeds will also, importantly, cut down review times.
Languages, languages everywhere...
The Voice/Language menu above shows but a few of the dozens of supported options, with languages and locales (countries) in alphabetical order and local first names for the various male/female voices. For example, you can have your Dutch (Netherlands) text read out to you by either Colette, Fenna, or Maarten. Gabrijela and Srecko are on hand to read out Croatian (Croatia) content. For Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal), select Thalita, Antonio, Fransisca, Duarte, or Raquel. Here is a list of languages and locales supported as of September 2022.
Take your pick
The wide range of voices on offer provides for variety in tonality, depth, timbre, inflection, resonance, and even accent. Users should be able to quickly set a preference, while all options remain open at all times, including mid-application. Subsequently, even after a session has been closed, Readaid will retain the last voice and speed used and execute under those settings.
Resume aural reading
At all times, the functionality can be paused and restarted. The Next and Previous arrows to the right and left of the Play button restart the respective (next/previous) paragraphs. Users can also pause/resume by pressing the keyboard spacebar while the Readaid tab is active. To skip sections of text, simply pause, double-click to select a resume point (the word where you want Readaid to restart, anywhere in your content), and click Play.
New text, language, voice, speed
The current Readaid tab/window can be used for fresh content. The text input box can be cleared and re-used, with appropriate voice options.
Oh, no! Spellcheck!!
You can't have left all these typos behind!
No worries!! AI will step in
Readaid executes real-time spellchecks of all content pasted into the text input box. Spellcheck flags are removed when the current language is recognized, unless warranted by actual spelling issues.
Live editing
Content can be added, removed, and/or otherwise changed within the Readaid text input box. Changes will be retained as long as the current tab remains open. Modified content can then be copied into other applications/documents for further processing.
Additional content for review
To review additional text without closing the current session, click the New Readaid Page button to open a new tab. The previous tab content will be preserved with changes, if any, as long as the tab remains open. Alternatively, a new Readaid page can be opened in a new window: right-click New Readaid Page and choose Open link in new window.
Footnotes and comments
Readaid retains footnotes, if any, displays indicators in square brackets, and places all footnote text at the current page end. Comments are treated similarly. Readaid restarts footnote numbering if the material pasted into the text input box is a section of a longer document.
Trials
Trial content, a passage in the official languages of the United Nations Organization, is provided here for purposes of experimentation and familiarization.
Note: Some images may be based on previous Readaid versions and, therefore, slightly different from up-to-date displays. Procedures remain largely accurate.