Switch the rotor to headings to navigate a heading structure. On 8/15/13, Russ Kiehne <[email protected]> wrote: > Speaking of Voice Dream Reader, did anyone see the following from Access > World? > > A Review of the Voice Dream Reader for iOS: A One-Stop Solution > Bill Holton > For several decades people who are visually impaired have used > text-to-speech (TTS) > software to access electronic text documents. Synthesized speech has evolved > > and > improved markedlyover the years, and its use has spread to the point that, > these > days, you'll hear it chattering away everywhere from flight announcements at > > the > airport to a host of apps designed to give sighted tablet and smartphone > users the > ability to multitask or take a break from eye strain. > In this article we'll take an in-depth look at a self-voicing app foriOS > devices > the called > Voice Dream Reader > . This mainstream app has been aptly described as a Swiss Army knife for > opening > and reading aloud a wide variety of file formats, ranging from PDF files to > > PowerPoint > presentations. It also does an excellent job organizing and voicing > Microsoft WordDOC > and DOCX files, web articles, and various e-book formats, including works > from > Project Gutenberg > and > Bookshare > . > Overview > Voice Dream Reader costs $9.99 in the US App Store and comes standard with > the Acapela > Heather voice. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and > requires > iOS 5 or later. During the brief setup process, you're taken to the Voice > Store where > you can sample and purchase other Acapela and NeoSpeech voices for $1.99 and > > $2.99,respectively. > There are 78 voices in 20 languages to choose from. > You can also try out the app before you buy it with the > Voice Dream Reader Lite app > . This free version is nearly complete with all of the features, but it will > > only > read the first 300 characters of any book or document. > The app interface is extremely speech friendly. All of the buttons are > labeled, and > there are several features and controls specifically for VoiceOver users. > Four features > (full-screen reading mode, text highlighting, dictionary lookups, and the > ability > to create and embed notes) do not currently work with VoiceOver, but the > developeris > actively working on changing that. > Quick Start > The home screen contains the Documents list and comes preloaded with three > files: > Welcome, Help, and Jane Austen's > Pride and Prejudice > . Each title is followed by an approximate total listening time, which is > updated > whenever you change the voice or voice speed. > When you double tap any title, the reading pane will appear. Near the middle > > of this > screen you'll find a text box containing the first few lines of text of the > > selected > title. At thetop and bottom of the box are a number of button controls. The > > "Play" > button is located at the center of the screen about three-quarters of the > way down. > Double tapping this button will begin to voice the document. To pause the > document, > tap the button again. You can use VoiceOver to find this or any other > control without > interrupting the reading, but once your document starts voicing, you can > also use > the familiar two-finger double tap to stop and restart listening. > Double tapping the "Home" button at the top left of the screen saves your > place, > closes the active document, and returns you to themain screen. The next time > > you > open the document, reading will pick up right where you left off. > More Documents, Please > Voice Dream Reader can access a wide range of document types, including: > Plain text (TXT) > Rich Text Format (RTF) > Microsoft Word (DOC and DOCX) > Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT and PPTX) > Portable Document Format (PDF) > Apple Pages (PAGE) > Apple Keynote (KEY) > Web (HTM and HTML) > eBook (ePUB) > Adding Files > To add files to Voice Dream Reader, use the "Add" button on the home screen. > > There > you are presented with several options: > Cut and Paste > The "Clipboard" option in the Add menu turns the contents of your clipboard > > into > a readable document. It will show up in your Documents list as "Untitled," > but if > you open the file and double tap the "Edit" button, you can name the file > and even > add text to it. The "Edit" button in the Add menu is a great way to build > your own > document via multiple cutand pastes and a bit of touch typing. > Share or "Open With" > Many iOS apps that create text offer the option to share a document with > another > app. Double tap the "Tools" button in Pages, and you'll be given the chance > > to send > the current document to a number of other apps, including Voice Dream > Reader. You > can also use the double-tap-and-hold gesture onan attachment you receive in > > an e-mail > and send the document directly to the app for voicing and file management. > Web Browser > Voice Dream Reader includes an embeddedbrowser that you can use to open > webpages. > The "Smart Save" option transforms the page into a Voice Dream Reader > accessible > document. The app tries to remove as many ads as possible. In my testing it > > did a > fairly good job, but it takes several steps to save a page whereas Safari > Reader > will do the same (or better) with a single double-tap. > More Ways to Add Files > You can add files directly to Voice Dream Reader via the iTunes app folder. > > You can > also import directly from > DropBox > , > GoogleDrive > , > Pocket > , > Instapaper > , and > Evernote > . > E-books > Use the home screen Settings menu to log into your Bookshare account and > download > books directly into Voice Dream reader. You'll get the same search, browse, > > and book > summary information that's available in > Bookshare's Read2Go > app. The same is true for the Project Gutenberg option except that Gutenberg > > does > not require a log-in name and password. Unfortunately, due to Digital Rights > > Management > (DRM) protection, you cannot use Voice Dream Reader to open books from the > iBook, > Kindle, or Nook bookstores. > Reading Options > The reading pane offers a number of VoiceOver-friendly navigation controls. > > You can > see how much reading time has elapsed and how much remains. You can also > monitor > percent completed and quickly navigate through the book with one-finger > swipes upward > on the percent slider or by entering a number in the adjacent edit box. > Additionally, > if your document has page markers, you can use the "Page" control to > navigate directly > to any page. > The "Fast Forward" and "Rewind" buttons are user-definable. Double tap the > "Navigation > Unit" control at the extreme lower right of the screen, and you can set > these buttons > to advance by sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, bookmark, highlighted > text, or > 15-, 30-, or 60-second intervals. You can also double-tap-and-hold either > the "Fast > Forward" or "Rewind" button to call up the same options. > Unfortunately, the two-finger swipe left and right gestures,which usually > move you > quickly through the text, are hijacked by VoiceOver, so you'll have to find > > and use > the buttons. If you're using headphones, you can use the Settings control > found on > the home screen to set the double and triple press of the "Play/Stop" button > > to move > back and forth by the designated unit. As is the case when you are playing > music, > you can use these controls even when the device is locked, which allowed me > > to easily > listen to a large PDF file while walking my dogs. Setting the navigation to > > advance > by paragraph also enabled me to quickly skip the annoying header information > > repeated > at the top of each page. (Note: These remote controls are not enabled in the > > Voice > Dream Reader Lite version.) > Along with creating a VoiceOver-friendly gesture to move forward and > backward, my > wish list for this app also includes the ability to set the "Fast Forward" > and "Rewind" > navigation units separately. When I want to skip ahead, it's usually by > paragraph > or page, when I want to rewind it's usually to replay the last sentence or > two. > The "Previous" and "Next" buttons near the top of the reading pane move you > > from > one file to the next. By default Voice Dream Reader moves one by one up and > > down > the titles in your main list. However, you can add titles to the playlist > folders > and arrange them in any order you like. > Bookmarks and Searching > The "Add Bookmark" button does just that. Press the button labeled > "Bookmarks" to > call up a list of your place settings. The app presents each with a bit of > identifying > textand the percent marker along with a "Play" button to start reading at > that point. > If your document is structured with chapters, you can also navigate quickly > > ahead > and back. Additionally, the Bookmarks pane also includes an option to > navigate by > highlighted text, but as mentioned, it is currently not possible to create > highlights > using VoiceOver.The "Search" button also presents results with text, a > percent marker, > and a "Play" button. The "Play/Pause" button also doubles as a sleep timer. > > Double > tap and hold to call up the various settings. > Editing and Sharing > The "Editor" option allows you to add and remove text from documents small > enough > to fit in your device's memory. After you save your changes, they will > appear in > your document from then on. You can also translate a document via > Google Translate > , which is free on the Google website, but to do this from within the app, > you need > to purchase credits because Google charges developers for this service. > The "Action" button allows you to share the title of the e-book or other > documents > you are reading via Twitter or text message. The "Export" option lets you > e-mail > the text (subject to length restrictions) or send the text to an > iDevice-ready printer, > your clipboard, other apps on your device,or to an external source, such as > > your > DropBox account. > With these features I was easily able to import a PDF file, make changes and > > additions, > save my revisions, print the document, and e-mail it as a TXT attachment. > This could > be an excellent solution for students who want to take and turn in a test > during > class with a Word document or PDF file using their iPad or iPhone (with or > without > a Bluetooth keyboard). > Voice Settings > In Voice Settings you'll find the Voice Store where you can purchase > additional TTS > engines in English and other dialects and languages. I purchased a German > voice, > and when I opened a German language document, Voice Dream Reader began > speaking with > the correct voice. A mixed language document did not fare so well. When the > > text > changed from English to German, I had to use the Voice Settings to switch > voices > manually. > You can change the language at any time along with the speed, pitch, and > volume. > Each document is automatically associated with the voice you use, so I was > able to > use an amped-up Acapela Heather voice to breeze through a light mystery > novel and > a slowed-down Acapela Will for some Excel documentation. I could flip back > and forth > between the two without having to fiddle with voice controls. > Each language also includes its own pronunciation dictionary into which you > > can enter > exceptions and phonetic pronunciations. Technologically sophisticated users > > will > be pleased to note that the app supports > regex > search strings. > Text Settings > Voice Dream Reader also offers several features of interest to partially > sighted > and reading disabled users. It works with Zoom, but after you learn the > layout, you > may wish to turn off magnification while using the app because the Text > Settings > menu offers eight font choices, including Open Dyslexic, in sizes from 10 to > > 40 points. > You can select custom foreground, background, and highlighting colors. There > > are > also options to have the current line and/or word highlighted in the color > of your > choice. > A single tap toggles the text window from partial to full screen mode with > all controls > hidden for undistracted reading. The tap-and-hold gesture calls up a context > > menu > that allows you to highlight and copy a block of text, look up a word in the > > dictionary, > create a bookmark or a note, or add a new pronunciation on the fly. > Zoom users who don't wish to have the app speak the text can still benefit > from Voice > Dream Reader. Do a two finger pinch inward from any direction, and the text > > window > will shrink all the way down to a single line. Use the Voice Settings menu > to slow > the voice and set the volume to zero, and voilĂ , you get a document that > displays > one line at a time in your choice of font and font size and that scrolls > automatically > at an adjustable speed. > The Bottom Line > At half the price of Read2Go,Voice Dream Reader is an absolute must buy for > > new users > of Bookshare who want to download and read books on their iPhone, iPad, or > iPod touch. > Even seasoned Bookshare users will enjoy the larger set of features. For me, > > the > ability to set different voices and reading speeds to start automatically > with different > books was a delightful surprise. I also enjoyed the ability to read Word, > PDF, and > PowerPoint files on the go, and to keep them stored in various folders. > Zoom users and the reading disabled will also find a lot to like about this > > app. > I envy their ability to highlight text, use the dictionary, and create > embedded notes. > However, considering all the work the developer has done thus far to make > the app > accessible, my guess is it's just a short matter of time before these > features make > it into the Voice Dream Reader. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Brad Hodges > Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 11:18 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: A Voice Dream navigation question > > I have just installed Voice Dream Reader and I'm quite pleased. I do > have a question however. > > Is there a method to navigate the heading structure of a Bookshare book? > I have explored the Fast Forward and Rewind functions. > > Please feel free to send any responses directly, to avoid cluttering the > list. [email protected] > > Thanks, > > Brad > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google > > Group. > > Post a new message to VIPhone by emailing [email protected]. > > Search and view the VIPhone archives by visiting > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. > > Reach the VIPhone owner and moderators by emailing > [email protected]. > > Unsubscribe and leave VIPhone by emailing > [email protected]. > > More VIPhone group options can be found by visiting > http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google > Group. > > Post a new message to VIPhone by emailing [email protected]. > > Search and view the VIPhone archives by visiting > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. > > Reach the VIPhone owner and moderators by emailing > [email protected]. > > Unsubscribe and leave VIPhone by emailing > [email protected]. > > More VIPhone group options can be found by visiting > http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "VIPhone" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. >
-- Isaac Hebert iMessage 2547608981 Skype gold_wildcat facebook and email [email protected] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VIPhone" Google Group. Post a new message to VIPhone by emailing [email protected]. Search and view the VIPhone archives by visiting http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/. Reach the VIPhone owner and moderators by emailing [email protected]. Unsubscribe and leave VIPhone by emailing [email protected]. More VIPhone group options can be found by visiting http://groups.google.com/group/viphone?hl=en. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
