ReachDeck is an accessibility tool that provides online reading support to people who prefer to listen to information instead of reading it.
Features:
- Reads website content out loud, highlighting each word as it is spoken.
- Translates web pages into a wide range of international languages.
- Works with smartphone and tablet technology, as well as PC and Mac computers.
- FREE to use and works with all major browsers.
How to Launch the ReachDeck Toolbar
The ReachDeck icon is an orange circle with a white figure inside. Click on the ReachDeck icon in the top right corner of the library’s web pages to launch the toolbar on your desktop computer or mobile device.
Whenever you see the ReachDeck icon on any website you visit, you can listen to or translate that website. You can use ReachDeck on your home computer and personal devices and on computers inside the library.
Please be aware that links on library web pages may lead to websites that do not have ReachDeck functionality.
Using the Toolbar
Use the floating toolbar to access ReachDeck features. The toolbar is keyboard accessible, and the text description of each button can be read aloud. This toolbar provides instant high-quality speech at the touch of a button—no need to download anything.
Toolbar Features
Information about the six features that you can access from the ReachDeck toolbar.
Hover to Speak Mode
- Text is read aloud with dual-colour highlighting the words as they are spoken. Hover highlighting is helpful for people with physical disabilities who use alternative pointing devices and allows users to point and read.
- Move your mouse pointer to cover the text to hear text read aloud from a desktop or laptop computer.
- Touch the text on a touchscreen device to listen to it read aloud.
- ReachDeck may take a few seconds before it starts reading the text on the screen.
- ReachDeck will also read pdf documents opened on the screen.
Speak the Current Selection
- As an alternative to Hover Highlighting, you can select specific text to hear it read aloud.
Translate Page
- Using the ReachDeck toolbar, click on the blue Translate Page button. Select the language you want to translate the page into from the drop-down menu.
- All the words that can be translated on that web page will be. The translation only works on the current page; each time you visit a new page, you will need to translate that page.
MP3 Maker
- Select any text on a web page, convert it into an MP3 file, and then save it on your thumb drive for later listening.
Text Magnifier
- Activate the text magnifier button on the toolbar, and then hover on or select the text you want to hear or read and see magnified at the same time.
Screen Mask
- You can focus on just part of the screen using this feature. Masking applies a colour filter to the whole screen and places a ‘window’ in the area you are reading.