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Reading with audio

Audio is often an additional tool added to hard and software, so it is not about the format type you download but more about the tools you are using to read with.

Dolphin EasyReader reading app

This is the tool we suggest can provide learners with the most independence in using the RNIB Bookshare resources as it has been designed around our site, and many learners will never need to visit our website directly as they will always visit us through the Dolphin EasyReader app. 

This app has audio options on it, and these can be added to is using Dolphins additional paid product Dolphin Premium.

iPads and other Apple products 

Ipads also have their own built in assistive technology features, including their text to speech product Voiceover. 

If you want to try VoiceOver and discover what it's like using a screen reader there is a special practice area for you to have a go without affecting your iPhone or its settings.

  1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver.
  2. Turn on VoiceOver, tap VoiceOver Practice, then double-tap to start.
  3. When you finish practicing, tap Done, then double-tap to exit.

There's more information about trying out VoiceOver in the Apple iPhone User Guide (external link).

RNIB website has additonal guiance on using Tablets and phones (external link).

DAISY 

DAISY is short for Digital Accessible Information System, and is a format type especially created by the VI sector. its a format for avialable for some titles, but not those provided in PDF format. It's useful as with pre-loaded chapters and navigation options, readers can also bookmark sections for themselves, features like this come in especially handy when you’re trawling through study materials, hunting for something specific.

DAISY players and software

You do not necessarilyneed a DAISY player. DAISY files can be played on a computer with DAISY software and some CD players with the ability to play MP3 files also support DAISY functionality. For the best reading experience, though, various hardware DAISY players are available in RNIB Shop. DAISY software options (some free) can be found at the DAISY Consortium.

PDF audio options

PDF files can be read aloud using some PDF reading software, although how good the audio is will depend on how much accessiblity is in the file. If the file is tagged with chapters etc in a structured way that is really helpul, without tagging it will only be able to read it all as just text and no navigation options are possible.

Popular free software includes Adobe Acrobat reader app (external link).

EPub readers

Calibre 

Free open sources software that will deal with EPub files and conversion to other formats. Find out more at calibre-ebook.com

Google Play Books App

PDF or unprotected EPUB files can be uploaded for reading with this app  for Android. You can customize preferred reading styles ie fonts style, size etc. It provides some audio (dependent of publisher settings to files via text-to-speech (TTS)