My readers may remember that audio renditions of text laden materials were available on the Wayback Archive in the past. It was rather technically complicated for me to prepare them and for the reader to access them. Now, everything is made easy. Simply download a new version of Google Chrome and follow the instructions. You have control of the speed and voice. It does well with translation. This app has been available since the beginning of January 2026.
Here's how to access and use the Google Chrome text-to-speech app introduced in 2026: Accessing the Text-to-Speech Feature
Open Google Chrome: Ensure you have the latest version of Google Chrome installed.
Right-Click on the Home Page: Simply right-click anywhere on the Chrome home page to open the context menu.
Select 'Speak': In the context menu, look for the "Speak" option. This will activate the text-to-speech feature.
Using the Text-to-Speech Feature
Highlight Text: Navigate to any webpage or document that contains text. Highlight the portion of text you want to be read aloud by clicking and dragging your mouse over it.
Right-Click Again: After highlighting, right-click on the selected text.
Choose 'Speak': From the context menu, click on the "Speak" option to hear the text read aloud.
Control Speed and Voice: You can adjust the voice and speed settings in the text-to-speech settings of Chrome. This can be found under "Settings" > "Accessibility" > "Text-to-speech options."
Additional Information
Compatibility: This feature is useful not only for reading articles aloud but also for documents and other text-based content.
Accessibility Settings: If you're using Google Docs, go to "Tools" > "Accessibility settings" to enable "Text-to-speech" features for documents.
This simple method allows you to listen to text while following along visually, enhancing your reading experience! If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!
