ReachDeck

Listening to and translating information using Browsealoud

You can now listen to, or translate information on our website using ReachDeck (previously Browsealoud.)

This tool will read aloud content on a page (in English), and can also be used to translate the same content into a number of different languages that can then be read aloud.

How to use ReachDeck

Select the  listen or translate link in our main header at the top of the page

Figure 1: Listen or translate link in main header

Figure 1: 'Listen or translate' link in main header

Selecting this link will load the ReachDeck toolbar. Figure 3: Browsealoud toolbar
Figure 2: ReachDeck toolbar

You can also load the ReachDeck toolbar by selecting the 'listen or translate' link under the 'Accessibility' header in our main footer.

Figure 3: Loading Browsealoud from the listen or translate link in footer

Figure 3: Loading ReachDeck from the 'listen or translate' link in footer

Set ReachDeck into 'speak' mode by selecting the first icon on the toolbar.Figure 4: Browsealoud speak mode icon
Figure 4: ReachDeck 'speak' mode icon

To translate the page into another language—click the globe icon ('translate this page' button)—this will give you a list of languages to choose from.
Figure 5: Using the globe icon/translate this page button on the Browsealoud toolbar 
Figure 5: Using the 'Globe icon/translate this page button on the ReachDeck toolbar

You can use the drop down menu to choose another language.Figure 6: Using the drop down menu to choose another language using the Browsealoud toolbar

Figure 6: Using the drop down menu to choose another language using the ReachDeck toolbar

Select the play button to read or translate the full page content.Figure 7: Using the play button on the Browsealoud toolbar 
Figure 7: Using the play button on the ReachDeck toolbar

To read or translate a specific section of the page content only, highlight the relevant text and then select the play button to read. For example, in the screenshot at Figure 8 a section of the 'Our services' page has been translated into French and is ready to be read aloud by ReachDeck.

Example of page content translated into French and being read out by Browsealoud

Figure 8: Example of page content translated into French and being read out by ReachDeck

English version of content translated at figure 8  

Figure 9: English version of content (translated at figure 8)

To stop reading aloud select the stop button on the ReachDeck toolbar.

Figure 10: Using the stop button on the Browsealoud toolbar

Figure 10: Using the stop button on the ReachDeck toolbar

To close the ReachDeck toolbar select the 'X' symbol at the start of the toolbar. Figure 11: Closing the Browsealoud toolbar

Figure 11: Closing the ReachDeck toolbar

Other ReachDeck functions

ReachDeck has other functions you may find useful including:

MP3 maker

Figure 12: MP3 maker icon on ReachDeck toolbarFigure 12: MP3 maker icon on Browsealoud toolbar

The MP3 maker lets you select a section of text and to save as an audio file (MP3) and played back later.

Figure 12: MP3 maker icon on Browsealoud toolbar

Figure 13: Creating an audio file (MP3) using ReachDeck

Screen mask

Using a screen mask helps you to focus on text being read on the screen by blocking out (or masking) irrelevant or distracting information.  This can help people who may have reading difficulties, visual impairments or who have low literacy levels.

The screen mask will highlight the text being read aloud (see figure 15) and will automatically scroll down the page. You can turn off the screen mask by deselecting the screen mask icon (see figure 14).Figure 14: Screen mask icon on Browsealoud toolbar
Figure 14: Screen mask icon on ReachDeck toolbar

Figure 15: Screen mask example using Browsealoud

Figure 15: Screen mask example using ReachDeck

Magnify text

Use this option to zoom in and enlarge sections of selected content when being read out with ReachDeck.Figure 16: Magnify text icon on the Browsealoud toolbar
Figure 16: Magnify text icon on ReachDeck toolbar
Figure 17: Magnifying text using Browsealoud
Figure 17: Magnifying text using ReachDeck

Simplify your screen

Use this to 'simplify' your screen by removing all navigation, colours, formatting and design elements. This option will remove any ads or other distracting content so that it's easier to read.

You can also change the background and text colour and increase the text size which can be useful for people with reading difficulties or visual impairments.
Figure 18: Simplify screen icon on Browsealoud toolbar
Figure 18: Simplify screen icon on ReachDeck toolbar

Figure 19: Simplifying a screen using Browsealoud

Figure 19: Simplifying a screen using ReachDeck

ReachDeck settings

Use this option to personalise your ReachDeck settings.
Figure 20: Browsealoud settings icon
Figure 20: ReachDeck settings icon

Figure 21: Browsealoud settings screen

Figure 21: ReachDeck settings screen

General ReachDeck help information

Use this option to access general help information about ReachDeck.

Figure 22: Browsealoud help icon  
Figure 22: ReachDeck help icon

Figure 23: Browsealoud help screen

Figure 23: ReachDeck help screen

Last updated 29 November 2022