[Lisa Michelle]

Originally Posted by *Shira*

The name of the software that my husband uses to convert text files to audio so that his computer reads things to him is NaturalReader (the N and R both capitalized, but no blank space between the two words). He can drag a web page into it, and he can also use OCR (optical character reader) software to scan a printed page, such as book, and move that into it. He can highlight a section of text in anything displayed on the screen (such as a web page or Word document) and tell NaturalReader to read that to him.

It creates MP3 files for him, which he can then transfer to his iPod to take with him and listen to in his car, when he's walking downtown, when he's bicycling, etc.

He reads a lot of web sites (he works full-time as an independent investor), so he spends a lot of time on the web reading finance and economy news on the web, as well as news in specific industry niches (especially energy), so I hear his computer "reading" out loud a lot. I have to say that the cadence of the computer voice really is impressive, very similar to someone's natural conversation.

For more info on the software, see Text to speech software with Natural Voices-- Free NaturalReader

Thank you Shira! I will check into those.

Lisa