We are currently exploring the practical use of speech on our websites to enhance our existing accessibility options. We will likely add a speech button alongside other website accessibility buttons, and will use the following technology:

• server-side speech synthesis
• test client-side tools (browse aloud)
• flash
• Drupal modifications

See our talking website demo and click on the speak button at the top-right of the page.

How it works

The speech is generated automatically on our webserver, which means that no special software is required in a user's Internet browser to play the speech.

Whilst downloadable software solutions do exist for enabling website speech - and some of these are very good solutions - we believe that our approach will ensure a website is highly accessibile even in the absence of such software.