How I Use Text to Speech to Listen to Photos That I Take

In today's fast-paced digital world, multitasking has become more of a necessity than a luxury. One of my favorite multitasking tools is Speechify, a text to speech (TTS) app that helps me—and could help you—convert written text into spoken words with ease. Whether you're a student, a professional, or someone who just loves to consume content in various formats, understanding Speechify’s OCR functionality can transform how you interact with text daily.

The Magic of OCR

One of the standout features of Speechify is its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. OCR allows the app to read aloud text captured in photos or screenshots—an invaluable tool for people with disabilities, such as dyslexia, or for learners who process information better when it's spoken. For example, after taking a photo of a document or a page in a book with my iPhone, Speechify can immediately start reading it to me in high-quality, AI-generated voices that sound natural and are easy to understand.

Getting Started with Speechify

Speechify is available across various platforms, including iPhone, Android phones, iPads, Macs, and even on Windows through Chrome extensions. This versatility means I can switch from my iPhone to my Samsung Android device or even to my iPad without losing functionality or comfort. The setup is user-friendly, so even beginners can start using it without a steep learning curve.

Multilingual Support

Speechify doesn’t just read English; it has a wide range of languages including French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. This feature is particularly helpful when I'm trying to learn a new language by reading foreign language materials or when I travel and need to read signs and menus.

How I Use Speechify in My Daily Routine

Reading Webpages and Google Docs

As someone who spends a lot of time researching and reading online, Speechify’s Chrome extension has been a game changer. It allows me to listen to webpages and Google Docs as audiobooks while I continue with other tasks. This kind of multitasking is not only efficient but also helps reduce eye strain from long hours in front of a screen.

Listening to Audiobooks and Podcasts

Speechify is not limited to reading photos or text files. It can also turn any written content into an audio file that can be listened to just like an audiobook or podcast. This feature is perfect for consuming long articles or books that I don’t have time to sit down and read. Plus, the ability to adjust the reading speed means I can listen at a pace that suits me, which enhances comprehension and retention.

Speak Screen and Speak Selection

On iOS devices, features like Speak Screen and Speak Selection integrate seamlessly with Speechify, allowing me to have texts on my screen read aloud just by swiping down with two fingers from the top of the screen, or by selecting specific texts. It’s particularly helpful when I’m using apps that aren’t natively supported by Speechify.

Why Speechify Stands Out

The real beauty of Speechify lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. The app’s ability to open and read practically any text, whether on a physical page, a screenshot, or a digital document, along with its clean, user-friendly interface, makes it an essential tool for anyone looking to enhance their productivity.

Moreover, Speechify supports a variety of fonts and backgrounds, making it adaptable to different reading preferences and needs. It’s a thoughtful design choice that caters to users with visual impairments or those who find certain fonts easier to read.

Whether you're dealing with dyslexia, learning a new language, or simply trying to fit more reading into a busy schedule, Speechify’s text to speech and OCR technology offers a practical, high-quality solution. It has changed how I interact with text, allowing me to listen to almost anything, from the quick notes I take on my iPhone to the extensive articles I need to review on my Mac.

Give Speechify a try, and start experiencing the joy of listening to the written word in a whole new way.