A screen-reader is a computer application designed to provide spoken feedback to a blind or visually impaired person. This type of software has been available since the mid 1980s.
The software transmits what text is displayed on the screen into a form that a visually impaired user can understand. This can be auditory, tactile, or both. A lot of research and development was undertaken to provide speech-access to the Graphical User Interface.
Screen-readers read the contents of a visual display. They can use a speech synthesizer to read text aloud letting users listen to the contents appearing in different parts of the display. Other software communicates data via a braille display.
Screen-readers help make the world of computers accessible to visually impaired users.
Here’s our verdict summarized in a legendary LinuxLinks-style chart. The software featured here is free and open source software. Note, Emacspeak takes a different approach. While it’s not technically a screen-reader, it warrants inclusion.
Let’s explore each application in more detail. For each program we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources.
| Screen-readers | |
|---|---|
| Orca Screen Reader | Screen-reader which provides access to applications and toolkits |
| Liblouis | Braille translator, back-translator and formatter |
| Speakup | Kernel-based speech synthesizer driver suite |
| BRLTTY | Provides access to the console using a refreshable braille display |
| Emacspeak | Emacs extension that provides spoken output |
| Odilia | Rust-based screen reader |
| Fenrir | Fast, flexible and efficient speech access for Linux text consoles |
| TDSR | Lightweight speech access for navigating Linux virtual consoles |
| SBW | Text editor with support for braille input |
This article has been updated to reflect the changes outlined in our recent announcement.
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