Time-compressed Speech

Speech that has been digitally processed to play at a faster rate than it was originally recorded or synthesized, while preserving pitch. Unlike simply increasing playback speed (which raises pitch), time compression algorithms remove small portions of the audio signal to reduce duration without the "chipmunk effect." Screen readers use time compression or native fast synthesis to deliver content at the high rates preferred by experienced users. Research shows that visually impaired individuals can comprehend time-compressed speech at rates significantly faster than sighted peers.