Auditory Menu

A user interface menu that conveys its content and structure through audio rather than visual display. Auditory menus typically use text-to-speech to read menu item names and may incorporate non-speech sounds such as earcons, spearcons, or tones to provide contextual information about menu structure, current position, and size. They are essential for making menu-driven devices accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, and are increasingly important for eyes-free interaction on mobile phones, smart speakers, and in-vehicle systems. Effective auditory menu design goes beyond simply reading items aloud — it must also convey the navigational context that visual menus communicate through scrollbars, icons, and spatial layout.