Speech Output

Speech output refers to the use of synthesised or pre-recorded human voice to convey information from a computer system or device to a user. In accessibility contexts, speech output is a primary means of making visual interfaces accessible to blind and visually impaired users, used in screen readers, self-service kiosks, ATMs, and other interactive systems. Design considerations for accessible speech output include speech rate (typically around 120 words per minute for novice users), message length and sequencing, the ability to skip or repeat messages, echo feedback for user inputs, and privacy concerns in public settings where spoken information may be overheard. Speech output can use either pre-recorded natural speech for higher quality or text-to-speech synthesis for greater flexibility.