A better way to read text on the computer?

[Erock]

I'm not sure why it is so much worse to read books/text on the computer, but it is. I really enjoy the content of the materials I read online and the books I download , and I don't like printing them out all the time, because I feel like I am wasting paper. Is there a better way to read digital text then on a super bright computer monitor?

Thanks
Erock

[tomjen]

For non technical books (not just fiction) I would recommend getting them as audio books this means your hands aren't tied down and your eyes get something more naturael to look at.

If you have a CRT screen (the thick ones that look like a tv) consider getting a LCD (flat, like a laptop) screen instead. It is much more pleasing to the eyes and not that much more expensive.

[SmellyOrc]

I'm going with tomjen on this one, but only on the audiobooks. In my opinion, CRT is still the best. I never could really see the color black on my dad's LCD...

[Erock]

Thanks guys, but I already have an LCD. Dang, a product that solves this problem could be valuable. Maybe I should invent it.

Erock

[Niki]

There is something
Sony Reader - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Greetz

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Erock

Is there a better way to read digital text then on a super bright computer monitor?

This may be a dumb question, but is there a reason you can't turn down the brightness and/or contrast?

[Radek Pilich]

Maybe this could help you...

spreeder.com - online speed reading application

different way of reading, hell a lot faster, no scrolling needed, no eye movement.
Try it, I like it .)

[RT Wolf]

I'm playing around with using TextAloud (and one of the optional voices) for longer articles and essays and such and converting them to speech and putting them onto my iPod. Its working out pretty well so far. The unnatural rhythm is a little weird at first, but you soon stop noticing it. So, text-to-speech might be somin that might interest you.

I'm waiting till the Sony Reader has some competitors and are priced a little less extravagently. I want one of those.

[Erock]

Ah yeah that sony reader is the bomb! Maybe I can get one of those for college instead of a laptop haha.

Erock

[Gene]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

I'm playing around with using TextAloud (and one of the optional voices) for longer articles and essays and such and converting them to speech and putting them onto my iPod. Its working out pretty well so far. The unnatural rhythm is a little weird at first, but you soon stop noticing it. So, text-to-speech might be somin that might interest you.

I've been using text aloud for nearly three years now and I am very satisfied with the result. Like you I create audio from text and listen to the text on my mp3 player and other devices.

The optional voices available for a modest fee make the output less machine like.

I highly recommend the product. If you wish to look at the product online here is the URL: Text to Speech Software with AT&T Natural Voices, NeoSpeech, Acapela, Nuance SAPI Voices™. I am not in any way associated with the company other than as a satisfied user and do not receive any affiliate commission from them.

[RT Wolf]

I'm glad to hear that this solution has worked out for someone else in the long run.

I created an audio clip of a meditation article someone posted a while ago and put it online:

TextAloud-Meditation Article.mp3

So far, Acapela Heather voice is my favourite. The Acapela Telecom voices are also better quality (22K) versus the AT&T ones (which are 8K and 16K, if I recall correctly).

Hope this helps.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

So far, Acapela Heather voice is my favourite. The Acapela Telecom voices are also better quality (22K) versus the AT&T ones (which are 8K and 16K, if I recall correctly).

Hope this helps.

I have a similar experience in that the AT&T voices create less pleasing output than many other voices. I have not used the voice you mentioned and will listen to them. I have used the neospeech voices Kate and Paul and find them easy to understand and human sounding.

[Fusebox]

This is why I love these forums... the wealth of information is fantastic. Thanks to RT Wolf and Gene, for mentioning Text-aloud. I never knew such a thing existed. I can see myself using this to go through study material as well as burning CDs to listen in the car.

Cheers!!