App reads e-mail to blind or visually impaired users

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Q: Is is accessible for bullheaded or visually impaired users?

A: Many blind or visually impaired users tell us Speaking E-mail has been a "life saver" or "changed my life". The app reads out the contents of your inbox continuously (ie speaks each email in turn). Information technology skips over email signatures, disclaimers and other email-specific clutter - making for a smooth and seamless reading experience.


Speaking E-mail is fully accessible with VoiceOver, the screen reader that bullheaded people use to interact with their iPhone. VoiceOver is useful for normal apps but doesn't make sense for a speech based app that is vocalism controlled, so once you have completed the setup and signed into your electronic mail account, we recommend switching VoiceOver off. We've been reviewed as a fully attainable app on AppleVis, the online customs for visually impaired iPhone users.

Tips for blind or visually impaired users:

  • Blind users typically use VoiceOver (on iOS) to navigate and use apps. While Speaking Email is fully operable with VoiceOver, we don't recommend using it except in the settings screens. This is because Speaking Email can hear VoiceOver talking and interpret information technology equally voice commands, and the 2 voice communication systems often talk at the same time, making the experience less than ideal.
  • To sign in to your email account, you will require a screenreader (such as VoiceOver on iOS), or a sighted helper. This is because information technology involves inbound a password and depending on your email provider may involve going through permission screens that are controlled by the provider (such as Microsoft or Google permission screens) which we are unable to make vocalization controlled.
  • Everyday use of Speaking Email is fully phonation controlled. We strongly recommend having your screenreader bachelor on a shortcut for ease of switching information technology off when using Speaking E-mail and then back on when using other apps.
  • On the primary carte du jour screen you tin say "play" to hear your emails. Other commands y'all can say in this context include "search", "account" to alter accounts, "binder" to select a folder, "preferences" for setting preferences by voice command, and "upgrade" to pay for premium edition.
  • Afterward saying "play" you will hear your email beingness checked, and then the latest message will be read out to yous. In that location are frequent pauses with "listening" prompts, allowing you lot to requite vocalisation commands. Y'all can too tap anywhere on the screen to activate voice commands.
  • The master phonation commands you will need are "next", "previous", "annal", "trash", and "reply". There are many voice commands and we encourage you lot to explore these by saying "aid" at any betoken to notice out the bachelor commands.
  • When replying, forwarding or composing a new email, there are other vocalism commands (such every bit "read dorsum", "supplant", "delete judgement" and "send"), which are also activated when you tap anywhere on the screen while in dictation mode.
  • Speaking E-mail started out as an inbox reader, rather than a full email client, but has since evolved to handle all the commonly used e-mail functions. Its focus is on reading our the content of the emails in your inbox. Simply it also handles composing short emails and managing mail. Some of our blind users likewise notwithstanding employ a regular desktop email customer (controlled with a screenreader or dictation software) for more advanced tasks such as longer grade emails, adding attachments, creating folders and setting upward accounts.

What users say

Here is a quote from a bullheaded VoiceOver user Joanne Tran who helped beta exam the app to ensure it is fully accessible:

I personally like having Speaking Email as an additional tool in my toolbox. I observe it's nice to have the app automatically open whatsoever unread letters and having it start reading each message afterwards information technology checks for new messages. I likewise similar having the ability to skip over the information that I don't desire to listen to such as the signatures. The selection to automatically read the next message is a plus for me. This includes the pick to skip the promotional messages. I think this app is worth information technology in my book.

We've had a lot of enthusiastic and supportive feedback from blind and visually dumb users, which makes this attempt really experience worthwhile:

"I just wanted to say this app is awesome! Information technology makes reading emails a lot easier."

"Your app is i of a scattering that could assist people with visual problems and I strongly back up your efforts."

"I desire to thank you for this app because my 93 year old mother is well-nigh bullheaded from macular degeneration. She can now listen to her emails without needing someone to read them to her"

"Speaking Email totally rocks! The accessibility is awesome!"


What is Speaking E-mail?

An app for iPhone and Android that reads your electronic mail out loud to you. Information technology intelligently extracts content from emails (minus the signatures, disclaimers and threads). And information technology lets you action your email - annal, mark-as-read, trash, flag, reply, or forward. Information technology can be completely by vocalisation command, or utilise the large on-screen buttons or full screen bear on gestures.


Who is it for?

People with blindness or visual impairment. People who are decorated and run out of fourth dimension to become through their inbox. People who want to make productive use of time when driving between appointments.

Do you have Apple CarPlay?

Run across our other product Speaking Email CarPlay.


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