This reference publication describes accessible software applications (apps) for smartphones, which can be used by those who are blind or visually impaired to read books, newspapers, magazines, and other print material. These apps (or the screen reader running on the device) render digital text to speech or provide braille output to a compatible braille device. In addition, some of the apps listed provide books in audio formats. All of these apps can be downloaded through the standard channels, such as the App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android devices. While most of the mobile apps listed below may be downloaded free of charge, content may have to be purchased separately. Consult the Selected Internet Resources section for resources that contain detailed instructions on downloading and using an app on a mobile device.
Please contact the app developers directly to inquire about specific mobile platform compatibility and accessibility. Categories for the apps are listed as they appear in the App Store or Google Play in order to facilitate organization and searching. With the exception of BARD Mobile, items listed in this reference guide are not part of the free library program provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress, and their listing does not imply endorsement.
Contents
Reading Apps
The apps featured below allow users to access digital content of audio, text-based, and ebraille books. Several of the apps listed below were not specifically designed for the benefit of readers with print disabilities and may not be fully accessible.
Books and Magazines
Accessible Doc Reader
Platforms available: Android
Developer: Innovation Garage Limited
Price: Free
Size: 2.2 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled and Talk Back can read all elements.
Reads DOC, DOCX, RTF, and TXT files downloaded within the app. Reads text in Bangla and English.
Accessible Flash Cards
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: Tyflos Accessible Software
Price: $1.99
Size: 20.7 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Simulates flash cards as a study tool, which allows people to write a question on one side of a card and the answer on the other. Users flip through cards until they retain the information. This app allows blind or visually impaired users to practice this study technique.
Apple Books
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: Apple
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 1.3 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to download books from the Apple Books store and read them with VoiceOver. Apple Books can also open content in PDF and EPUB formats.
Audiobooks
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later)
Developer: Cross Forward Consulting/Traveling Classics
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 78.3 MB
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Provides free public-domain audiobooks and podcasts, as well as newer books for purchase. Also includes a sleep timer.
Audiobooks.com
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Audiobooks.com
Price: Free (allows for in app purchases)
Size: 50.2 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Allows users to purchase popular audiobook titles and listen to many for free.
Audiobooks from Audible
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 6.0 or later), Android
Developer: Audible, Inc. (an Amazon company)
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 88.9 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Provides audiobooks for iOS and Android devices. App comes with such features as bookmarking, chapter navigation, sleep mode, and speed adjustments. Users must purchase Audible books from the Audible website, which can then be downloaded by the app.
Audiobooks Now
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later), Android
Developer: Booksfree.com
Price: Free
Size: 25.3 MB (iOS),14 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Subscription gives users access to approximately 100,000 audiobooks. App features a sleep timer, wish list, and bookmarking features.
Audiobooks Pro
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: Le Thanh Quang
Price: Free
Size: 43.5 MB
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Allows users to download free audiobooks in the public domain from LibriVox. Users are able to navigate by chapter via a track list. App includes comments and reviews from other readers of a particular work.
BARD Mobile
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later), Android
Developer: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), Library of Congress
Price: Free (must be a registered user of NLS and BARD)
Size: 8.5 MB (iOS), 11 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Provides access to more than 100,000 books, magazines, and music scores in audio and digital braille (contracted and uncontracted) to those who are registered with the braille and talking book library service. Font size, screen contrast, speed, and tone may be adjusted. Updated version of the app includes a sleep timer. Note: the braille feature is available by Bluetooth connection to mobile devices through a refreshable braille display.
Big Finish Audiobook Player
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Hughes Media
Price: Free
Size: 28.1 MB (iOS), 26 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are accessible, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Audio plays featuring Dr. Who and Sherlock Holmes, Blake’'s 7, Dark Shadows, Terrahawks, The Avengers, The Prisoner, Survivors, The Omega Factor, Callan, among others.
Blio
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 7.0 or later), Android
Developer: Blio
Price: Free
Size: 43.4 MB (iOS), 20 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to download eBooks from the Blio Bookstore and add books from iTunes or the Internet in EPUB, PDF, or XPS formats. Various voice options are available through the app.
Book Crawler
Platform available: iOS (requires iOS 11.0 or later)
Developer: Jaime Stokes
Price: Free
Size: 85.6 MB
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Allows users to search for books to read and mark books they have already read.
Braigo Companion
Platform available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later)
Developer: Braigo Labs Inc.
Price: Free
Size: 82.1 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Provides users with the ability to read the text within images. For example, a picture of text posted on a social media platform.
Capti Voice
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later)
Developer: Charmtech Labs LLC
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 92.7 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Renders text information into synthesized speech for users. It can act as its own web browser with screen reading capability. Allows users to download digital text files and render them accessible with speech output.
DAISY Talk
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8 or later)
Developer: New Braille Systems K.K.
Price: $25.99
Size: 16.6 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Reads DAISY audiobooks through the built-in synthesized voice in iOS devices. Users can set bookmarks, move between passages, and perform word searching. App supports thirty-four languages.
Delight Games
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.1 or later), Android
Developer: Delight Games LLC
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 90.1 MB (iOS), 21 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons accessible, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
An interactive, choose-your-own-adventure, reading app. Stories are primarily science fiction and fantasy.
Dolphin EasyReader
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.1 or later), Android
Developer: Dolphin Computer Access Ltd
Price: Free
Size: 124 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled
Allows users to download accessible material from providers such Bookshare and Project Gutenberg. If text is part of the downloaded content, users have the ability to adjust the text size. The app also highlights the text as it reads the content aloud. If the content has text, but no voice, users can choose voices within the app.
Downpour
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later); Android
Developer: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 64.6 MB (iOS), 8.3 MB (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Allows users to download over 80,000 books as MP3s which can be transferred between devices. Users have the ability to rent books from Downpour as part of a subscription. Blackstone’s audiobook app.
eBook Search
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Inkstone Software, Inc.
Price: Free
Size: 43.2 MB (iOS), 14 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Aggregates free titles from the collections of major eBook providers such as iBooks, Kindle, and Nook. Books are read through their respective apps. Users can purchase an in-app feature that removes ads for $0.99.
FanFiction
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Pentaloop
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 145.5 MB (iOS), 22 MB (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Offers more than 150,000 stories in e-text format based on best-selling books, movies, and television series. Material is written by fans of the original franchises, not by the original authors and creators. App allows searching by keyword or browsing by series or communities of fans.
Free Audiobooks HQ
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Inkstone Software
Price: Free
Size: 50.9 MB (iOS), 15 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to download over 8,000 audiobooks for free via LibriVox and purchase from a selection of over 100,000 “premium” audiobooks. Includes a sleep timer and the ability to bookmark sections. Users can preview portions of the books before download. Available in seventeen languages.
Free Books (Android)
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9 or later), Android
Developer: Digital Press Publishing
Price: Free
Size: 149.1 MB (iOS)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to download over 50,000 eBooks in the public domain and nearly five thousand audiobooks. No app support.
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later), Android
Developer: Goodreads
Price: Free
Size: 148.4 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
With Goodreads, readers are able to add books to lists of books they have read and want to read, see what their friends are reading, and rate and write reviews of books they’ve read.
Google Play Books
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later), Android
Developer: Google
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 80.6 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Gives users access to more than 4 million books through the Google Play store. The books as well as the page location can be synced across multiple devices.
Go Read
Platforms available: Android
Developer: Bookshare
Price: Free (Bookshare membership required to download Bookshare books)
Size: 8.0 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Developed for readers with print disabilities. Users can read with voice navigation and text-to-speech features. Gives users access to Bookshare audiobooks on their Android devices. Contact Bookshare for specifics about the app. For the iOS Bookshare app, see Read2Go entry.
HOOKED
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later), Android
Developer: Telepathic, Inc.
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 80.4 MB (iOS), 80.0 MB (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Features suspenseful thrillers told in the form of text messages.
iLike2Read
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 11.0 or later)
Developer: MDV Ingegneria Elettronica Sas
Price: $4.99
Size: 1.8 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to read documents within a simple interface. Supports multiple file formats and allows users to bookmark their favorite authors.
Kindle
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10 or later), Android
Developer: AMZN Mobile LLC
Price: Free
Size: 163.3 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to download Kindle eBooks as well as magazines and newspapers. App features a reference section in the FAQs that describes VoiceOver gestures for the app.
Learning Ally Link
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 5.0 or later), Android
Developer: Learning Ally
Price: Free (requires membership with Learning Ally)
Size: 17.6 MB (iOS), 4.7 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows Learning Ally members to download audiobooks from their bookshelf. Features bookmarking capabilities, page and chapter navigation, and speed controls.
LibriVox Audiobooks
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Theodore Book (BookDesign)
Price: Free
Size: 21.4 MB (iOS), 5.5 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to stream or download more than 15,000 human-voice narrated audiobook titles and radio dramas to their device. Includes a sleep timer and a bookmarking feature.
Meanwhile: Interactive Comic
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later)
Developer: Zarfhome Software Consulting
Price: $4.99
Size: 57.6 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Meanwhile is an interactive comic book in the style of choose your own adventure where users make a series of choices throughout the story which develops according to their selections. All comic panels are provided with alternative text tag, and VoiceOver is able to read the voice bubbles and thought clouds.
Movellas
Platforms available: iOS, Android
Developer: 34BigThings srl
Price: Free
Size: 51.7 MB (iOS), 7.5 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Provides a platform for fans to post their own takes on popular tales and characters.
My Books (iOS)
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9 or later)
Developer: Digital Press Publishing
Price: Free
Size: 149.1 MB (iOS)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to download over 50,000 books in the public domain and nearly five thousand audiobooks. No app support. For Android, see Free Books.
Nook
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 0.0 or later), Android
Developer: Barnes & Noble
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 141.1 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements; screen magnification (zoom) also available
Offers readers more than three million books, magazines, and newspapers in the Nook Store. App has bookmarking capabilities, screen magnification, and changeable text and background colors. When users first sign in using VoiceOver, the app gives them a tutorial on Nook’s accessibility features.
Nook Audiobooks
Platforms available: iOS (requires 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: Barnes & Noble
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchase)
Size: 15.1 MB (iOS), 9.5 MB (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Features over one hundred twenty five thousand audiobooks. Users can preview titles before purchasing them. A selection of free books is available.
OverDrive
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android, Windows
Developer: OverDrive
Price: Free (access is granted through a valid library account)
Size: 33.1 MB (iOS), 9.7 (Android)
Accessibility: Some Buttons are labeled and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Gives users access to the eBook and audiobook collections of over thirty thousand libraries. The app allows bookmarking and offers the ability to sync material across different mobile devices.
Read2Go
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 6.0 or later)
Developer: Benetech
Price: $19.99
Size: 122.6 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Gives users access to Bookshare books in braille and audio through their iOS devices. App lets users change backgrounds, color, and font size. Also allows for audio and braille output through VoiceOver. For the Android Bookshare app, see Go Read entry.
Voice Dream Reader
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.3 or later), Android (requires 4.3 or later)
Developer: Voice Dream LLC
Price: $9.99 (iOS), $4.99 (Android)
Size: 150.9 MB (iOS), 33 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Can convert most DAISY, DRM-free EPUB, PDF, and Word books to audio and allows users to select from dozens of high-quality voices. Has a sleep timer and a speed-adjustment function that can reach seven hundred words per minute.
Wattpad
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later), Android
Developer: Wattpad Corp
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 137.4 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
Developed as a creative writing app allowing authors to share their works with readers. Readers can read the work of writers who subscribe to the service and rate books.
News and Newspapers
AccessWorld
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 7.0 or later)
Developer: American Foundation for the Blind
Price: Free
Size: 2 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to browse and read e-text articles from current and archived issues of AccessWorld online magazine.
Apple News
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: Apple Inc.
Price: Free
Size: 918.5 KB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Comes built-in with iOS devices running iOS 9 or later. Allows users to select stories from major news content providers and read them through the app, set up alerts for new stories, and list their favorites.
BaconReader for Reddit
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later), Android
Developer: One Louder
Price: Free
Size: 63.2 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows mobile users to interface with Reddit through their mobile devices, navigate between Reddit accounts, and categorize listings. Users can bookmark stories and follow other Reddit users.
BBC News
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: BBC Worldwide
Price: Free
Size: 84.3 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to navigate the latest top stories and breaking news from around the world via the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Users may also personalize the news they receive through the My News feature.
Breaking News
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: Vijay Anand
Price: Free
Size: 42.9 MB (iOS)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Interfaces with major national and international news providers including BBC, CNN, Fox News, Reuters, the New York Times, and others to provide immediate access to top stories. Users can customize push notifications.
Google Play Newsstand
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later), Android
Developer: Google Inc.
Price: Free
Size: 13.9 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows users to explore a variety of news sources with articles, audio, and video. Users can subscribe to their choice of publishers and categories.
NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later)
Developer: National Federation of the Blind
Price: Free (must be a NEWSLINE subscriber)
Size: 2.9 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Provides text from more than 350 local newspapers and magazines, as well as local TV listings. Registered users can install the app on as many as five separate devices.
Radio Talking Book
Platforms available: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Size: 32.9 MB (iOS), 18MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Provides access to national newspapers and magazines via streaming.
SmartNews
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 9.0 or later), Android
Developer: SmartNews Inc.
Price: Free
Size: 41.6MB (iOS), 3.9MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Aggregates news headlines from major news and information providers. Users are able to browse by category and personalize the information they receive.
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 11.0 or later), Android
Developer: Wikimedia Foundation
Price: Free
Size: 52.1 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Contains more than thirty-two million articles in a variety of languages.
Dictionaries and Thesauri
Advanced English Dictionary and Thesaurus
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 7.0 or later)
Developer: jDictionary Mobile
Price: $2.99 (iOS)
Size: 332.6 MB (iOS)
Accessibility: Most buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Features nearly 600,000 entries and voices with American, British, and Australian English accents
American Heritage Dictionary+
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 7.0 or later), Android
Developer: MobiSystems, Inc.
Price: $14.99
Size: 51.9 MB (iOS), 7.3 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Includes the entire text of the print fifth edition and offers features to help users spell and pronounce words.
Power Thesaurus
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later), Android
Developer: Radyushin & Co
Price: Free
Size: 4.9 MB (iOS), 40 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
A crowd-sourced thesaurus where users are able to check for synonyms of words.
Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 8.0 or later)
Developer: Enfour, Inc.
Price: $10.99
Size: 90.7 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Allows bookmarking and can be used completely offline.
Terminology Dictionary
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 11.0 or later)
Developer: Agile Tortoise
Price: Free (allows for in-app purchases)
Size: 84.6 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are accessible, and VoiceOver can read most page elements
A dictionary tool that allows users to look up words for definitions and synonyms.
Scanning and Reading Apps
The apps listed below are for scanning reading material using a smartphone’s camera to view printed material. After the user photographs the printed text, the app performs optical character recognition on the scanned text. These apps can be very useful for reading smaller documents.
Envision AI
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later), Android
Developer: Envision Technologies B.V.
Price: Available for subscription. Prices dependent on the subscription package.
Size: 303.7 MB (iOS), 12 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled
Able to read text from documents, products on shelves, mail, street signs, etc. It is multilingual with automatic language detection. Has facial recognition capability and is able to recognize individual faces and emotions.
KNFB Reader
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later), Android
Developer: Sensotec
Price: $99.99
Size: 405.8 MB (iOS), 94 MB (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Scans print text and converts it into digital speech. Can export text files for later retrieval and use. For users with reading disabilities, the app has synchronized speech and text highlighting capabilities.
Microsoft Office Lens
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 11.0 or later), Android
Developer: Microsoft Cooperation
Price: free
Size: 40.8 MB (iOS), varies with device (Android)
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Captures written images and converts them into text using optical character reader.
Prizmo Go
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 7.0 or later)
Developer: Creaceed SPRL
Price: Free (offers in-app purchases)
Size: 54.5 MB
Accessibility: All buttons labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Captures text from pages of documents and converts it to speech. It offers spoken guidance before capturing images.
Seeing AI
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: Microsoft Cooperation
Price: Free
Size: 282 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Reads documents and, aside from performing optical character reader functions, is also able to read currency, scan barcodes, and identify color. Also able to recognize genders and emotions of faces.
Texie
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 11.0 or later)
Developer: Blue Vine Solutions, LLC
Price: Free (offers in-app purchases)
Size: 1.62 MB
Accessibility: All buttons are labeled, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Works as a text recognition that allows users to take a picture of a document, street sign, or other element of text and have it converted to synthesized speech.
VocalEyes AI
Platforms available: iOS (requires iOS 10.0 or later)
Developer: VocalEyes AI
Price: Free
Size: 53.3 MB
Accessibility: All buttons accessible, and VoiceOver can read all page elements
Performs object and facial recognition. Also able to read text.
Voice Dream Scanner
Platforms available: iOS (Requires iOS 10.3 or later)
Developer: Voice Dream, LLC
Price: $5.99
Size: 134.9 MB
Accessibility: All buttons labeled and VoiceOver can read all page elements.
Allows users to scan paper documents and have them read back to them using built-in speech. Allows users to save files and export them in plain text or PDF.
Selected Internet Resources
The following resources provide tips, tutorials, and general information regarding accessible mobile applications and/or devices, which can help users gain a better understanding of how to download and operate new or unfamiliar technology.
AccessWorld
www.afb.org/aw External
Online magazine published monthly by the American Foundation for the Blind includes reviews of assistive technology products and articles of general technological interest for people who are blind or visually impaired.
AppleVis
www.applevis.com External
Website that provides information, tips, and support for Apple product users who are blind or have low vision. Includes a blog, forum, user guides and tutorials, and product reviews.
BARD Mobile How-To Series
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpAGnumt6iV7Aap_-C8b-8pR_HCxnh_Ls External
Series of videos produced by NLS staff to demonstrate tips for using BARD Mobile.
Flying Blind
http://www.flying-blind.com/ttt_enews_archive.html External
A weekly newsletter, Top Tech Tidbits, with the latest on assistive technology, accessibility and mobile app.
Fred’s Head
www.fredshead.info External
Blog from the American Printing House for the Blind contains product reviews, tutorials, in-depth articles, and general information for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Glossary
Audiobook: A publication in digital audio that can be read on a variety of digital devices.
Braille and Audio Reading Download, (BARD): An online site that allows NLS patrons to download audio and braille books.
Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY): A technical standard for digital audiobooks, periodicals, and computerized text.
Digital rights management (DRM): An online system that provides protection for copyrighted material in digital formats.
eBook: A publication in digital text that can be visually read on a digital device or read audibly through a device’s text-to-speech capabilities.
EPUB: Short for Electronic PUBlication. A standard for electronic publications set by the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF).
LibriVox: An audiobook repository of titles in the public domain, including many classics. The service uses volunteers to record material and the recordings have multiple narrators.
Portable Document Format (PDF): An open standard created by Adobe Systems that permits the exchange of electronic documents.
VoiceOver: A screen reader, standard on Apple’s computers and mobile devices, which can convert accessible text into audio or braille.
XML Paper Specification (XPS): An open specification for page description language and a fixed-document format created by Microsoft.
Updated June 2020
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