Enhanced Text-to-Speech Experience for Your Website Visitors
We’re excited to share a new update to the Recite Me Toolbar, designed to improve the Text-to-Speech experience for your users. These enhancements are the direct result of user feedback and continue our commitment to delivering inclusive, intuitive online journeys for all.
What’s New?
1. Simplified Controls
We’ve streamlined the Text-to-Speech interface by reducing the number of icons and introducing an easier toggle on/off mechanism. This helps lower cognitive load for users and keeps the toolbar clean and accessible.
2. Updated Player Options
Clicking the Text-to-Speech icon now opens a dropdown with the same powerful features:
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Play content automatically on hover
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Read the entire page
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Adjust reading speed and voice preferences
3. Dynamic Keyboard Navigation
Keyboard accessibility is essential. Users can now control playback, skip forward or back through content, and stop at any time—all via OS-specific keyboard shortcuts that appear dynamically based on the user’s device.
4. Improved User Flow
Users can return to the settings panel via the player controls at any time to update their preferences or turn off the feature altogether.
5. Refreshed Icons
With player settings now accessible directly from the feature, we’ve removed the standalone “Settings” icon. The User Guide icon has been repurposed into an Information icon, giving users quick access to:
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The Toolbar Tutorial
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The Recite Me website
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Your site’s Accessibility Statement
What to Expect on Launch
With this release, we’re also updating the Toolbar Tutorial. When the toolbar launches, users will see a short product update message. They can choose to view the updated tutorial or simply close the message, it won’t appear again after dismissal.
