In this digitally innovated era, Microsoft's PowerPoint presentations have taken a leap in ensuring inclusivity. The PowerPoint read aloud feature is a testament to this. It provides automated voice narration for slides, opening the doors to a more diverse audience, especially catering to those with different abilities such as visual challenges.
Yet, many remain unaware of this groundbreaking functionality. This raises the question: How can one make PowerPoint read aloud? To address this, our guide takes you through the steps, ensuring that your presentations are not just visually but also audibly engaging.
Part 1: How to Make PowerPoint Read Aloud
Microsoft PowerPoint's feature of reading aloud is a robust tool for ensuring presentation accessibility. But how do you enable it? Let's explore it step-by-step.
Add Speak to the Quick Access Toolbar:
Step 1: Open PowerPoint. At the top of the PowerPoint window, you will notice the Quick Access Toolbar. This is a customizable area where frequently used commands can be placed for easy access.
Step 2: Click on the small downward arrow icon on the right end of the Quick Access Toolbar. From the dropdown menu, select "More Commands."
Step 3: In the "Word Options" window that opens, from the left drop-down menu, choose "All Commands." Scroll down the list until you find the "Speak" command. Click on it, then click the "Add" button to move it to the list on the right.
Step 4: Click "OK" to close the window. You will now see the Speak icon in the Quick Access Toolbar.
Use Speak to Read Text Aloud:
Step 1: In your PowerPoint presentation, highlight the text you want to be read aloud. This can be in PowerPoint read aloud slides or PowerPoint read aloud notes.
Step 2: Click on the Speak icon in the Quick Access Toolbar. The highlighted text will be read aloud.
Step 3: If you want to stop the reading, simply click the Speak icon again.
The PowerPoint read aloud feature ensures that everyone, regardless of their visual abilities, can access the content. With advancements, users no longer need separate PowerPoint read aloud software for accessibility. The built-in features, as demonstrated above, make it simple and efficient.
Those questioning, "Is there a read aloud function in PowerPoint?" can now confidently affirm that not only does this function exist, but it is also incredibly user-friendly.
The steps we have explored detail how to enable read aloud in PowerPoint presentations. Remember, the feature is not restricted to just reading aloud the content of slides. It can be employed effectively for notes too, making sure no aspect of your presentation is inaccessible.
Accessibility in presentations, especially in a digital age, should not be overlooked. With tools like these at your disposal, ensuring that your content reaches everyone becomes not just easier but also essential.
Part 2: Free Alternative Choice — WPS Office
In the space of office productivity tools, WPS Office stands tall as a formidable contender. It is not only a modernized and powerful office tool application but is also available at no cost for free users. Yes, that is right: this comprehensive tool suite that boasts of features rivaling other major office applications is free for its basic users.
For those who might be looking for alternatives that support PowerPoint read aloud capabilities or just need an efficient office tool in general, WPS Office is a commendable option to explore.
How to Download WPS Office:
Step 1: Open your preferred web browser and type in the official website: www.wps.com.
Step 2: Once on the main page, you will be greeted by a clean interface showcasing the various WPS Office products. Look for a conspicuous download button, often labeled as "Free Download" or a similar call to action.
Step 3: Click on the download button. Depending on your operating system, the website might offer you a version tailored for Windows, Mac, Linux, or even mobile platforms like Android and iOS.
Step 4: After clicking, the download should commence. Once the installer is downloaded, locate the file (typically in the 'Downloads' folder or on your desktop).
Step 5: Double-click the installer to run it. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation of WPS Office on your device.
Beyond just the regular word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation capabilities, WPS Office also brings other features to the table. While it does not inherently have the PowerPoint read aloud functionality, it integrates smoothly with many third-party software applications, including those that can enable text-to-speech features.
If you are on the lookout for an efficient, powerful, yet free office tool application, WPS Office could be the perfect solution. It offers a user-friendly experience and is equipped with features that cater to both basic and advanced users.
This makes it a suitable choice for individuals, students, professionals, and even large organizations looking to cut down on software expenses without compromising on quality or functionality.
Why WPS Office is the Best Choice?
User-Friendly Interface: WPS Office takes pride in its sleek and intuitive design. Unlike many other office suites that can overwhelm beginners, WPS presents a clear and organized layout. This ensures that both new and experienced users can navigate the application with ease and efficiency.
Cost-Efficient: One of the standout features of WPS Office is its pricing or the lack thereof. While many office suites demand high subscription fees, WPS offers most of its essential features completely free. This provides an economical solution without compromising on the quality of service.
Robust Security Measures: In an era where data breaches are prevalent, WPS Office prioritizes user security. With advanced encryption and regular software updates, it ensures that your documents and personal information remain confidential and protected.
Versatile Functionality: Not limited to just basic office tasks, WPS Office comes equipped with advanced features. From sophisticated data analysis in spreadsheets to designing interactive presentations, the suite caters to a broad range of professional requirements.
Cloud Integration: In this age, cloud integration is so useful in a variety of ways. WPS Office seamlessly integrates with cloud services, allowing users to save, retrieve, and share their documents online. This fosters collaboration and ensures that your documents are accessible anytime, anywhere.
Cross-Platform Availability: Whether you use a Windows PC, a Mac, an Android smartphone, or an iOS device, WPS Office has got you covered. Its cross-platform availability means you can work on any device without the hassle of file incompatibility or format issues.
FAQs
1. How can I add multiple voices to my presentation?
Adding multiple voices to your presentation enriches the auditory experience. To achieve this, you can utilize tools such as Speechify. This software allows users to embed diverse voiceovers in their presentations.
You can assign distinct voices to different slides or even specific parts of a slide by uploading your PowerPoint slides into the application. This creates an engaging and varied listening experience for your audience.
2. How to fix text-to-speech reading in the wrong languages?
If your text-to-speech function in PowerPoint is reading in the wrong language, it can disrupt the flow of your presentation. This problem usually arises due to incorrect language settings. To rectify this, navigate to the language settings in Microsoft PowerPoint and ensure you have selected the correct language for your text-to-speech feature.
You can also consult Microsoft Support for detailed step-by-step instructions. Ensuring accurate language settings not only improves the PowerPoint read aloud experience but also enhances the overall presentation quality.
3. Can I customize the speed and tone of the read aloud feature in PowerPoint?
Customizing the speed and tone can make the PowerPoint read aloud feature more adaptive to your needs. In PowerPoint, you can adjust the rate of speech for a more comfortable listening pace.
Navigate to the “Speech settings” on your computer and look for voice properties or speech rate options. Adjusting these settings will impact the narration speed in PowerPoint. For more advanced tone modifications, third-party software might be required.
Summary
This article reviewed and explained the steps on how to make PowerPoint read aloud. We explored the built-in ‘Speak’ functionality of Microsoft PowerPoint and learned how to integrate it into presentations. To further enhance presentations, we also looked at how to use multiple voices and how to fix potential language issues in the text-to-speech feature.
Complementing these features, we introduced WPS Office as a powerful and free alternative to Microsoft's suite. Highlighting its user-friendly interface, cost-efficiency, versatility, cloud integration, cross-platform availability, and stringent security measures, we emphasized why WPS Office stands out as a superior choice for modern users.
