TTS Option Enabled for All Elsevier ePub Book Titles

Elsevier, a publisher of scientific, technical, and medical information products and solutions, has enabled the text-to-speech option on all of its ePub book titles. The text-to-speech function enables an e-book to read aloud. This will facilitate access by readers who would otherwise face a range of access challenges through blindness, dyslexia, or motor difficulties.

With 10 percent to 15 percent of the global population struggling with some form of print disability, the accessibility of publications is essential to open up access for a broad array of people. Text-to-speech enables access by people with disabilities who might otherwise struggle to see, read, or interact with ebooks.

"Elsevier and the publishing industry are working hard to make more publications accessible to people with print disabilities," said Dr. Alicia Wise, director of universal access at Elsevier. "There is much more work to be done in partnership with accessibility experts and a range of software developers and device manufacturers. For example, there are key challenges related to the accessibility of highly structured and illustrated textbooks, mathematical formulae, and highly specialized and interactive scientific databases. All of our products and services must work well together to ensure that accessible content can be discovered and used by a person with print disabilities."