Digital enhancements in accessibility for Rakuten Kobo e-readers announced forthcoming
In an exciting development, Kobo, a leading name in the e-reader industry, has announced an upcoming software update for its popular devices - the Kobo Clara BW, Kobo Clara Colour, and Kobo Libra Colour. This update will introduce a Screen Recorder feature, which transforms any e-book into an audiobook through a text-to-speech (TTS) system.
The Screen Recorder is accessible from the accessibility section within the settings menu. This TTS functionality doesn't produce sound directly from the device but relies on Bluetooth audio devices for playback due to the hardware design of Kobo e-readers lacking built-in speakers.
Users will need to pair a wireless speaker, earbuds, or headphones to use the screen recorder's TTS feature. This is because the new Kobo e-readers do not have speakers.
The update also includes other improvements such as global font size options outside of e-books to enhance accessibility. However, it's worth noting that installing this update will wipe the entire device, including all e-books and audiobooks. Users will have to re-download their owned content from the cloud or manually restore sideloaded files.
The screen recorder's TTS functionality and the new accessibility features may be related to compliance with the European Accessibility Act, aiming to make digital products more accessible for users with disabilities.
Here's a summary of the key features:
| Feature | Description | Audio Output Requirement | |-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| | Screen Recorder (TTS) | Reads any e-book aloud by converting text to speech | Must connect via Bluetooth to wireless speaker, earbuds, or headphones because Kobo e-readers lack built-in speakers |
Michael Kozlowski, an experienced writer who has been writing about audiobooks, e-books, and e-readers for 18 years, is associated with a specific website but is not mentioned in the context of this update. The update will be optional and will not install automatically.
[1] Source: Kobo Official Announcement
The Screen Recorder feature, which transforms any e-book into an audiobook through text-to-speech technology, can be found in the accessibility section within the settings menu of Kobo's latest e-readers. To hear the text-to-speech (TTS) readings, users will need to pair a wireless speaker, earbuds, or headphones via Bluetooth as the new gadgets don't have built-in speakers.
