Speech is probably the one most important feature which distinguishes humans from other animals. This book is concerned with giving the power of speech to machines, and thereby giving disabled people the power to communicate, which they would otherwise lack.

Synthetic speech is used in two ways by disabled people: as a replacement for natural speech; and as a means of communicating complex information to people who cannot receive it by other means, such as blind computer users. This book covers both forms of use, showing the features they have in common, but separating the differences.

It is accessible both to readers with a technical background, and also to those with less such experience, thanks to an extensive glossary. It is a valuable resource and includes information on available products.