ChromeVox Extension

Post date: Jun 15, 2011 8:21:07 PM

ChromeVox is a Google Chrome extension that can read web pages aloud using an English voice, or display text with an on-screen magnifier. Text to speech currently works with Chrome OS, Windows and Macintosh platforms. It can read text as you compose text in blogs or web forms. The extension on-line help files list extension shortcuts for the Google Chrome OS platform, but you can view the settings for your platform from the ChromeVox Options menu. Where the documentation lists the keyboard shortcut as Shift + Search, Windows users need to use CTRL + ALT.

The extension's shortcuts allow you to navigate the page, read text and select page elements like titles, tables, and editable text boxes. Some of the extension's default shortcuts may interfere with your system's shortcuts. For example, some of the default keyboard shortcuts may call a dialog to log you out or rotate the screen orientation. You can change the keyboard shortcuts from the extension's options menu.

The most recent version of the extension is available at the Google Market site. Click the link in the Market site. If you download the extension you can type CTRL + O, then browse to the location of the chromevox_nnnn-nn-nn.crx file to install it. Restart Google Chrome, then click CTRL + ALT + H to access the help page.

• • If you need to disable the extension, enter chrome://extensions/ in the address bar, and click the disable link.

  • If you want to remove the extension, enter chrome://extensions/ in the address bar, and click the uninstall link.

  • The ChromeVox extension - options link allows you to change keyboard and accessibility options.

The javascript code is available under the Apache version 2 license in a subversion repository. You can browse the repository at the Google Code site.