Yes, PowerPoint has built-in accessibility features that can convert text to speech during a presentation. This feature is known as the ‘Speak Selected Text’ tool. To activate this feature, follow the steps below:
- Open your PowerPoint presentation and go to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar.
- In the ‘Choose commands from’ drop-down menu, select ‘All Commands’.
- Scroll down the list until you find ‘Speak Selected Text’. Click on it to highlight it and then click the ‘Add’ button to move it to the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Click ‘OK’ to close the dialog box.
Now, whenever you want to use the text-to-speech feature, simply highlight the text you want to be read aloud and click on the ‘Speak Selected Text’ icon in the Quick Access Toolbar.
Besides, PowerPoint also supports a feature called ‘Subtitles’ or ‘Live Captions’ during a Slide Show. It uses Microsoft’s cloud-based speech service for the transcription. However, this feature requires an internet connection and is not available in all languages.
PowerPoint’s text-to-speech feature can be a powerful tool for accessibility, as it allows individuals who have difficulties reading on-screen text to still access and engage with your presentation’s content.
Note: The availability and functionality of these features may vary based on the version of PowerPoint you’re using and your operating system.
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