A Better Browsealoud: Picture Dictionary Support Coming 17th October

Browsealoud, our flagship accessibility software tool, has helped countless organizations provide accessible, online digital content for millions of end-users since its launch. From October 17th, it’s about to get even better with dedicated picture dictionary support.

This unique visual feature removes barriers that typically make reading and hearing text difficult, allowing users to look up the meaning of any word and see the dictionary definition in the form of an expressive illustration. Not only does this make your online content easier to understand and digest, but more accessible to wider audiences.

What does it do?

With 10 supported languages (English, Arabic, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish - and Swedish language capabilities coming soon), Browsealoud’s latest innovation enables those with visual impairments, dyslexia, or other cognitive or language challenges to easily engage with your online content and services. 

Amongst other benefits, this latest update helps Browsealoud users to:

  • Better understand the meaning of words
  • Learn the correct pronunciation of words
  • Learn the correct spelling of words 
  • Easily digest the information supporting the text and audio with imagery
  • Remember and comprehend information easily

How does it help?

The written word can often prove a challenging hurdle for those with unique ways of processing information, or those with language barriers. A visual accompaniment can open up information to a wider audience and offer support for those who need it most. 

To put it into perspective:

  • We are visual creatures! We process images at an alarming speed, with the human brain able to recognize a familiar object within 100 milliseconds. 
  • When people hear information, they're likely to remember only 10% of that information after three days. However, if a relevant image is paired with that same information, people retain 65% of the information three days later. (1) 
  • Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text. (2)
  • According to a study republished by Forbes, “91% of consumers now prefer interactive and visual content over traditional, text-based or static media.”
  • 65% of us are visual learners.

How can I get it?

New to Browsealoud? It’s easy to add to your website and it immediately helps your web visitors with dyslexia, low Literacy, mild visual impairments, and non-native speakers to better consume your information.

If you’re an existing customer using the ‘always updated’ version of Browsealoud, you will have received the new picture dictionary automatically. No action is required!

For customers using ‘versioned’ Browsealoud, you can visit Get Browsealoud to get the latest version (v2.6.0).

For customers using SRI Hashing, please be sure to update the SRI code when updating Browsealoud. The easiest way to do this is to copy the new code from our website at Get Browsealoud.

Not sure what version you’re using? Sign into your account in the Browsealoud Portal and all the information you need will be there. Those of you with a keen eye will notice we’ve made a few tweaks in the portal to make your user journey that bit easier. We hope you agree!

If you’d like to see just powerful Browsealoud can be at providing accessible, inclusive support for your users, or you’d like to get the latest updated version with picture dictionary support, simply visit Get Browsealoud.

>>Visit Get Browsealoud<<

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(1) https://blog.polleverywhere.com/visual-content/
(2) https://www.fastcompany.com/3035856/why-were-more-likely-to-remember-content-with-images-and-video-infogr