The Welsh Synthetic Voice has been produced by RNIB Cymru to help blind and partially sighted people access information on-line, such as train timetables.

The software will be free for individuals to download and is supported by £80,000 of Welsh Assembly Government funding.

As well as surfing Welsh language websites, the Synthetic Voice will also enable people to download and read Welsh language books and to write and receive texts in Welsh.

Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, said:

“This software is an important and exciting development especially for Welsh-medium education.

“For the first time, blind and partially sighted children will have access to on-line material which until now has only been available to sighted pupils.

“Our investment will enable companies that produce digital educational resources to include the Synthetic Voice free of charge.”

The software will also be available free to public bodies outside of the education sector, providing people of all ages with much greater access to information in Welsh.

Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, said:

“This software will have a number of different uses in everyday life and ensure blind and partially sighted people can carry out activities through the medium of Welsh.

“It is vital that technologies like this are available through the medium of Welsh to ensure everyone can enjoy essential services in the language of their choice. Innovations like this will help to ensure the Welsh language can be a part of everyday life and will continue to thrive.”