Chrome for Android has developed a "listen to this page" feature for some months and now Google Chrome will feature the capability, allowing users to hear text rather than read it.
That feature might have key benefits for individuals with visual impairments, learning disabilities like dyslexia, or those who prefer auditory learning.
Users can listen to web pages while performing other tasks, such as commuting, exercising, or doing chores, without staring at a screen.
Some will consider this a good feature; others might see it as unhelpful, for reasons related to the speeds at which humans can talk and process spoken words, compared to the speed at which text can be read.
The human brain is capable of processing words at a much higher speed than a person is able to speak.
Some suggest the average rate of speech for an American is about 125 words per minute but the human brain can process about 800 words per minute.
Humans can generally process spoken information at a rate of around 150 to 180 words per minute. This rate is limited by the speed at which the brain can process auditory input.
The average reading speed for adults is around 200-300 words per minute, with some skilled readers reaching up to 400-500 words per minute.
Also, spoken words are linear; written words are more akin to random access. At a conference, one might have to listen to a panel for many minutes before deciding whether to stay or attend a different session, as the content is linear.
On the other hand, one often can quickly scan a bit of written content in seconds to decide whether it is worth investigating further. Listening to speakers is linear or sequential; reading text is more akin to random access.
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