New Assistive Reader Feature on Kindles Has Problems

Introduction

This review delves into the software update for Amazon Kindles, specifically focusing on the new “Assistive Reader” feature. This feature, reminiscent of the text-to-speech functionality available on older Kindle models, was recently introduced to provide improved accessibility. My experience testing the new Assistive Reader on my 12th generation Kindle Paperwhite unfortunately revealed several issues. I’ll explore the feature itself, the challenges encountered, and offer a critical analysis of its potential and shortcomings.

The New Kindle Assistive Reader Feature: A Brief Overview

The core functionality of the “Assistive Reader” is to read the text of ebooks aloud. This text-to-speech capability aims to make reading more accessible for individuals with visual impairments or those who prefer to listen to books while multitasking. This functionality allows users to have the Kindle read books aloud, navigate chapters, and adjust speech settings such as reading speed and voice options.

My Experience and Identified Problems

Testing the Assistive Reader on my Kindle Paperwhite yielded mixed results. While the concept is welcome, the implementation leaves much to be desired.

Initial Setup and Navigation Issues

Activation and Accessibility:

The feature is relatively easy to activate. It can be enabled through the accessibility settings on the Kindle. The menus themselves are navigable using the Kindle’s standard interface.

Unexpected Behavior:

However, the feature’s behavior was often unpredictable. Sometimes the reading would stop abruptly, particularly at the end of paragraphs or even mid-sentence. This made it difficult to rely on for consistent reading.

Audio Quality and Pronunciation Errors

Voice Options:

The voice options are limited. There are a few generic voices available, but the quality is not on par with the more advanced text-to-speech engines available on other platforms, and not as good as what other companies like Apple offer with their voice options.

Pronunciation Accuracy:

The Assistive Reader frequently mispronounced words, especially names, technical terms, and foreign words. This resulted in a disjointed reading experience, breaking the flow of the narrative. The software struggled with context, often misinterpreting punctuation and sentence structure.

Overall Usability and User Experience

Intrusiveness:

The feature is intrusive when it comes to page turns. Sometimes it reads the title of the next page before it is ready to be read.

Lack of Customization:

The lack of advanced customization options, like pitch and emphasis controls, diminished the user experience.

Overall Thoughts and Feelings

My initial reaction to the Assistive Reader was excitement, as it addressed a gap in the Kindle’s feature set. However, the issues I encountered quickly dampened my enthusiasm. The frequent errors and subpar audio quality made the feature more frustrating than helpful. The writing is straight forward, which is great, but the overall experience left me feeling that the feature was rushed and not adequately tested before release.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

  • Accessibility Intent: The primary strength lies in the feature’s intention to improve accessibility for users with visual impairments or those who benefit from auditory learning.
  • Re-introduction of a Useful Feature: Bringing back text-to-speech is a welcome addition to the Kindle ecosystem.

Weaknesses:

  • Poor Audio Quality: The robotic and generic voice options detract from the experience.
  • Inaccurate Pronunciation: Mispronunciation and struggles with context severely impact the ability to understand the text.
  • Interrupted Reading: Frequent interruptions and unexpected stopping points make it hard to follow along.
  • Lack of Customization: Limited settings hinder the ability to adjust the reading experience to individual preferences.

Recommendation

I would not currently recommend relying on the Assistive Reader feature for a consistent and enjoyable reading experience. The problems significantly outweigh the benefits. Hopefully, Amazon will address the identified issues with future software updates. Readers who are looking for alternative ways to read can find some useful advice on my website My Ebook in the section on reading tips.

Rating

I would rate the current version of the Kindle Assistive Reader feature 2 out of 5 stars. The potential is there, but the execution falls short.

Where to Get It

Since this is a software update and not a book, you can’t “get it” the way you get a book. You will need to ensure your Kindle has the latest software update which should automatically install on your Kindle device (usually while charging and connected to Wi-Fi). You will have to navigate to the Accessibility Settings within the Kindle to activate the feature if you have installed the latest software.