Digital accessibility is now a major issue, particularly in light of an ageing population and increasingly diverse uses. However, many users still encounter difficulties with traditional digital interfaces, limiting their access to online services.

⚖️ Digital accessibility: a regulatory requirement for inclusivity

AToday, ensuring digital access for all is a fundamental issue in terms of social inclusion. In France, legal obligations in this area were established by Article 47 of the Law of 11 February 2005, which requires public websites to be accessible to people with disabilities. This framework was reinforced by the Decree of 14 May 2009, then extended to all public websites in 2012. More recently, 23 September 2019 marked a new milestone with the requirement for each website concerned to publish an accessibility statement and display its level of compliance on its home page. These measures aim to ensure equal access to digital information and services for all citizens.

However, digital accessibility is not limited to compliance with a regulatory standard, but has become a real lever for inclusion, serving a wide variety of audiences, including illiterate or visually impaired people.

1.1 Payment terminals

Terminals in stations, government offices and cultural venues can be equipped with a headphone jack allowing visually impaired people to follow voice guidance throughout the process of purchasing a ticket or completing a transaction. The content of the interface is then read aloud (menus, steps, errors, payment confirmation) using TTS technology, which compensates for the inability or difficulty of reading the visual display. The menus are structured in a linear fashion, with simple and explicit instructions at each step to avoid confusion. Clearly identified physical buttons or touch areas can be coupled with audible feedback so that the user knows immediately whether their action has been taken into account. This feature allows the terminal to be used independently, without having to systematically call on an agent.

1.2 Mobile applications and websites

On mobile applications and public service websites, the provision of an audio playback feature using speech synthesis automatically converts text, forms and instructions into clear, structured speech, making it easier for illiterate people, the elderly or simply those who are uncomfortable reading online content to access information. A ‘listen to this content’ button or built-in player automatically converts text to speech, with simple controls (play, pause, volume). This allows for independent navigation and improves understanding of sometimes complex administrative procedures such as registrations or benefit applications, without external assistance. It also reduces reading fatigue and significantly improves the accessibility of online public services.

1.3 Voice push notifications

When sensitive or urgent information needs to be shared, such as during a flu epidemic or health alert, sending voice messages in the form of push notifications using TTS (text-to-speech) technology can be more inclusive than a simple text message. Users receive a voice message clearly stating the instructions to follow. These voice messages can be replayed, shared with a loved one or supplemented with links to accessible pages, which reinforces the accurate dissemination of public health information. This format is particularly suitable for people with reading, vision or written comprehension difficulties. In this use case, a well-chosen voice can also have the advantage of being more reassuring and ‘human’ than a cold text message.

Digital accessibility is therefore not only a legal obligation, but above all an essential social commitment, guaranteeing everyone equal access to digital content.

📱Access to voice-based content at the heart of new lifestyles

Today, digital usage is part of lifestyles where the primary goal is to simplify everyday life, particularly through services designed to be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Users favour the fastest solutions, such as listening rather than reading. These new behaviours reflect a desire for comfort, time savings, ease and fluidity. It is in this context that audio usage is increasing in everyday life, at home or on the move (in the car, on public transport, on foot).

A large part of the population listens to audio content every day: radio, streaming music, audiobooks and podcasts. Text-to-speech technology is a powerful tool for instantly transforming any online text content into audio format, including news articles, e-books and emails. It thus responds to users' desire for immediacy, as more and more people no longer want to wait to access information and prefer formats that can be consumed immediately. For example, in messaging, voice messages are becoming widespread because many users find them easier and quicker to understand than written messages. The same logic applies to online content, which more and more users are choosing to have read by text-to-speech tools rather than browsing on screen. This democratises and facilitates access to culture and information, particularly for people who are on the move (driving, travelling, playing sport, etc.) or multitasking, who can thus consume content without visual constraints. Platforms often incorporate intuitive controls (speed, pause, volume), making the experience smooth and repeatable.

This practice naturally aligns with the principles of digital accessibility. Voice solutions therefore meet both the needs of audiences with reading difficulties and the requirements of new lifestyles for all users.

🏢 Voice accessibility: a strategic challenge for businesses

Accessibility through voice technology is now a real driver of performance, inclusion and competitiveness for businesses.

By integrating speech synthesis to vocalise intranet articles, procedures or internal documents, organisations make their tools more accessible to people with visual, cognitive or motor impairments, thereby expanding their talent pool and promoting genuine professional inclusion within teams. Voice technology provides quick and intuitive access to information, reduces difficulties associated with written text, facilitates hands-free work (dictating documents, consulting data on the move) and simplifies complex digital processes for all employees.

For customers, chatbots are becoming voicebots with more natural, fluid interactions that are available 24/7, improving customer relations while meeting regulatory accessibility requirements.

Audio accessibility is therefore a strategic investment with high added value, as it meets legal requirements for inclusion, improves the user experience for all employees and customers, and strengthens companies' competitiveness by promoting their social responsibility while optimising their internal processes and customer relations.

TTS : an essential asset for digital accessibility

Voice synthesis is now an essential asset for digital accessibility, at the crossroads of regulatory, societal and usage issues. By facilitating access to information for all, it meets the needs of audiences with difficulties while adapting to new lifestyles that are more mobile and audio-oriented. For businesses and public services alike, integrating voice into digital experiences means choosing concrete, sustainable and fully user-focused accessibility.

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