Speech Synthesis Integration in Open Journal Systems

This case study addresses the issue of poor accessibility and speech synthesis compatibility in research papers published as PDFs. We conducted a pilot study using EPUB format in a selection of our university's open-access journals, employing a template designed for speech synthesis compatibility. Initially, we tested markup designed for speech synthesis software but found it was too labour-intensive. Subsequently, we developed a workflow using a document template with wider compatibility and good universal design. This approach simplifies ongoing management and ensures accessible files with appropriate metadata. Other publishing services, especially those that use Open Journal Systems, can replicate our workflow.