Text-to-Speech Plugin for German News Website

Sadique Habibullah
Apr 1
3 min read

Updated: Apr 19

See a live demo by going directly to their website. Click on any news on the middle section of the homepage to go the news and find the play/pause/resume button just below the site menu to run the Text-to-Speech plugin (as displayed on the screenshot below).

Overview

Recognizing the need for accessibility and the preference for audio-based content consumption, we developed a custom text-to-speech (TTS) page plug-in for a German news website built with Wix. This solution allows visitors to listen to news articles rather than read them, offering a seamless and inclusive experience.

Given Wix’s restrictions on native browser APIs, the project required a creative and technical approach to integrate speech synthesis functionality while maintaining smooth performance and usability.

The Whys: Limited Accessibility & Engagement

The German news website sought to improve user engagement and accessibility by introducing an audio reading feature. However, Wix’s platform posed several challenges:

No Native Support for Browser APIs: The SpeechSynthesis API, which enables text-to-speech functionality, was restricted within the Wix environment.
Lack of Advanced Audio Controls: The website needed intuitive play, pause, and resume controls to enhance user interaction.
Ensuring a Seamless Experience: The solution had to integrate smoothly without affecting the website’s performance or user experience.

Without a built-in solution from Wix, a custom approach was necessary to bridge the gap and deliver the required functionality.

The Solutions: A Custom Wix Velo & JavaScript Implementation

To overcome these limitations, we developed a hybrid solution utilizing Wix Velo API, browser APIs, and a lightweight JavaScript library, embedded within an iframe to ensure proper functionality.

1. Embedding the TTS Feature via an Iframe

Since Wix does not natively support browser-based text-to-speech APIs, we used an iframe-based implementation to execute JavaScript outside Wix’s constraints. This allowed full utilization of the SpeechSynthesis API while keeping the feature integrated with the main website.

2. Leveraging Wix Velo for User Interaction

Using Wix Velo API, we built an interactive and user-friendly interface that included:

Play Button: Starts reading the selected news article aloud.
Pause Button: Temporarily stops the audio playback.
Resume Button: Continues reading from where it was paused.

The UI was designed for easy access, ensuring a smooth experience for all users, including those with disabilities.

3. Optimized Performance with a Custom JavaScript Library

To improve speech clarity and responsiveness, we implemented a custom JavaScript library that:

Processed large text content efficiently by breaking it into smaller, manageable speech segments.
Handled pausing and resuming without restarting the speech from the beginning.
Used high-quality German language voice synthesis to ensure natural pronunciation and clarity.

4. Multilingual & Future-Ready Capabilities

While the project was initially developed for a German news audience, the framework is adaptable for multiple languages, making it a scalable solution for other news websites and content-heavy platforms.

The Results & Impact

The implementation of this text-to-speech plug-in led to significant improvements in user experience and engagement:

✅ Enhanced Accessibility: Visually impaired users and those who prefer listening over reading can now consume news effortlessly.

✅ Higher User Engagement: Increased time spent on the website, as users found the listening option more convenient.

✅ Improved Mobile Usability: Users can now consume news while multitasking, making the website more functional on mobile devices.

✅ Seamless Integration: The iframe-based approach ensured a smooth, non-intrusive addition to the existing website design.

Key Takeaways for Businesses

This project highlights the potential for custom web solutions in Wix to overcome platform limitations and enhance user experience. If you operate a news website, blog, or any content-driven platform, integrating a text-to-speech feature can set you apart from competitors while making your content more accessible and engaging.

Let’s Build Something Amazing Together!

Looking to enhance your Wix website with custom features like text-to-speech, advanced UI elements, or seamless third-party integrations? We specialize in Wix Velo development and custom web solutions tailored to your business needs.

🚀 Let’s talk! Contact me today to discuss how we can help bring your website to the next level.