Abstract: A system, method and apparatus monitor sensors or instruments and provide outputs in the form of voice messages. Data output from the sensors may thus be presented to humans without reference to a visual display. The voice messages may either be assembled from a library of recordings in the form of voice message segments or derived from text and then converted to speech. The voice messages may be output through one or more loudspeakers or via a wireless headset, intercom or portable radio. The user can configure the system for use with different types of sensors and data protocols for a wide variety of different applications and use-cases, using a simple graphical user interface. In accordance with one embodiment the system may be implemented on a personal computer or tablet computer. In an alternative embodiment the processing is performed by an embedded processor and a personal or tablet computer is only connected when it is necessary to change the control program.