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Comparing and Evaluating Text-to-Speech Software: Which One is Right for Your Needs?

Comparing and Evaluating Text-to-Speech Software: Which One is Right for Your Needs?. Kyle Slough Sloughk09@ecu.edu Melissa Engleman englemanm@ecu.edu Irene Howell Assistive Technology Center http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/ci/sped/at/atlab.cfm Greenville, NC. Presentation Overview.

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Comparing and Evaluating Text-to-Speech Software: Which One is Right for Your Needs?

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  1. Comparing and Evaluating Text-to-Speech Software: Which One is Right for Your Needs? Kyle Slough Sloughk09@ecu.edu Melissa Engleman englemanm@ecu.edu Irene Howell Assistive Technology Center http://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/ci/sped/at/atlab.cfm Greenville, NC

  2. Presentation Overview • From low-end to high-end, several text-to-speech applications are widely used. • Deciding which to use is sometimes by what the disability services representative happens to know best, or by what is owned by the university. • Decisions are better made based on the match between user needs and software features. • In this presentation, features of a few application are compared, and a suggested protocol is presented that may assist in selecting the best software for users.

  3. Features and Characteristics • Cost • Supported platforms • Features: • Voice quality & choices • Devices you can use: mp3, DAISY, portability • Controlling speed • Highlighting capabilities (as it reads) • Flexibility • Built in support features

  4. Other reading software • Tradeoff features and price • Read and Write Gold $395; $645 • Read Please (free) limited support • Blio (free) (price will vary by book) • Kurzweil 3000 $395; $1,095; $1,495 • Natural Reader free-$299

  5. User Needs to Consider • Platform used, budget, study support needs, if any • Available technical support • Voice • Must practice using voice to become familiar with it • Many voices available with varying quality • Non-English voices are available • Adjust speed • Faster: light or familiar reading • Slower: More complex passages

  6. User Needs to Consider • Portability • Listen to text-to-speech recorded to MP3 • Strategies: • Student listens to reading while pacing in room • Student records study notes to listen to repeatedly while commuting

  7. Some of the Major Players • Kurzweil • Read & Write Gold • Natural Reader • Blio

  8. Kurzweil • Cost • Supported platforms • Voice quality & choices • Portability • Speed controls • Highlighting capabilities (as it reads) • Flexibility • Other features • $395; $1095; $1495 • Mac or PC (different versions)

  9. Kurzweil • Select text to read • Kurzweil highlights text being read

  10. Read & Write Gold • Cost • Supported platforms • Voice quality & choices • Portability • Speed controls • Highlighting capabilities (as it reads) • Flexibility • Other features • $395; $645 • Mac or PC (different versions)

  11. Read and Write Gold • Select text to read • Read and Write Gold highlights text being read

  12. Natural Reader • Cost • Supported platforms • Voice quality & choices • Portability • Speed controls • Highlighting capabilities (as it reads) • Flexibility • Other features • Free-$299 • Mac or PC (different versions)

  13. Blio reader • Text to Speech or E-Reader? • It is a free E-reader • It was designed by Ray Kurzweil • Blio reader is set to launched Septmember 28th and a more accessable version is due in October • Key features • Color display of books • Highlighting Function and Notes

  14. Blio Reader • Cost • Supported platforms • Voice quality & choices • Portability • Speed controls • Highlighting capabilities (as it reads) • Flexibility • Other features • Depends on book • Windows only currently but more to follow

  15. Blio Reader • http://blioreader.com/ • http://blioreader.com/about.html

  16. The Low-Down • Use a protocol based on application features and individual needs • Pay attention to individual preferences • Follow-up and follow-along training is vital to success

  17. Link to Spreadsheet • http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AomYaPFK5E4QdFNCdG5MakZ1dzZZOGpzbzJ6dEQwX1E&hl=en

  18. Questions?

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