Session 3: Envision and Actualize Podcast
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SHOW NOTES: Assistive Technology Podcast
This week’s podcast is hosted by VOX Humano, cousin to virtual TV announcer, MAX Headroom. VOX Humano informs the podcast listener about the different types of accessibility software for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. VOX Humano also speaks out on which assistive technology software is compatible in the Windows and Novel Network environments. He also provides examples of stand alone text-to-speech tools such as Quick Link Pens, internal software synthesizers, and also where to obtain free software.
The Disabilities Act of 1988 was designed in part to enhance the availability and quality of assistive technology devices for students. This type of technology is integral in allowing handicapped students to access their surroundings. The following information provides educators with information to help promote the use of advanced technology to meet the needs of handicapped students.
i
SHOW NOTES: Assistive Technology Podcast
This week’s podcast is hosted by VOX Humano, cousin to virtual TV announcer, MAX Headroom. VOX Humano informs the podcast listener about the different types of accessibility software for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems. VOX Humano also speaks out on which assistive technology software is compatible in the Windows and Novel Network environments. He also provides examples of stand alone text-to-speech tools such as Quick Link Pens, internal software synthesizers, and also where to obtain free software.
The Disabilities Act of 1988 was designed in part to enhance the availability and quality of assistive technology devices for students. This type of technology is integral in allowing handicapped students to access their surroundings. The following information provides educators with information to help promote the use of advanced technology to meet the needs of handicapped students.
WINDOWS BASED SOFTWARE FORMAT
Freedom Scientifics’ Jaws for Windows
Cool Speech 5.0
CrazyTalk 4.1
WriteAway 2000
WinSpeech
FREE SOFTWARE
Help Read
Read Please 2000
MACINTOSH BASED SOFTWARE FORMAT
textHELP! by Lorien Systems
Cepstral's Text-to-Speech Software
VoiceOver
STAND ALONE TEXT-TO-SPEECH TOOLS
WizCom Technologies
Quick Link Pen
Quick Link Pen Elite
The D. E. C. Access 32, Internal Software Synthesizer
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Dyslexic.com - reference page for books and software tools.
The LD Resources website - repository of learning disability resources.
Speaking to Write
Text-to-Speech Software for Helping Struggling Readers
posted by DiscoverEDU at 7:02 PM
3 Comments:
Very interesting! Something that has always amazed me is that we haven't made better progress with voice synthesis. Today's best voices don't sound that much better to me than the early attempts (Texas Instruments had a very good one in the late 80's for instance).
Just like the flying cars that Weekly Reader promised me, true human sounding voice synthesis is yet to come.
This isn't to say that VS is not an excellent tool! I know people who have such software read things to them all the time with great results! A good friend has been working with synthetic voices (ATT like yours) to see if there is a difference in preference or recall between synthetic and actual human voices.
Great podcast! Although I bet I'm not the only one who missed the mellifluous quality of the previous star!
OK...
Joe,
Yeah, there are plenty of big expensive packages. But for now why not try something free and probably on your computer in front of you! It’s called the Microsoft sound recorder.
The Microsoft sound recorder can be found with any Microsoft operating system (XP - its found under, programs> accessories>entertainment>sound recorder. Next, select the drop down menu “effects” and you will find a list of the following effects: increase speed, decrease speed, echo and reverse.
Please note: the increase and decrease speeds will be at 100 percent each time you select the button (This could be Mickey Mouse talking to you!).
Also, you’ll need to work in the WAV format. Easy conversion: Audacity will convert MP3 to WAV and WAV to MP3.
Go get’em Joe!
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Say Leah,
“...my Podcast doesn't sound too horrible to you.”
No, it doesn’t and I’m not trying to be critical with any of my remarks towards any of our fellow scholars. I am trying to share what I’ve learn over the years and what works in certain situations, and altering conditions. Besides like I said, I’m looking to learn something new from each of you.
Programs and hardware: I’m stuck in the same place with the rest of the class. I’m using a computer, the internet, a bad microphone and my imagination. These tools are what most educators would have access too.
Secrets, secrets, secrets... Let’s see here.
This assignment was a massive editing experience for dialogue.
A script had to be written.
The script had to be entered into the voice synthesis as excerpts of the dialogue.
Then, after collecting the voice excerpts, everything had to be edited together.
Because of the strange phonetics that the ATT formulates for the voice synthesis, certain parts of words or sentences needed to be edited to sound somewhat normal.
You can meet VOX Humana at the following web link and maybe get an autograph!
http://www.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php
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