ENHANCING LITERACY WITH

TEXT-TO-SPEECH

Jon PielaetClark CollegeDisability Support ServicesAssistive Technology and IT Accessibility Specialist

WHAT IS TEXT-TO-SPEECH? (TTS) * Technology used for generating speech from digital text.

* It is extremely common, and you may not even realize how many places it can be found.

* TTS engines are included in most operating systems including:

- Microsoft Windows

- Mac OSX

- iOS

and

- Android

DIFFERENT USES FOR TTS

* Turn-by-turn directions from GPS

* Transit announcement systems

* Automated phone systems

and of course

* Reading!

PASSIVE VS. ACTIVE LISTENING * Just as learning to read takes practice and time, so too does learning to use TTS technology correctly.

* Using TTS while reading can improve:

- Comprehension

- Retention

and

- Synthesis of information

However, it has to be used properly.

NOT TOO FAST OR TOO ROBOTIC! (UNTIL YOU ARE READY)

* Different people need different things from TTS technology

- Some students need a slower speaking more human-like speech engine to improve comprehension and retention

- While others struggle to keep up and need TTS that they can understand at faster speeds.

TTS READING SYSTEMS

There are two major categories of TTS systems that are used for reading:

* Simple reading applications (Sometimes just called TTS Reading Apps)

and

* Screen readers

TTS READING APPS

* Simple

* Easy

* Low barriers to entry

* Many are low cost or free but have limited utility.

* Examples include:

- Balabolka

- Natural Reader

- TextAlound TTS reading apps require some kind of file or text source as input. They typically don’t interact with other applications.

DEMO

Example TTS Voices:

http://www.acapela-group.com/

http://www2.research.att.com/~ttsweb/tts/demo.php

http://www.nuance.com/for-business/by-solution/customer-service-solutions/solutions-services/inbound-solutions/loquendo-small-business-bundle/interactive-tts-demo/index.htm

SCREEN READERS

* Complicated

* Difficult

* High learning curve

* Can be very expensive but are highly customizable

* Examples include:

JAWS

NVDA

VoiceOver

TalkBack Screen readers work with other applications and use virtually any text on the screen as

input.

JAWS (JOB ACCESS WITH SPEECH) * Officially supported screen reader at Clark College

* Most widely used and supported screen reader for Windows

* It has thousands of settings and thousands keyboard commands

* It features its own scripting language and remote technical support system.

DEMO

QUESTIONS?