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Kyle SloughSloughk09@ecu.edu

Melissa Englemanenglemanm@ecu.edu

Irene Howell Assistive Technology Centerhttp://www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/ci/sped/at/atlab.cfm

Greenville, NC

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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.

Features and CharacteristicsCostSupported platformsFeatures:

Voice quality & choicesDevices you can use: mp3, DAISY, portabilityControlling speedHighlighting capabilities (as it reads)FlexibilityBuilt in support features

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Other reading softwareTradeoff features and price

Read and Write Gold $395; $645Read Please (free) limited supportBlio (free) (price will vary by book)

Kurzweil 3000 $395; $1,095; $1,495

Natural Reader free-$299

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User Needs to ConsiderPlatform used, budget, study support needs, if

anyAvailable technical supportVoice

Must practice using voice to become familiar with itMany voices available with varying quality Non-English voices are available

Adjust speed Faster: light or familiar reading Slower: More complex passages

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User Needs to Consider Portability Listen to text-to-speech recorded to MP3 Strategies:

1. Student listens to reading while pacing in room

2. Student records study notes to listen to repeatedly while commuting

Some of the Major Players

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KurzweilCostSupported platformsVoice quality & choices

PortabilitySpeed controlsHighlighting

capabilities (as it reads)

FlexibilityOther features

$395; $1095; $1495Mac or PC (different

versions)

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KurzweilSelect text to readKurzweil highlights text being read

Read & Write GoldCostSupported platformsVoice quality & choices

PortabilitySpeed controlsHighlighting

capabilities (as it reads)

FlexibilityOther features

$395; $645Mac or PC (different

versions)

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Read and Write GoldSelect text to readRead and Write Gold highlights text being

read

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Natural ReaderCostSupported platformsVoice quality & choices

PortabilitySpeed controlsHighlighting

capabilities (as it reads)

FlexibilityOther features

Free-$299Mac or PC (different

versions)

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Blio readerText to Speech or E-Reader?

It is a free E-readerIt was designed by Ray Kurzweil

Blio reader is set to launched Septmember 28th and a more accessable version is due in October

Key featuresColor display of booksHighlighting Function and Notes

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Blio ReaderCostSupported platformsVoice quality & choices

PortabilitySpeed controlsHighlighting

capabilities (as it reads)

FlexibilityOther features

Depends on bookWindows only

currently but more to follow

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Blio Reader

http://blioreader.com/http://blioreader.com/about.html

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The Low-DownUse a protocol based on application features

and individual needsPay attention to individual preferencesFollow-up and follow-along training is vital to

success

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Link to Spreadsheet

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http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AomYaPFK5E4QdFNCdG5MakZ1dzZZOGpzbzJ6dEQwX1E&hl=en

Questions?

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