Text-To-Speech Add-on component for AceReader Pro series from StepWare
Adding text-to-speech capabilities to AceReader Pro supports three of AceReader's critical audiences:
- Early Reading Fluency (grades 1-3): Up to now, the AceReader product line was typically recommended for grades 4 through adult, and has mainly been focused on helping students become "better" readers. "Better" meaning "faster" while maintaining or improving comprehension. With Text-To-Speech, the program can now help children just learning to read by pacing eye movement in the many available display modes while speaking the words at the same time.
- ESL and foreign language students: Students learning English can now hear the words as the text is flashed or highlighted on the screen. Forced speed/mode comprehension tests can now be used to test listening skills.
- Online Readers: Customers who use the Online Reader screen as a productivity tool to help them read more efficiently while on the computer can sit back and not read at all while web pages, email, word processing documents... are spoken to them at desired display modes and speeds. This is especially useful for the vision impaired.
AceReader Pro can also be used as an Online Reader to help you read more efficiently while online. AceReader teaches you to break bad reading habits such as subvocalization (pronouncing the words in your mind as you read), and regression (reading passages more than once). It also helps expand your eye fixation zone so that you can read multiple words at a time.
About the text-to-speech technology used:
- AT&T's Natural Voices technology. High quality human sounding voices (Mike and Crystal voice fonts).
- Unique fine tune speed options which include the ability to pause and/or slow voice keyed off of word lengths punctuation marks.
- Voice Speeds up to 500 words per minute.
- Requires PC AceReader Pro Series (Version 4 or later) and Microsoft SAPI 5.1 (built-in to Windows XP).
Requires:
AceReader Pro Series (PC/Windows Versions 4.0 or later), SAPI 5.1 (built-in to Windows XP) and 1.5GB of disk space (for AT&T TTS Engine and two voice fonts).
|
