[access-uk] Re: National Library: Audio books in synthetic speech trial
From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 22:18:15 +0100
Nice to have your thoughts Maggie and others on books read using text to speech
in DAISY format proposed by NLB.
I should say that I was reminded of this experiment by someone I've known for a
long time who much prefers Braille as a medium for reading novels, though he is
of an older generation. He realises, however, that Braille simply is not an
option for the many of the present and up-coming generations and, that if NLB
is to survive, then it has to move with the times.
My own feeling is that I much prefer reading of books, especially fiction, to
be done by human readers, and preferably those who can put some expression and
drama into an involved reading of the text. We have to realise though that
synthetic, or stitched together human speech, is being tried out for reasons of
quickness and economy, so if a significant number of readers will accept it,
then its one way to go.Let us hope that it will get better with time; but we
can never hope that it will be the equivalent of human readings.
I use synthetic speech a good deal of course with my computer, and can
withstand a good deal of factual reading this way. What I cannot bend my ears
to is the greatly accelerated rate at which many use, and even prefer, to use
synthetic speech. Sometimes I wonder if such hypersonic rates of reading serve
more as a virility symbol on the part of some: 'Look how fast I can go!' Do
they (really enjoy it! Well, I can't. And what's so good about reading so
fast? Sure you get through a lot of stuff, but its hardly enjoyment to my
ears. Maybe its age on my part, but I prefer life, or reading, in the slow
lane, thanks very much.
Ray
Personal emails: Email me at
mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
----- Original Message -----
From: "Maggie norton" <maggie.norton@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 5:12 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: National Library: Audio books in synthetic speech trial
> Hi Ray,
> I took part in the trial and found the synthetic voices very hard work!
> I think they were pleased with the feedback they received!
> Personally, if it meant I could have faster access to newly published books,
> I would suffer it!
> Maggie
>
> I can be contacted on:-
> MSN Messenger;
> Skype (vipmags);
> TAFN (Ventrilo)
> Mobile 07773 562 085;
>
> or maggie.norton@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 2:51 PM
> Subject: [access-uk] National Library: Audio books in synthetic speech trial
>
>
>> Wondered if anyone on list took part in the NLB trial of books read in
>> synthetic, or rather, concatonated speech? If you have, how have you
>> found it?
>>
>> Question is prompted by James O'Dell's mentioning just now of the
>> alternative of a DAISY Harry Potter in Synth speech.
>> Ray
>>
>> Personal emails: Email me at
>> mailto:ray-48@xxxxxxxx
>>
>>
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