well now that we have listenable synthesised speech that isn't too intrusive
I'd agree with you, but five years ago I don't think it was really of an
acceptable quality for reading literature. Also remember that a lot of
older blind people have hearing difficulties, and might never have used a
computer with a speech synthesiser before.
James
----- Original Message -----
From: "Angel" <angel238@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 10:18 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: National Library: Audio books in synthetic speech
trial
I think we blind people are spoiled in that we don't want to tolerate
synthetic speech for reading. Sighted people have to use their own skills
to read unless they are reading an audio book. If they read well or not
they have to tolerate their failings as readers but they do get the job
done, and we seem to just have to have human speech.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray's Home" <rays-home@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 5:18 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: National Library: Audio books in synthetic speech
trial
Nice to have your thoughts Maggie and others on books read using text tospeech in DAISY format proposed by NLB.
I should say that I was reminded of this experiment by someone I've knownfor 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.to be done by human readers, and preferably those who can put some
My own feeling is that I much prefer reading of books, especially fiction,
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.withstand a good deal of factual reading this way. What I cannot bend my
I use synthetic speech a good deal of course with my computer, and can
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.trialRay
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 speechbooks,
> 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> I would suffer it!trial
> 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> > >> 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 >> >> >> ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- >> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] >> ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: >> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >> ** and in the Subject line type >> ** unsubscribe >> ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the >> ** immediately-following link:- >> ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] >> ** or send a message, to >> ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq >> >> > > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > >
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