[access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

  • From: Tony Sweeney <tonymsweeney@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2015 13:03:14 +0000

What is the phoenetic pronunciation of the word Samhain then, you have us puzzled, smile.

Tony Sweeney.

On 12/11/2015 12:18, Steve Nutt wrote:

Hi,

Just had a discussion with my lovely wife, and she tells me and it's true,
that Alex also pronounces Samhain correctly, so cudos to Apple.

All the best

Steve

Computer Room Services
77 Exeter Close
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Hertfordshire
SG1 4PW
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Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Steve Nutt
Sent: 12 November 2015 12:14
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

Hi Sean,

Saying that, Google TTS in Android is amazing for pronunciation.

I was reading a book last year and it came up with the pagan festival called
Samhain. This is actually pronounced Sowan. Eloquence got it wrong,
Acapela got it wrong, Every TTS I tried got it wrong, but Google TTS got it
absolutely right.

Now who would have thought of putting an uncommon word like Samhain into a
user dictionary for a TTS.

And yes, for you iPhone junkies, Vocalizer gets it completely wrong as well.
<Smile>.

But I haven't found a single word commonly used that Google TTS gets wrong.

All the best

Steve

Computer Room Services
77 Exeter Close
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 4PW
Tel: +44(0)1438-742286
Mob: +44(0)7956-334938
Fax: +44(0)1438-759589
Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Shaun O'Connor
Sent: 12 November 2015 12:02
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

given time i think synthetic voices wil be almost indistinguishable from
real human voices. theres just a few rough edges to iron out, like the
pronunciation of uncommonwords for example., not onlythat, imagine
reading a book and deciding half way through that you prefer a different
voice, also it would be much cheapter than paying a professiona narrator.

On 12/11/2015 11:50, Steve Nutt wrote:
Hi,

Must admit, I prefer it the other way, synthetic. The reason is some of
those readers have such poor ideas of how an accent should sound that I
laugh and can't concentrate on the book. I would sooner have Eloquence
read
it to me fast and in a flat tone. I can work out the rest in my head.

But different strokes for different folks.

All the best

Steve

Computer Room Services
77 Exeter Close
Stevenage
Hertfordshire
SG1 4PW
Tel: +44(0)1438-742286
Mob: +44(0)7956-334938
Fax: +44(0)1438-759589
Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk


-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of
Husna Begum (Redacted sender "h.begum99" for DMARC)
Sent: 12 November 2015 02:53
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

But I hope getting books free will not mean that in the future most books
will be read by a synthetic voice? When I am reading books for pleasure I
want a human to read it with expression, accents etc. Even at the moment
some times I read the blurb of a book and it sounds very interesting, then
I
see it is read by a synthetic voice and because of this reason I do not
get
it.

Husna


-----Original Message-----
From: Tyler, Steve
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 1:42 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

No doubt it surprises you derek but, no, there is no catch; no services
being cut; no weird motive - a pragmatic decision to get more books to
more
people in ways that they can read and getting out of a situation which was
becoming untenable - cuts from local authorities meaning fewer people
could
access the services. So, a new funding mechanism through fundraising but
more people being able to access the service.

To be clear, it is still the view of the organisation that local
authorities
should pay - library services are free at the point of use as a result of
taxation and so should specialist services. But there are principles, and
there is a reality.

So, rest assured - take it for what it is; a good news story
whichhopefully
benefits significant numbers of vi people.



-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of
Derek Hornby
Sent: 10 November 2015 20:14
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

Hi Jackie
Well if something is too good to be true, there has to be a catch!

Consider how many talking book members, times the yearly fee.

That's lot of money that won't come in any more!

So what people now need to think about is this.

Which servcie will RNIB cut-back on, and say it's due to lack of funds!

Regards, Derek





-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of
Jackie Brown
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 6:25 PM
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access




Yes apparently both services are completely free.

Kind regards,

Jackie Brown

----- Original Message -----
From: Eleanor burke <eleanormarthaburke@xxxxxxxxx>
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2015 17.32
Subject: [access-uk] Re: RNIB Talking Books now free to access

do not think so.

On 10 Nov 2015, at 17.30, Mobeen Iqbal <mobeeniqbal@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
For information only. I wonder if this means that overdrive will
be free as well? and how would you go about signing up?
Published November 9, 2015 by Natasha Onwuemezi

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has made
Talking Books free for all blind and partially sighted people to access
from
today (10th November).
The charity made the announcement on the 80th anniversary of
Talking Books, the service that provides 4'000 audio books every day to
people with sight loss. Anyone who is registered as blind or partially
sighted can borrow up to six Talking Books at any time, completely
free-of-charge. Previously, customers contributed an annual subscription
of
#50.
The Talking Books service was launched in 1935 to help soldiers
who had been blinded in the First World War and were struggling to learn
braille. The National Institute for the Blind (now RNIB) and St Dunstan's
(now Blind Veterans UK) joined forces to create the Sound Recording
Committee which originally recorded Talking Books onto records to be
played
on gramophones.
Almost 30'000 blind and partially sighted adults and children use
Talking Books and the RNIB library is the largest of its kind in Europe,
the
organisation has said.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, HarperCollins has become
the first publisher to commit to delivering every new title to the RNIB
library on the date of general publication; providing equal and immediate
access to current bestsellers for blind and partially sighted readers.
Neil Heslop, director of RNIB Solutions, said: "At RNIB we feel
passionately that reading can change the lives of blind and partially
sighted people. After losing my own sight at a young age, I personally
know
how important the connection to the written word is, both for education
and
leisure.
"I am delighted that HarperCollins has chosen to support RNIB
Talking Books and help improve accessibility through the library, we hope
that other publishers will follow their lead. We're committed to providing
a
world-class service which makes a huge difference to many people."
Charlie Redmayne, HarperCollins c.eddo$, added: "At HarperCollins
we are committed to ensuring that everyone in the UK can access all our
books in the format of their choice on the moment of publication.
As the publisher of the first ever 'Talking Book' it is fitting that we
should extend our support and work in partnership with RNIB Talking Books
to
increase accessibility on its 80th anniversary and beyond."
Mo.

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--

RNIB?s Talking Book Service turns 80 this year ? and to celebrate, we?re
proud to announce we?re making it free. With more than 23 thousand talking
books to choose from sign up now and start exploring our library.
http://rnib.in/1keBCJR

--


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