[Athen] ReadSpeaker - Your website speech enabled

[Alice Anderson]

>>


Does anyone have experience or any thoughts about this vendor product?  
It's a service that provides automated audio versions of a Web page's  
content. Click the demo link below to see it in action?

The sales people have approached our campus (main web site) - and I am  
being asked if I know of benefits, or others using etc.

ReadSpeaker Sales email to campus:

> From: Nicholas Croft <nicholas.croft at voice-corp.com>

> Date: December 7, 2009 11:13:34 AM CST

> To: <removed>

> Subject: Your website speech enabled.

>

>

> Thank you for taking the time to speak to me today.

>

> As agreed I am sending you a demo version of your website now  

> ReadSpeaker® enabled so you can listen to the text by clicking on  

> the  button.

>

> ReadSpeaker® makes your web content more accessible to people with  

> impaired vision, are dyslectic, low literacy, functionally  

> illiterate, or are still learning English.

> Considering that at least 20% of the population struggle from some  

> sort of reading disability, a listening option goes a long way to  

> accommodate them. As well as students that would just prefer to  

> listen to the content instead of read it.

>

> A small html code embedded in the website creates a  icon which  

> activates a small player that reads your web content live "on the  

> fly". Nothing is recorded.

>

> It’s a fantastic product that goes beyond the existing website  

> accessibility guidelines set by the W3C and Section 508 in the US,  

> putting your website at the leading edge of web accessibility and  

> giving your organization the potential to access more of the  

> population that wouldn’t be able to access your website’s content  

> normally .

> Your website now ReadSpeaker® enabled:  University of Wisconsin– 

> Madison (Click here)

> How it works:

> ·          Our  ReadSpeaker  solution is hosted by us. Only a small  

> html code is installed into your website , there is zero maintenance ,

> ·          Easy implementation, zero cost for changing content and  

> “no” hardware requirements! Updates are done automatically.  

> Installation is usually completed within 2 to 3 hours.

> ·          Once the html code, that we send you, is embedded in your  

> website, a “listen” icon is available on your web page which  

> activates the reader.

> ·          When activated, the web content of the written page is  

> sent to our servers, transformed to an audio file in mp3 format and  

> is then sent back to the visitor.

> ·          What is especially unique about our ReadSpeaker is that  

> the visitors can listen without downloading any software to their  

> computers.

> ·          They can listen live or download the audio for later  

> listening.

> ·          We offer multi language support.

> Here are some additional links of our clients:

>

> United Press International   http://www.upi.com (And select a story)

>

> City of San Francisco   http://www.sfgov.org/site/countyclerk_index.asp?id=101171

>

> City of Niagara falls    http://www.niagarafalls.ca/

>

> Case Studies: Nestle, O'Reilly Media - http://www.voice-corp.com/en/References/Case-Studies/

>

> At this stage all I would like to know is if it is something you  

> like and would consider for your website?

>

> I look forward to speaking with you next year to get your feedback.

>

> Best regards.

>

> Nik Croft

> International Account Manager

> VoiceCorp

> 703-657-7801

> www.voice-corp.com

> nicholas.croft at voice-corp.com

> ReadSpeaker, the Voice of the Web

>


            Alice Anderson
TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM
   Division of Information Technology (DoIT)
       University of Wisconsin-Madison
      1210 West Dayton Street (3124)
              Madison, WI 53706

           Telephone: 608.262.2129