[Athen] ReadSpeaker - Your website speech enabled

[Jon Gunderson]

There are already many assistive technologies to read web pages (some free), and it seems that just a straight conversion of HTML to MP3 of a web site could be confusing, since the reading order may not make sense.

You may want to compare to the product to BrowseAloud.

http://www.browsealoud.com/page.asp?pg_id=80094&tile=USA

I have seen demos of Browse Aloud and I think it has some benefits.

Unfortunately our campus right now is not interested in the product.

Jon


---- Original message ----

>Date: Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:12:16 -0600

>From: Alice Anderson <alice.anderson at doit.wisc.edu>  

>Subject: [Athen] ReadSpeaker - Your website speech enabled  

>To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network <athen at athenpro.org>

>

>>>

>

>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

>

>

>

>

>_______________________________________________

>Athen mailing list

>Athen at athenpro.org

>http://athenpro.org/mailman/listinfo/athen_athenpro.org

Jon Gunderson, Ph.D.
Coordinator Information Technology Accessibility
Disability Resources and Educational Services

Rehabilitation Education Center
Room 86
1207 S. Oak Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820

Voice: (217) 244-5870

WWW: http://www.cita.illinois.edu/
WWW: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jongund/www/

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