[Athen] Text-to-speech for medical terminology

[Sean Keegan]

Hi Pat,

There are a few options to consider for text-to-speech (TTS) systems that are both free and paid-versions. Also, if you are on a Windows computer I would consider purchasing high-quality TTS voices and then you can use a variety of different TTS applications. If you are on a Mac running OS X 10.7 or later, then you can download good quality voices for free.

Here are some apps to consider:
Balabolka
- http://www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm
- Free
- Windows platform
- Synchronizes words
- Supports multiple formats; copy and paste content into Balabolka interface
- Can use multiple voices

Ivona Reader
- http://www.ivona.com/us/reader/
- Free to $300 (price varies on TTS voices selected)
- Windows platform
- Synchronizes words
- Supports multiple formats; copy and paste content into Ivona interface
- LOTS of voices to choose from

Natural Reader
- http://www.naturalreaders.com/
- Free to $199
- Windows and Mac platform
- Also has OCR capability at higher priced version
- Synchronizes words
- Supports multiple formats; copy and paste content into Natural Reader interface

Speak Selection / Convert to iTunes
- Free, built into OS X
- Mac platform
- No synchronized TTS with words
- Any selectable text
- Supports multiple voices

Ghostreader
- http://www.convenienceware.com/product/ghostreader
- $40 for application
- Mac platform
- Synchronizes words and sentences
- Supports multiple formats
- Can use any TTS voice installed on OS X system


These are just a few applications that you may want to consider that do TTS alone. If you are looking for something that provides more of a study tools environment (highlighting, etc.), then I would suggest checking out Claro Read, Read & Write Gold, or Kurzweil 3000. All of these systems (except for the Speak Selection in OS X) allow for the manipulation of the TTS output, so for technical language you can edit the TTS vocabulary to get the proper pronunciation.

I would highly recommend checking out the Ivona voices. You don't have to purchase the Ivona reader or any of those products, but the TTS voices developed by Ivona are amazing.

Take care,
Sean

Sean Keegan
Associate Director, Assistive Technology
Office of Accessible Education - Stanford University




On Apr 29, 2014, at 5:50 AM, "Erion-Hesse, Patricia A." <perionhesse at nwacc.edu> wrote:


> Does anyone have recommendations for a reasonably priced text-to-speech software that accurately reads medical terminology?

> Thanks for your help.

> Pat H.

>  

> Patricia Erion-Hesse, M.A.

> Disability Resources Accessible Media Lab Technician  

> NorthWest Arkansas Community College

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