[Athen] Text-to-speech for medical terminology

[Sean Keegan]

Hi Paul,

Yes - that is another great app to consider. I am finding it does a very good job at handling MS Word documents (docx) and supporting the math component. I have not been able to find a way to modify the speech output to structure the pronunciation of technical terms, but the TTS voices on my OS X system seem to be handling most college content without a problem. In addition to word/audio highlighting synchronization, it will also support sentence/audio highlight synchronization.

Thanks for posting!

Take care,
sean

On Apr 29, 2014, at 10:50 AM, "Paul E. Paire" <paire at temple.edu> wrote:


> Sean,

>  

> Great list.  I found out about a new product at the most recent CSUN conference that you may want to consider adding to your list.

>  

> Central Access Reader

> -          http://www.cwu.edu/central-access/reader

> -          Free

> -          Windows (64bit only) and Mac (Mavericks and Mountain Lion) platforms

> -          Synchronizes words (if this means what I think it means)

> -          Supports multiple formats; copy and paste content into CAR

> -          Can use multiple voices (it uses SAPI 5 voices so you have free and commercial options)

> -          Has adjustable speech rates

> -          Can export to MP3 and HTML including batch export

> -          Reads math (Word’s equation editor and MathType formats)

>  

>  

> -Paul

>  

> Disclaimer: I do not work for Central Washington University or have any affiliation with them.  I only have limited exposure to this product and have not used it in a production environment.

>  

> From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Sean Keegan

> Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 1:22 PM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] Text-to-speech for medical terminology

>  

> 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

> AltText at nwacc.edu

> Main office (479) 986-4076

> Phone (479) 986-4031

> Fax (479) 619-4119

> <image001.png><image002.gif>

> Office Hours:

> 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday

> 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday

> 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday

> <image003.jpg>

> “This message is intended solely for the recipient to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you should not disclose, distribute or copy this email. Please notify the sender immediately that you are not the person for whom this email was intended and delete this email from your system.”

>  

> _______________________________________________

> athen-list mailing list

> athen-list at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list

>  

> _______________________________________________

> athen-list mailing list

> athen-list at mailman13.u.washington.edu

> http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20140429/e29681cf/attachment.html>