[Athen] Natural-sounding text-to-speech tech?

Joseph Polizzotto MA jpolizzotto at berkeley.edu
Tue Apr 20 16:07:38 PDT 2021


Hi Mary:

One option is to produce stand-alone HTML files with SVG versions of the
math.

The math alt text can be added in the title attribute of the SVG element
which could be read out loud by a TTS reader such as MS Edge's Read Aloud
utility. Edge's voices have good prosody and are free.

We have developed a DOCX-HTML script
<https://github.com/polizoto/DOCX-HTML>that
leverages Node's Tex2SVG <https://www.npmjs.com/package/tex2svg>utility plus
Volker Sorge's Math Jax speech rules engine
<https://www.npmjs.com/package/mathjax-node-sre> to generate a more
natural-sounding math. In a future release of the script, we will also
allow the user to customize the alt text to fit a student's individual
preferences.

I have attached an example that you could try out.

Joseph

On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 9:39 AM Mary Popish <popish at pdx.edu> wrote:


> Hi everybody,

>

> I hope you are well! I'm writing to see if anyone has suggestions for

> text-to-speech tech that:

>

> - Can reliably pronounce science and math content correctly, and

> - Sounds as natural as possible.

>

> I'm working with a student who is taking upper division science courses

> and is struggling with mispronunciation from the computer-generated voices

> in Kurzweil, Voice Dream Reader, and Voice Over. The student is an

> iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS user.

>

> In a best-case scenario, the student would prefer a human voice recording,

> but most of their course materials are not available in audiobook format.

> I'm working on finding a creative tech-based alternative, and I'd

> appreciate any suggestions you might have!

>

> Take care,

> Mary

>

> *Mary Popish*

> Adaptive Technology Specialist & Alternate Formats Coordinator

> Disability Resource Center

> Portland State University

>

> Phone: (503) 725-9119

> Fax: (503) 725-4103

> Email: drc at pdx.edu

> URL: http://www.pdx.edu/d

> <https://www.pdx.edu/disability-resource-center/>isability-resource-center

> Pronouns: she / her / hers

>

> ---

>

> We hope you are doing well during this difficult time. We are still here

> for you! We are performing all essential work of the DRC remotely,

> including initial appointments and drop-ins. Call 503-725-4150, email

> drc at pdx.edu, or visit our virtual front desk between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

> Monday - Friday at https://pdx.zoom.us/j/379914326. We are monitoring

> voice mail and email messages closely and will respond as soon as possible.

>

> _______________________________________________

> athen-list mailing list

> athen-list at mailman12.u.washington.edu

> http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list

>



--
*Alternate Media Supervisor*
Disabled Students' Program
University of California, Berkeley
https://dsp.berkeley.edu/
<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdsp.berkeley.edu%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C4e0abffcb5b34567a22308d5e13137b3%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636662523854357148&sdata=yB5%2BUm2W6TBwpc%2BOF4DvN8wPoo1dozUwz8eCepYhTyY%3D&reserved=0>
(510) 642-0329
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20210420/fd45d3c1/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman12.u.washington.edu/pipermail/athen-list/attachments/20210420/fd45d3c1/attachment-0001.html>


More information about the athen-list mailing list