<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"><base href="x-msg://110/"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">I think the type of text-to-speech program you will want will be one that allows for a custom dictionary so that you can modify the pronunciation of technical content. To a certain extent, though, I think it will depend on what science field your PhD student is studying. If it is something like theoretical physics, then that might be a bit more problematic compared to the biological sciences field in regards to a TTS solution.<div><br></div><div>What type of computer is the student using - Mac or Windows?</div><div><br></div><div><div>Both Read and Write Gold and Claro Read will provide support for custom word pronunciation as part of the TTS output. The paid versions of Natural Reader will also support the pronunciation modifications as well. I *think* Balabolka will also support a custom word dictionary, but it has been awhile since I last used it and don't have it available on my system right now (anyone else know?).</div><div><br></div><div>It may take a bit of time to make the customized changes, but it is not hard and many of the TTS engines have gotten better at speaking science based content.</div><div><br></div><div>Take care,</div><div>Sean</div><div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On Mar 18, 2015, at 8:35 AM, Leyna Bencomo <<a href="mailto:lbencomo@uccs.edu">lbencomo@uccs.edu</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; "><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">I’ve gone the low tech route on this one. This past semester, I hired an advanced student in computer science and physics to read a textbook including all the equations and diagrams. We loaned him a microphone and he records the audio in mp3 format. He uses a drop box to send chapters to a blind student. There have been no problems with the arrangement in spite of the fact that this student is very particular about his accommodations. I am new in this position and I found it the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to take care of the complexities of having this data made available. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Calligraphy'; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">Leyna Bencomo<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">Assistive Technology Specialist, Information Technology<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">University of Colorado Colorado Springs<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><span><image001.gif></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><a href="mailto:lbencomo@uccs.edu" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline; ">lbencomo@uccs.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); ">(719) 255-4202<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "> </span></div><div><div style="border-style: solid none none; border-top-width: 1pt; border-top-color: rgb(225, 225, 225); padding: 3pt 0in 0in; "><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; ">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>athen-list [mailto:athen-<a href="mailto:list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline; ">list-bounces@mailman13.u.washington.edu</a>]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b>On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b>Aura Mollick Hirschman<br><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Tuesday, March 17, 2015 1:54 PM<br><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:athen-list@u.washington.edu" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline; ">athen-list@u.washington.edu</a><br><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[Athen] Biology or Microbiology - Is there any good text to speech" program?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "><o:p> </o:p></div><div id="divtagdefaultwrapper"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); ">Any progress or suggestions for text reading software for the sciences? I have a PhD candidate with eye fatigue and dizziness due to nystagmus and vision therapy aftermath. I am thinking that we may be best having the articles she needs for her prelims read out loud by another student, for accuracy. I will enlarge her text on the paper document, for one, as she cannot look at the computer screen too long, but she does listen to the text out loud when her eyes are worse so she can at least make some progress. Ideas?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "> </span></div><div id="Signature"><div id="divtagdefaultwrapper"><div name="divtagdefaultwrapper"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); ">Aura M. Hirschman, M.S., C.R.C.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); ">Senior Counselor/Alternative Text Program Coordinator<br>University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Accessibility Resource Center<br>Mitchell Hall, Room 103<br>3203 North Downer Avenue<br>Milwaukee, WI 53211-3153<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div name="divtagdefaultwrapper"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><br>phone (414) 229-5660<br>fax (414) 229-2237<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div name="divtagdefaultwrapper"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "> </span></div></div><div name="divtagdefaultwrapper"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-color: white; "><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: This email and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If this email contains any student specific data or information, these laws apply. If you are NOT the intended recipient(s) of this email, please disregard the content, delete the email message and notify the original sender.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: rgb(153, 51, 0); "><o:p></o:p></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>athen-list mailing list<br><a href="mailto:athen-list@mailman13.u.washington.edu" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline; ">athen-list@mailman13.u.washington.edu</a><br><a href="http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list" style="color: rgb(149, 79, 114); text-decoration: underline; ">http://mailman13.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list</a><br></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div></div></body></html>