Lorinda Tait

Text To SpeechText To Speech

Presented by Lorinda Tait

Lorinda Tait

GOALS: To ImproveGOALS: To Improveunderstanding of assistive technology.knowledge of various text to speech tools.ability to navigate through various

programs.knowledge of resources for implementation

of text to speech. knowledge of web sources for digital text

Lorinda Tait

AgendaAgenda

Pretest Assistive Technology Types of Text Readers Word Processing Software Research rationale for

tools Use word processing

software Use text reader software

Use scanning software Learning about

sources for electronic books

Learning about sources for products.

Post test

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30 years of research30 years of research

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development centers - students who have not obtained reading skills by second grade are likely to remain poor readers later in school.

Approximately 20% of children have difficulty acquiring reading skills, particularly awareness of sound symbol relationships.

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Definition of Assistive Technology (AT)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) defines assistive technology devices as “any piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of children with disabilities.”

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Examples - No/low tech tools – Examples - No/low tech tools –

pencil grip, slantboard, highlighter pen or tape, forearm support for pencil grip, slantboard, highlighter pen or tape, forearm support for work station, large print books, books with page separators, wrist work station, large print books, books with page separators, wrist

rest, eye gaze communication system, communication picture board, rest, eye gaze communication system, communication picture board, color coded planners, “smart charts”, carbonless notebooks for note color coded planners, “smart charts”, carbonless notebooks for note

taking, teacher’s notes taking, teacher’s notes

Assistive technology is a continuum covering no/low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech tools, strategies, and services that match a person’s needs, abilities, and tasks.

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Mid-tech toolscalculators, talking calculators, tape recorders (analog and digital), Franklin Homework Wiz, Franklin Language Master, personal digital assistants, switches to use with communication devices or computers

High-tech tools portable & software word processors, computers, software such as text readers, screen readers, organizational and authorable software, voice recognition systems, input devices for cursor control, alternative keyboards, and augmentative communication hardware and software, cause and effect software.

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Why Use Technology?

…to accomplish tasks that would bedifficult or impossible to

accomplish without assistancein the available time

with the available resources…

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Universal Text Universal Text ReaderReader

Toolbar present onToolbar present ondesktop to start-stopdesktop to start-stopreading reading

Can read in any Can read in any application: browser,application: browser,word processor, emailword processor, email

i.e. Text Assist, Read&Writei.e. Text Assist, Read&Write

Word ProcessorWord Processorwith text to speechwith text to speechCapabilitiesCapabilities

Self-contained wordSelf-contained wordprocessorprocessor

Reads typed text, or Reads typed text, or text copied & pastedtext copied & pastedFrom clipboard From clipboard

i.e. Write:Outloud, Intellitalki.e. Write:Outloud, Intellitalk

Scan and Read SystemScan and Read System

Interfaces OCR, scanner,Interfaces OCR, scanner,and text to speech with and text to speech with word processor word processor

May or may not includeMay or may not includeGraphics, or link Graphics, or link directly to Internet directly to Internet

i.e.Scan&Read, Read&WriteGold,,i.e.Scan&Read, Read&WriteGold,, Kurzweil 3000Kurzweil 3000

4 Categories of Text Readers4 Categories of Text Readers

Portable Text ReaderPortable Text Reader

Uses converted text to speech files in MP3 playerUses converted text to speech files in MP3 playerUses portable tape recorder (Books on Tape)Uses portable tape recorder (Books on Tape)

i.e. Text Aloud w MP3 player, books on tapei.e. Text Aloud w MP3 player, books on tape

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•The features vary a great deal, so prioritize the features that would benefit your The features vary a great deal, so prioritize the features that would benefit your students the most. students the most. A MUSTA MUST: adjustable reading rate and different voices!: adjustable reading rate and different voices!

•The decision depends on the number of students, the age of the students, and The decision depends on the number of students, the age of the students, and what reading tasks and objectives are to be addressed with a text reader. what reading tasks and objectives are to be addressed with a text reader. i.e. For independent reading of textbooks, help with writing, or studyingi.e. For independent reading of textbooks, help with writing, or studying  • Do you want the student to read back his/her writing to proof read assignments, Do you want the student to read back his/her writing to proof read assignments, or read chapters in textbooks with text and graphics or both?or read chapters in textbooks with text and graphics or both?  •Is reading information on the Internet of importance to your students? Do they Is reading information on the Internet of importance to your students? Do they want to use it for email? want to use it for email? •Does the program have to be easy to operate?Does the program have to be easy to operate? •Does the reading voice have to articulate words well? Does the reading voice have to articulate words well?

•What is your budget? $20 or $2000? What is your budget? $20 or $2000?

Selecting Text ReadersSelecting Text Readers

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Word ProcessorsWord Processors

Oral words are correlated to printed words. Highlights words as spoken. Speaks for feedback on writing.

Students’ words are added to the dictionary

Talking dictionary and talking spell checker so students can hear the sound of the words they choose.

Increase sight word recognition by hearing words and sentences as written.

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Word ProcessorsWord Processors Write:Outloud ($99.95)–

Constant auditory feedback. Allows use of colors. For example it has been shown that many ADHD find green text on purple highly stimulating, can see spaces between words better, can edit better. Homonyms in the dictionary.

Intellitalk II ($139) It is a word processor, however it makes templates – to create a worksheet. It will read the question to them. Go to palette, speech balloon – word bank palette. Spell checker with large fonts. Gives students access to the curriculum and locked worksheets.

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Word ProcessorsWord Processors

Type & Talk v4 from Text Help. ($169) Multi platform – Mac and PC. Speech, word prediction, speaking spell checker, homophone support, dictionary, word wizard. Target age 7 to 11.

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Target population for Target population for Electronic Text Readers Electronic Text Readers

Developing spelling skills need support Can spell phonetically, but who cannot

spell accurately Who need rate enhancementThis can make reading and writing less

stressful and less tiring

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Text to SpeechText to Speech

Helps students to become independent

Reinforces letter and word recognition

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Text to SpeechText to Speech

Screen readers-Software that works with a speech synthesizer to provide verbalization for everything on the screen in any software application - including menus, text, graphics, and punctuation.

www.ReadPlease.com (Free). www.Wemedia.com (Free) Microsoft website: ereader (Free)

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Why text to speech?Why text to speech? Used for students who

need to have auditory feedback for what they type or read.

Students can have ability to hear the letter, the word, sentence and paragraph as it is typed, as a double check.

Can change text or background color preferences to help them discriminate and separate words.

Instead of purely text menus, buttons with symbols or auditory cues used.

Can be used with directions or instructions to see if visual/auditory feedback help comprehension.

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How the brain readsHow the brain reads

Left hemisphere - phoneme producer helps vocalize words. The word analyzer pulls words apart into syllables and phonemes and letters which are linked to sounds

The automatic detector automates process of recognizing words.

These work simultaneously.

The more the auto detector is activated the better it functions.

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DyslexiaDyslexia

Neurological glitch prevents them from easily gaining access to both the word analyzer and automatic detector. Compensation strategies - lean on phoneme producer and use right side of brain to get visual clues from accompanying pictures.

www.interdys.org website for the international dyslexia association

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Does the student need Does the student need graphics?graphics?

Picture It - software program that puts pictures with words and auditory feedback.

Pix Writer- software program that allows the student to write with pictures and auditory feedback.

Sound to SymbolsClicker 4

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TextText ReadersReaders

Doc Reader, Text Cloner,

Text Help: Read & Write

Portable reader Roadrunner

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Text Reader ProgramsText Reader Programs

Text Assist www.textassist.com

Screen Reader www.texthelp.com

Text Aloud $20 (35 copies under $500): www.nextup.com,

Ultimate Reader/E-Reader. CASTeReader $199.95 www.cast.org .

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Digitized Books On LineDigitized Books On Line

http://ulc.cast.org Talking Books on line

http://www.starfall.com (sound out the words with visual reinforcement)

MP3 Files for younger students (Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel): www.candlelightstores.com

http://www.netlibrary.com/

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More BooksMore Books Library of Michigan http://www.mel.org Amazon.com website $4.00 some less some more. Microsoft Reader (free)

http://www.Microsoft,com/reader/download.asp www.ldresources.com/etext www.netlibrary,com www.gutenberg.net Get a subscription:

http://bookshare.org/web/Welcome.html KidBook – create electronic talking books (free)

http://www.switchintime.com

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Modeled ReadingModeled Reading

Hear stories read aloud by a professional narrator with electronic books. Students gain background knowledge before reading the story independently.

Start-to-Finish Books

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Commercial Electronic BooksCommercial Electronic Books

UKanDu Little Books (Don Johnston Incorporated)

Living Books (Random House/ Broderbund)

Wiggle Works (Scholastic)

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When it may not be helpfulWhen it may not be helpful

Technology does not help all poor readers.

Problems integrating the auditory and visual information

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CompaniesCompanies Don Johnston

26799 W. Commerce Dr., Volo, IL 60073800-999-4660 www.donjohnston.com

Mayer-Johnson, IncP.O. Box 1579Solana Beach, CA92075-7579800-588-4548www.mayer-johnson.com

Slater Software, Inc

351 Badger Lane

Guffey, CO 80820

877-306-6968 www.slatersoftware.com

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CompaniesCompanies

Inspiration Software. Inc

7412 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway

Portland, OR 97225-2167

503-297-3004

www.Inspiration.com

Technology For Education, Inc.

7328 Braden Trail

Inver Grove Hts., MN

55076

800-370-0047 www.tfeinc.com

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CompaniesCompanies

Intellitools,Inc., 55 Leveroni Court, suite 9, Novato, CA 94949 ph. 800-899-6687 www.intellitools.com

Premier Programming Solutions, P.O. Box 359, DeWitt, Mi. 48820 ph. 517-668-8188 www.premier-programming.com

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Last but not LeastLast but not Least