We all know Stephen Hawking, right? Dr. Hawking was a British theoretical physicist, astrophysicist, cosmologist, and science popularizer who died at the age of 76, in 2018. He is undoubtedly one of the most relevant scientists of recent times since his contributions to human knowledge is invaluable. In this brief article, we want to pay attention to an aspect that many of us know about this important figure but that; perhaps, is not sufficiently appreciated; the visibility that it gives to people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, we will briefly talk about Text-To-Speech, The Tool That Gave Stephen Hawking A Voice and aided him to continue his life and career.
What Is Speech Synthesis? How Text-To-Speech May Help People Like Stephen Hawking?
Speech synthesis is the process by which a machine generates voice or simulates human speech; from a text, through the use of mathematical processes and the study of phonetics and linguistic theory. Put more simply, it is the artificial production of vocal expressions by the machine, without these being pre-recorded.
This technology is extremely useful for those who perform many tasks simultaneously; have tired eyes, or simply need to optimize their reading. However, there is an even more important aspect of this class of software: inclusion. Our culture focuses mostly on sight and speech to communicate and the truth is that many people are systematically excluded because of this. In this sense, Text-To-Speech tools play a much more relevant role than comfort or efficiency: they are tools for inclusion and equality.
The case of Stephen Hawking shows us how important this type of technology is for individuals and the communities in which they live. TTS technology made it possible to improve the quality of life of this great scientist since communication, feeling useful, and being able to work are essential for our mental and physical health.
Woord: An Excellent Text-To-Speech Option
As we have already said, anyone can benefit from TTS software as they are extremely versatile. However, here we suggest that you begin to see it as a tool to work with others. If you are a teacher, this tool can be of great help for visually impaired students; or if you have a website for your business, providing audio options for your customers is a great option. Inclusion is everyone’s job! For this reason, we recommend Woord, an extremely intuitive TTS software with high-quality results.
Woord is a free online text-to-speech (TTS) program with a lot of excellent features. It offers more than 50 languages and dialects, as well as the ability to pick between masculine, feminine, or non-binary voices. All of these options are free to use, allowing you to evaluate the service before investing in the premium version. The free pack includes premium voices, a Chrome plugin, an SSML editor, an MP3 download, and up to 20,000 characters per month. You can also change the voice’s pace and format with this application.
For Inclusive Uses Of Text-To-Speech We Recommend…
How Text-To-Speech Aids Visually Impaired Students
Make Your Restaurant More Inclusive With Text-To-Speech
Also published on Medium.