Title:
User attitudes towards synthetic speech for Talking Books.
Author:
Heather Cryer, Sarah Home.
Publisher:
RNIB Centre for Accessible Information.
Year of publication:
2009.
Background
RNIB's National Library Service has started to consider whether synthetic speech could be used for some Talking Books.
This paper reports findings from a study with 48 Talking Book customers, looking at customers' initial thoughts and feelings on this idea.
Key findings
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Findings show a vast range of opinion, from those who would welcome synthetic speech books to those who could think of nothing worse.
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Advantages and disadvantages of synthetic voices are discussed, as are different circumstances in which synthetic speech may/may not be appropriate.
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Most customers felt they would prefer a human narrator for fiction, as many appreciated the human input into stories - such as putting on voices for different characters.
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Key issues raised include the perceived difficulty of listening to a synthetic voice, and the role of experience in getting used to it.
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Overall, it seems user acceptance of synthetic speech for Talking Books is likely to depend on personal preference/experience
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