[vip_students] Re: TextAloud
- From: "Scanlon, Tony" <tony.scanlon@xxxxxx>
- To: vip_students@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:00:22 +0100
Hi Eleanor.
I have installed the trial version but wouldn't be too excited about it
as yet but maybe like most things it needs a bit of practise to get the
hang of it.
Must have missed the discussion on the UK list but good to hear it got
good reports.
Thanks Eleanor
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From: vip_students-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:vip_students-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Eleanor Burke
Sent: 20 April 2011 12:28
To: vip_students@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [vip_students] Re: TextAloud
I have not but I have had excellent reports from users in the UK.
-original message-
Subject: [vip_students] TextAloud
From: "Scanlon, Tony" <tony.scanlon@xxxxxx>
Date: 20/04/2011 10:30 am
Hi all
Has anyone tried this software, I have never heard of it myself but it
sounds good and affordable which cant be bad.
For the full article visit
http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2011/04/19/textaloud-opens-up-a-new-w
orld-of-content-for-one-visually-disabled-new-yorker/
Press Release: TextAloud Opens Up a New World of Content for One
Visually Disabled New Yorker
April 19th, 2011 * View Comments
<http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2011/04/19/textaloud-opens-up-a-new-
world-of-content-for-one-visually-disabled-new-yorker/#respond> * Filed
Under
<http://www.americanbankingnews.com/2011/04/19/textaloud-opens-up-a-new-
world-of-content-for-one-visually-disabled-new-yorker/##> * by ABMN
Staff <http://www.americanbankingnews.com/author/Matt/>
Filed Under: Press Releases
<http://www.americanbankingnews.com/category/press-releases/> * PRWeb
<http://www.americanbankingnews.com/category/press-releases/prweb/>
TextAloud Opens Up a New World of Content for One Visually Disabled New
Yorker
NextUp.com's leading Text to Speech software helps one user find better
options and assistive support for reading and study
Clemmons, NC (PRWEB) April 19, 2011
Like many people around the world, Jordan Star enjoys reading and web
surfing in his free time, but his legal blindness can make this
difficult for the Long Island resident, even when he uses screen readers
created especially for the blind. However, Jordan soon discovered a new
solution in TextAloud, as the Text to Speech software by NextUp.com
provided a handy and easy to use assistive alternative. Soon, he was
using TextAloud on a constant basis to support almost all his text
listening activities, whether by computer, portable device, iPhone (R),
and more.
Jordan's visual disability has progressed over time, so as his eyesight
worsened, he began to research his options for assistive technologies.
He found it harder and harder to see e-mails, for example, since people
did not send e-mails in large text or font sizes even when he asked them
to do so. He decided to try listening, instead. "I wanted a text reading
program but was not willing to pay the very expensive prices required
for the leading programs made specifically for the blind," says Jordan,
explaining that both of the top text readers for the blind cost about
$400, which was well outside his budget. Then he found TextAloud, which
enabled him to disregard text size and listen to his correspondence
entirely by ear - and at a fraction of the budget of traditional screen
readers.
"I found TextAloud to be a real help almost immediately, as it allowed
me to convert e-text and eBooks to audio files very quickly and easily
so that my active reading activities could continue," comments Jordan,
who listens to his files on a multifunction Sony MP3/CD player. "This
meant that I could now listen to books instead of trying to see to read
them." Once the PC software became a mainstay for his regular reading,
Jordan then discovered how to use TextAloud to listen to his e-mails and
websites, which further eased the tension of his visual disability, and
saved his eyes from strain and fatigue.
The more Jordan utilized TextAloud, the more uses he seemed to find for
it. "TextAloud is affordable, and far easier to use than JAWS or
ZoomText, which are Text to Speech programs that are popular with blind
people (and which are very expensive)," he adds. Jordan also proofreads
his e-mails by listening with TextAloud, with the huge array of optional
Premium Voices available for the program another pleasant surprise. "The
different voices are definitely another discovery for me," he adds.
However, it's really the program's flexibility that he enjoys even more,
as files can be converted to a variety of popular audio file formats,
and can be played on almost anything, from iPhones (R) and iPods (R),
even to televisions. "It's great to be able to listen to the multitude
of eBooks available out there to enrich one's life. The quality and
clarity of the voices is excellent, and adds variety - they're not
boring like too many other computer-generated voices in readers for the
blind."
Jordan has now gone on to recommend TextAloud to his other friends in
the blind community. "TextAloud has improved my life by enabling me to
communicate more efficiently with friends and family," he comments. "I
know that, in time, TextAloud will enhance my life further, and that I
couldn't do things I want to do without it. It has opened a whole new
world."
About TextAloud:
With a completely new interface including more personalization options
than ever before, TextAloud is the highly useful PC program for
students, scientists, writers, business people, students and people from
all walks of life. TextAloud enables anyone to experience their reading
by listening, and has been featured in The New York Times, PC Magazine,
Writer's Digest, on CNN, and more.
Hailed by critics and users alike, TextAloud is priced from $29.95.
System requirements include almost any version of Windows (R) (from 98
to Me, NT, 2000, XP or Vista), as well as a minimum of 64 MB of RAM, 10
MB of disk space, and a sound card. TextAloud can even be listened to on
TV, using TiVo's (R) Home Media Option, and works seamlessly with iTunes
(R), for easy synchronizing with iPod (R), iPhone (R), or other iTunes
(R)-compatible portable audio players. Best of all, unlike prohibitively
priced gadgets or eReaders, TextAloud doesn't require special hardware
of any kind. Become a fan at http://www.Facebook.com/TextAloud, or try
the program today, via a fast, safe and secure preview and purchase at
http://www.NextUp.com.
This e-mail and any attached files are from FAS and are confidential.
This E-mail is intended only for the addressee indicated in the message.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy,
distribute or use the information but please delete the email as soon as
possible. Any views or opinions expressed in the email are those of the
sender only and not necessarily those of FAS. FAS - Training and
Employment Authority P.O. Box 456, 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4,
Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6070500, Fax: 353-1-6070600, Email: info@xxxxxxx
This e-mail and any attached files are from FAS and are confidential.
This E-mail is intended only for the addressee indicated in the message.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy,
distribute or use the information but please delete the email as soon as
possible. Any views or opinions expressed in the email are those of the
sender only and not necessarily those of FAS. FAS - Training and
Employment Authority P.O. Box 456, 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4,
Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6070500, Fax: 353-1-6070600, Email: info@xxxxxxx
This e-mail and any attached files are from FAS and are confidential.
This E-mail is intended only for the addressee indicated in the message.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy,
distribute or use the information but please delete the email as soon as
possible. Any views or opinions expressed in the email are those of the
sender only and not necessarily those of FAS. FAS - Training and
Employment Authority P.O. Box 456, 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4,
Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6070500, Fax: 353-1-6070600, Email: info@xxxxxxx
This e-mail and any attached files are from FAS and are confidential. This
E-mail is intended only for the addressee indicated in the message. If you are
not the intended recipient you must not disclose, copy, distribute or use the
information but please delete the email as soon as possible. Any views or
opinions expressed in the email are those of the sender only and not
necessarily those of FAS. FAS - Training and Employment Authority P.O. Box
456, 27-33 Upper Baggot Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel: 353-1-6070500, Fax:
353-1-6070600, Email: info@xxxxxxx
Other related posts:
