1. ITQ for accessible IT practice Text-to-Speech

2. Text-to-speech What is text-to-speech to you?

3. Overview Core concepts. What are the benefits / drawbacks of using TTS software? How to select the right tool. Considerations when preparing learning materials. RNIB protocol. ITQ evidence for this unit.

4. Concepts Screen reader v text-to-speech and importance of the difference. Audio font. Social trends - specialist technology crossing digital divide. Real time v downloadable. Hardware. Software. Web services.

5. Examples Text-to-speech Resource folder: DspeechDspeech. BalabolkaBalabolka. CliCk Speak CliCk Speak or Fire Vox.Fire Vox Others: TextHelp Gold WordTalk. YAKiToMeYAKiToMe. Read the Words. Built in tools (Adobe Reader). Screen readers Resource folder: NVDA. Thunder. Others: SuperNova. Jaws. Window-Eyes. WebAnywhere.

6. Activity Explore Dspeech Balabolka RobboBraille TextHelp Gold Test some of your teaching resources with the different software Look at one tool in detail, and complete 1 column of the Text To Speech Grid Think about any considerations we could make when creating teaching materials

7. Considerations for teaching materials

8. Things to consider Can user see screen or not? Use case - email? Document? Web page? PDF? PowerPoint? How important is the personalised voice? Long chunks versus short chunks. Portable or desktop. References: JTD PDF ReadOutLoud; www.techdis.ac.uk/getfreesoftware.JTD PDF ReadOutLoud www.techdis.ac.uk/getfreesoftware

9. Text-to-speech on handheld devices Nokia www.nuance.com/talks/www.nuance.com/talks/. iPhone / iPad - VoiceOver and Zoom: www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=RHC42www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=RHC42; www.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=Q4KKLwww.moletv.org.uk/watch.aspx?v=Q4KKL; Speak it! Windows mobile: CapturaTalk photograph text and read it back www.capturatalk.com/; www.capturatalk.com/ NemonikaNemonika (free).

10. RNIB protocol RNIB Synthetic SpeechRNIB Synthetic Speech. NB: this is in a VI context rather than dyslexia, etc. The four scenarios provided as examples are: An audio book (generated through text-to-speech). A product. A document containing figures. An access technology application.

11. Suggested ITQ evidence Level 2: Complete the L2 TTS Grid showing features and functions, etc. Produce instructional guide for IT user on one technology; include troubleshooting advice for that TTS software. Create sound files with accompanying document; present to learners / others. Gather feedback from IT user and reflect on their comments. Level 3: Produce or use a resource to test the suitability of different TTS options Create sound files using 3 different TTS tools Complete L3 TTS grid comparing the outputs of the different tools. Produce a flow-chart for helping a learner select best TTS solution for them. Gather feedback from an IT user on one of the sound files and reflect on their comments.