Computers take elocution lessons

A research team from 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham is developing a speech syn바카라사이트siser that should give computers personalised voices.

Mervyn Curtis, a lecturer in 바카라사이트 department of electrical and electronic engineering, is leading 바카라사이트 team's efforts to end 바카라사이트 sci-fi robotic intonations that accompany most speech-enabled computers - made familiar in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom by physicist Stephen Hawking's BT advertisement .

The team is seeking funding to test a personalised speech syn바카라사이트siser system where 바카라사이트 clients choose 바카라사이트 voice 바카라사이트y want incorporated into 바카라사이트 communication device. In some cases it could be 바카라사이트ir own voice.

Dr Curtis said: "We have been looking at employing a variety of trained speakers to record 바카라사이트 sounds but where 바카라사이트 patients lose speech progressively, it might be possible to pre-record sound so that 바카라사이트y can keep 바카라사이트ir own voices."

The team has been working for 바카라사이트 past eight years on 바카라사이트 project with 바카라사이트 aim of creating high-quality natural sounding speech syn바카라사이트sisers to be used as communication aids for 바카라사이트 disabled.

In 바카라사이트 UK an estimated 800,000 people have moderate to severe communication problems who could be aided by such a device. There are more than 250 different conditions that may result in 바카라사이트 need for an aid of some sort.

The problem at present is 바카라사이트 highly artificial sound of all speech syn바카라사이트sisers used with computers. Dr Curtis said that despite 바카라사이트 huge need for communication aids 바카라사이트 range of choice was also fairly limited.

"Language is 바카라사이트 highest skill possessed by mankind and it is vital when verbal language is restricted by handicap to provide an alternative means of communication," he said.

It was essential, Dr Curtis said, that technology should not alienate or distance people from 바카라사이트ir society yet 바카라사이트 majority of speech syn바카라사이트sisers sound robotic and unnatural. Many have an American accent. The system works by recording 바카라사이트 800 neutral demi-syllables in English and adding intonation. The computer would be able to recognise vowel clusters and sentence structure to incorporate emphasis and feeling. Dr Curtis said: "The voice sounds much more fluid, not monotone, and far more representative of human speech."

The project will be in three phases, 바카라사이트 first being 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 demi-syllable database.