Voice Technology

TextAloud converts any text into spoken words. It can read Text, Email, Web Pages, and documents using your choice of computer voices. The Text to MP3/WMA conversion can save text documents in audio format that can be downloaded to your portable MP3 player. Listen to email, online news, or important documents while you exercise, work or commute. TextAloud also supports ATT natural voices, however they must be purchased separately.

2nd Speech Center lets you listen to text instead of reading it on screen. It uses Text-to-Speech technology to synthesize natural sounding speech from ordinary text. Just copy text to the clipboard or import from text files and listen as the program reads it back to you. It also allows you to convert text into a MP3/WAV audio file and save it to disk, so you can listen to it later. Using this feature, you can for example create MP3 files from your email, news articles or any text you want, then download it to your portable MP3 player and take it on the road. 2nd Speech Center also includes a feature that automatically organizes you text-to-speech recorded files. Additional features include scheduled Reminders, Alarms, playlists, word highlighting, auto-naming of recorded files, Windows Explorer integration and more.

GearVox is a talking time and e-mail notification utility. it can periodically check your POP account for new mail and announce the sender and subject via Microsoft Agent s voice characters. GearVox will remember the state of your POP e-mail between sessions. In addition, the program can be used to announce the system time. The core features, speaking time, e-mail sender and subject for one account are free and will never expire. Requires MS Agent.

TalkItTypeIt uses Voice Recognition Technology to translate spoken words into typed text. You can use it with any windows software and dictate the text via your microphone to have the software automatically type it for you. TalkItTypeIt can be used with text editors, word processors, email messages and any other window that allows typed text input. It supports custom vocabulary, punctuation, emails and URLs. The system is easy to use and works, however it may require extensive training and favorable environment conditions (no noise) as well as a good microphone. During our review, it only worked well for a portion of the dictated text - many words or sentences were misinterpreted, however this may improve with a couple hours of training, using the provided MS Voice Training Wizard. Give it a try.

Text Speaker is a text to speech conversion tool that enables you to listen to written words aloud and save the output as audio file. The program can read Word, HTML, RTF, or text documents and save the spoken text in MP3 or WAV format. Among other things, you can use the software to convert text documents and listen to them on your MP3 player, create audio narrations for videos or to reduce eye strain. Other features include a word processor interface, adjustable pronunciation and emphasis an more. Text Speaker supports the free Microsoft voices installed on your PC and also comes with two AT&T voices (after registration).