Automated reading of the articles with ReadSpeaker

To have our site available to everyone, AgoraVox is experimented an automated reading of its stories. This system is realized in partnership with ReadSpeaker.

ReadSpeaker automatically transforms the web content into audio content, from the stories published on AgoraVox. No recording of the stories is done, it is all made on the fly, through a vocal synthesis system that reads the content to the visitor. Sometimes, some names or foreign words can not be recognized by the software dictionnary; they will then be pronounced phonetically. Moreover, bad ponctuation within the article has direct effet on the voice tone.

With this system, AgoraVox also distributes its stories in a Podcast so that anyone can listen to the stories on his/her favorite software (Itunes or else) or MP3 player (Ipod, Creative...).

The mission of ReadSpeaker is to make the Internet available to anyone who prefers listening than reading, and especially for those who have reading problems. These people can amount to 20% of the population in most European countries.

Tell us what you think about this new "reading" mode as well as about the technology used. We will then be able to improve it with time.