Speech Technology - October 2008 - (Page 37)

>> SUCCESS STORIES >> SUCCESS STORIES >> SUCCESS STORIES A better option? Converting text-tospeech (TTS) and then embedding it into an actual presentation. “First we learned to see what was possible, then we looked for something to handle that,” Madathil says. “In doing that search, we came across Speech-Over through its Web site.” Speech-Over is a PowerPoint add-on from Israeli firm Tuval Software Industries that integrates Microsoft’s popular presentation software with TTS. “We were quite used to creating our own training materials and presentations in PowerPoint,” Madathil says. “SpeechOver used the same framework.” Speech-Over, which came to market in 2005, operates in PowerPoint XP, 2003 or 2007. In the XP version, it appears in the PowerPoint menu bar. Equipped with TTS capability, SpeechOver accepts any voice that’s compatible with Version 5 of the Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI). Using Tuval’s Voice Effect Marshalling technology, Speech-Over lets course developers automatically synchronize slide narration with screen animations, allowing them to describe and explain text and graphic objects on a slide in any order to create a multimedia training movie. “Speech-Over short-cuts the business of recording narration in e-learning courses. It reduces something that is time-consuming and complicated to text-based authorship,” explains Joel Harband, who founded Tuval Software in 1990, though only in recent years turned his attention to speech applications. “As you’re working within PowerPoint, the speech commands are right there inside.” Here’s how it works: In PowerPoint, you select a picture, chart, bullet point, etc., and click on the Add or Edit button. Speech-Over’s Add Narration Clip dialogue box pops up, where you type in the text that should accompany the selected screen item. Next, you choose a voice that’ll narrate the text, click on www.speechtechmag.com As you’re working within PowerPoint, the speech commands are right there inside. OK, and the spoken text is embedded within PowerPoint at that point within the presentation. During playback, the voice is synchronized with the graphic. Developers also have the option of recording their own voices and importing prerecorded sound files. The entire PowerPoint presentation is then converted into Flash so that it can live on the Web, Harband says. TRYING BEFORE BUYING Like any smart customer, Madathil gave Speech-Over a try before making a decision to buy. “We did an evaluation and were actually quite happy with its features and ease of use,” he says. Madathil’s original purchase was for five licenses, costing $164 apiece; at the time, Tuval was running a special so that Madathil received another 10 licenses for free. Madathil opted to buy AT&T Natural Voices TTS software along with Speech-Over “for a more professional-quality voice.” For PowerPointto-Flash conversion, he chose FlashSpring, another PowerPoint add-in, from Russiabased CPS Labs. Ironically, creating the actual material for the presentations took longer than tracking down and purchasing an elearning software solution. “We were first creating the courses from scratch,” Madathil says. “That took two-and-ahalf months. But the tool was ready to go immediately.” While using the tool, Madathil and his team came up with a few ideas for improving Speech-Over—suggestions that Tuval integrated into the software and put in subsequent product releases that Wipro received. Those features included pause and stop functions, an autosave function, and a refresh function. “I rely on my users to point out issues,” says Harband, who is planning to offer Speech-Over in a centralized server version (to date, Speech-Over is sold on a per-license basis and includes a year of free maintennce and updates). The VLSI & System Design Group’s first e-learning course was completed and posted to its intranet in December. To date, 12 presentations have been developed and 30 Speech-Over licenses have been purchased. Since making revisions is considered standard operating procedure, Madathil especially appreciates how simple it is to change the voiceenabled learning material. “Traditionally you have to go back to the source and edit it,” he says. “Here making the revisions is very easy. You just go in, write or edit the text you want to change, and create a new version.” In addition, the savings in time and effort needed to coordinate and administer training have been considerable, according to Madathil. “The cost [for SpeechOver] is like a one-time investment,” he says. “But having a learning platform available to all of our team members that can be easily accessed anytime from a desktop is, for us, more important than any cost savings involved.” OCTOBER 2008 “ ” App At a Glance SINCE DEPLOYING TUVAL SOFTWARE INDUSTRIES’ SPEECH-OVER PLUG-IN, WIPRO’S VLSI & SYSTEM DESIGN GROUP HAS: Reduced the need to plan as many live presentations—a time-consuming process; Reduced the need and expense for employees to travel from all parts of the world to attend courses; and Been able to easily revise courses without engaging their presenters. Speech Technology | 37 http://www.speechtechmag.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Speech Technology - October 2008

Speech Technology - October 2008 Contents Editor’s Letter Industry View Inside Outsourcing Interact Keynoter Highlights the Shrinking Technological World Former Hacker Tackles IVR and Biometrics ‘Press 1’ for Caller Thoughts Soundbytes Voice Vote A New Dragon Emerges Overheard/Underheard An Emotional Mess Emotional Intelligence The Case for Call Recording Unified in Care and Communications An Education in E-Learning Guest Column Standards Speech Solutions Voice Value Forward Thinking

Speech Technology - October 2008

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