My MAC
colleague Geoff Best writes:
RealMac's "VoiceBox" application is certainly a program
I recommend for converting Text to Speech.
http://www.realmacsoftware.com/voicebox.php
VoiceBox
saves the file in an AIFF format (which is the format used for Audio CD's). You
can then open with or convert into an MP3 with iTunes. This is then playable
from the computer or a compatible MP3 player.
For an MP3 player I would
recommend the iPod and/or iPod Mini as the current MiniDisc recorders do not
allow you to transfer recordings/music from an Apple Mac as Sony uses its own
proprietary format. It is also not recognised by the Mac as an MP3 player.
http://www.apple.com/ipod/
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/italk/
The
iPod is currently seen as a very "trendy" device. This is true but it still
relates very well to the Disability market. The iPod 20gb model £219 incl VAT
has enough storage space to record over 150 hours via the Griffin iTalk. Tests
by some assessors have shown this solution works very well and is seen as a
better solution for Apple Mac students as well as some/most Windows based
students.
We are currently in the process of
testing a number of MP3/recording devices to provide the pro and cons for
various situations. If you are looking for a specific dictation machine then the
Olympus DM1 is the recommended choice.
The iPod also allows you to transfer
files (backup data, move data from one computer to the next, hold calendar information as well as RTF files which
you can then read on the iPod.
Type and Talk was produced by TextHelp
back before they released Read and Write for the Mac late 2003. Type and Talk
was never a product I could in good conscience recommend and it took far too
long to spell check.
For the Thesaurus option I would recommend Spell
Catcher. This has performed very well.
http://www.dyslexic.com/database/articles/spellchecker.html .
Not all the facilities of Read and Write Word finder, but a
start.
Regards
Ian Litterick
www.iansyst.co.uk
www.dyslexic.com
Support the Right to Read Campaign. Sign up at http://www.dyslexia.org.uk/r2r.php
-----Original
Message-----
From: Discussion list for disabled students and their
support staff. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Parrott, Daniel
Sent: 05 August 2004
12:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [DIS-FORUM]
Texthelp for Mac.
Hello,
I am looking into recommending text
to audio for Mac OSX. I have read that Type and talk is not a happy bunny on OSX
and that Texthelp is the best option at the moment (it is also what we run at
UWIC, so it would maintain commonality). I notice that the Mac version doesn't
have the text to MP3 option or the very useful word wizard. Has anybody
recommended reliable alternatives for the missing features. I have found a Mac
text to MP3 converter (textaloud), but I have no idea how reliable/usable it
is.
Thanks if you are able to
help.
DANIEL PARROTT
DISABILITY NEEDS ASSESSOR
UWIC DISABILITY UNIT
STUDENT
SERVICES
STUDENT CENTRE
WESTERN AVENUE
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CF23
2YB
WALES
UK
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