Military Instructor Learns On the Go with TextAloud

Trainer Finds Both Precision and Freedom in Text to Speech Software

Clemmons, NC (PRWEB) March 24, 2009 -- The versatility of Text to Speech technology makes it ideal for supporting a variety of tasks and professions. However, the program excels most in its multitude of uses for students and educators, as discovered by Tom Jensen, a civilian instructor and trainer for military and civilian personnel for the U.S. military. Tom discovered just how valuable the technology could be when he began to use TextAloud from NextUp Technologies (http://www.NextUp.com) in pursuit of his degree.

With a busy schedule that includes training civilians in the areas of security, law enforcement, and combat skills, Tom first discovered TextAloud in 2004, during his online studies for a B.S. degree in Criminal Defense. The leading PC software that enables anyone to translate their reading easily from screen to sound, TextAloud easily exports written text to natural, human-sounding computer speech, and best of all, enables users to export that text from almost any source. From websites, eBooks, scanned text, and even e-mails, TextAloud creates sound files that play on any iPod, iPhone, or other portable device -- and even in the car.

While pursuing his degree, Tom found that, like many people, he actually learns better by listening, than by reading, and this made TextAloud the perfect tool for him while pursuing an intensive course load. "TextAloud is a helpful learning tool -- especially for people like me, who learn better by hearing over seeing," he comments. Tom then converted his online books from PDF to text, then straight to portable audio files, which freed him to listen to lectures on the go, instead of trapping him in one place to sit and read printed material.

When Tom discovered TextAloud, he was already a fan of Text to Speech, and he soon found that TextAloud was a considerable improvement over the other Text to Speech programs he had first tried. "The quality and functionality of the program are much better," comments Jensen. "First, the runtime was much quicker for the conversion of text to speech, and there was a real improvement in pronunciation with TextAloud, such as in sounding out possessive cases (such as the apostrophe 's') -- it sounded proper with TextAloud, as opposed to the previous program, which would pronounce a word like 'it's' as 'it-ehs', which was quite irritating."

TextAloud soon became a regular and helpful tool during Tom's online studies, especially since almost all of his materials were provided in the form of online PDF files. TextAloud allowed him to take those PDF files, copy and paste all text from the documents, and convert to audio. "While other students were burning through tons of printer ink and paper," he comments, "or tiring and burning their eyes trying to read from their computer screens, I was able to turn my PDF files into lectures for listening while driving in the car, cleaning or doing laundry, watching my children swim in the pool -- you name it." TextAloud enabled Tom to walk and work, listening to his lectures "hands-free" rather than being stuck reading for hours on end. Tom also used TextAloud to "read back" his own written papers to himself -- an approach he found a tremendous help for editing, as well as in further saving time in editing and review.

TextAloud has ultimately proven to be a cost-effective, highly valuable asset to Tom in his learning environments, both as student and teacher, as well as maximizing his ability to take his reading on-the-go. He is currently pursuing Graduate work for a Masters of Divinity in preparation for Army National Guard Chaplaincy, and will continue to use TextAloud throughout his Graduate work. Adds Tom, "And probably on to a Ph.D.!" He even anticipates being able to share the program with his kids. "TextAloud will benefit their academic experiences, too as they progress in their studies," he adds. "I highly recommend it -- it's a great product."

About TextAloud:
Highly useful for students, scientists, writers, business people, students and people from all walks of life -- TextAloud has been featured in The New York Times, PC Magazine, Writer's Digest, on CNN, and more. Hailed by critics and users alike, TextAloud is priced from $29.95, and is compatible with systems using Windows (R) 98, NT, 2000, XP and Vista. TextAloud also works seamlessly with iTunes, for easy synching with iPod (R), iPhone (TM), or other iTunes-compatible portable audio players. The program is available for fast, safe and secure purchase via http://www.NextUp.com.

NextUp.com also offers TextAloud with optional premium voices from AT&T Natural Voices (TM), Nuance (R), Acapela (R) and Cepstral (R) for the most natural-sounding computer speech anywhere. Available languages include U.S. English, U.K. English, Indian-Accent English, Scottish-Accent English, Arabic, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Belgian Dutch, Faroese, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German, Greek, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Castilian (European) Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

About NextUp.com:
NextUp.com, a division of NextUp Technologies, LLC, provides award-winning Text to Speech software for consumers, professionals, businesses, educators, and those with visual or vocal impairment, or learning disabilities.

In addition to TextAloud, NextUp.com markets other innovative Windows software designed to save time and deliver vital information. NextUp Talker is an easy and affordable program that allows people who have lost their voices to use the latest in high-quality computer voices to communicate with others.

Evaluation copies of TextAloud are available upon request. For more information on NextUp.com or TextAloud, or for other case studies involving users ranging from writers, editors, and teachers, to actors, students, entrepreneurs, firefighters, doctors, lawyers, truck drivers, musicians, and more, please contact publicist Angela Mitchell at (904) 982-8043 or via Admitchell at Nextup.com.

All companies and products referenced in this press release are the trademarks of their respective owners.

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