To Convert Coursework Using Text to Speech, Student and Dispatcher Dials T for TextAloud

Lawrenceburg, TN 911 dispatcher and college student uses Text to Speech to output study material for demanding courseload into speech.

Clemmons, NC (PRWEB) November 10, 2009 -- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee's Marty C. has an unusually stressful full-time job as a Communications Officer and 911 Dispatcher, as well as a similarly challenging college schedule as a full-time student pursing a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology. With two such separate yet equally demanding roles to fill, Marty began to explore Text to Speech technology as an option to support him in listening to his studies, and he quickly turned to TextAloud, the PC software from NextUp.com (http://www.NextUp.com).

When he discovered TextAloud, Marty was looking for a computer program that would give him more options for learning away from the books themselves. "Reading from a textbook can take longer than listening to it in audio format," Marty comments. "But TextAloud gave me the ability to paste in the text from material even when it's in PDF format, to output that to an audio file, and then enabled me to listen to the audio recording at my leisure, and anywhere I wanted." He was also freed from visual book study, and able to listen virtually anywhere he went using his portable MP3 player. Marty soon discovered a welcome additional benefit, as well: "I found that when I did study in front of a book, listening simultaneously with TextAloud helped me to read and understand the material faster because I had to keep up with the pace I had set for listening."

TextAloud is Windows PC software that easily outputs written text from almost any source (e-mails, websites, documents, PDFs and more) to natural-sounding speech, which it can then save to audio files for listening on most portable audio devices, from iPhones, to iPods, laptops, or Compact Discs and beyond. Marty does most of his listening on a Centon MP3 player, and also uses a Dell Inspiron 1501 laptop as well. "It's great to be able to output my courses to audio files so that I can listen to the text on my laptop or MP3 player," he comments. "It's so easy to copy and paste just the text that I want to listen to."

For his studies, and the constant volume of material Marty needs to process and understand, "It's really useful to be able to use TextAloud for things like 'speaking to file', in which I create an audio file so that I can take the file with me on my laptop or MP3 player," he adds. "Another great aspect for students is that you can configure TextAloud to speak at whatever your personal or preferred reading speed might be, and you can even add pauses at the ends of paragraphs!"

Marty also has high praise for TextAloud's voices, which are clear and naturalistic to listen to. "The voices and quality make all the difference." TextAloud has further helped Marty in some creative and unexpected ways, such as helping him with the pronunciations of words that he was not sure how to pronounce. "It has even helped me to increase my reading speed," he comments, "so that I get more accomplished in my studies. TextAloud has definitely changed my view of Text to Speech!"

TextAloud is available for immediate trial download at http://www.TextAloud.com, with a full copy of the program priced from a budget-friendly $29.95.

About TextAloud:
A highly useful PC program 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 can even be listened to on TV, using TiVo's (R) Home Media Option, and works seamlessly with iTunes, for easy synching with iPod (R), iPhone (TM), or other iTunes-compatible portable audio players. Best of all, unlike prohibitively priced gadgets or eReaders, TextAloud doesn't require special hardware of any kind. The program is available for fast, safe and secure purchase via http://www.NextUp.com.

In addition to Nuance (R), NextUp.com also offers TextAloud with optional Premium Voices from AT&T Natural Voices (TM), 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, Basque, Catalan, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Belgian Dutch, Faroese, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German, Greek, Hindi, Icelandic, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Castilian (European) Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Swedish, Taiwanese, 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 enables people who have lost their voices to use the latest in high-quality computer voices to communicate aloud with others.

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

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

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