If someone is blind, then they are likely already using text to speech software like JAWS or NVDA.
Considering the sheer size of wikipedia, I can't see much point TBH.
[deleted] [OP]1 points2y ago
Did you listen to the example?
impablomations1 points2y ago
Yep. No different to what can be achieved with either of the commonly in use software, both have extra voices that can be downloaded or bough. Also much slower.
Regular TTS users generally have the speech running much much faster than normal speech.
Also your clips would be prerecorded and hosted on an external site - so if someone wanted to hear your version, they would have to search for it.
I appreciate your intent, but your idea is unworkable.
[deleted] [OP]1 points2y ago
ok
[deleted] [OP]0 points2y ago
Yeah, but both JAWS and NVDA sound more robotic than the one I'm using. I just want blind people to have a better experience.
PungentMushrooms5 points2y ago
The synthesized voices from NVDA and JAWS do sound robotic but people who use them regularly are very used to it and not bothered by it at all. That being said, I'm sure some people would like to listen to Wikipedia pages with a natural voice.
On my pixel 3a, if I go to a Wikipedia page and ask Google assistant "read this page" it'll read it out loud with a fairly smooth sounding voice and you can even adjust the play rate
bradley221 points2y ago
We are able to download more natural sounding voices if we want :)
[deleted] [OP]1 points2y ago
Ok, guys. I get it.
FantasticGlove1 points2y ago
Hi dude. Thanks for coming up with an idea like this. How about a narrated histrory channel or something like that? You can do vids based on what you are interested in. I love narrated channels with people talking in them. It's fun and interesting. I like true crime and technology stuff and I'm also a gamer personally but if you want to do this. Find something you like doing.
bradley221 points2y ago
That's good :) Your idea is good but yeah as you now know; this stuff already exists :)
ryan5161 points2y ago
I prefer robotic voices for TTS, though — it’s usually easier to understand at high speed than natural voice.
DrillInstructorJan1 points2y ago
I was going to say exactly this, the robot voices are faster to listen to than the natural sounding ones. Or maybe I'm just used to it, but to me everything is about speed.
[deleted] [OP]1 points2y ago
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[deleted] [OP]1 points2y ago
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Marconius2 points2y ago
Screen Readers already do this. I have the Wikipedia app on my iPhone and use VoiceOver which has adjustable and very natural voice feedback in several languages. Wikipedia in a desktop browser is perfectly usable as well with VoiceOver on my Mac, again using the same synthesized high-quality voices sped up to the rate that I want to use and can audibly parse. So unfortunately your idea wouldn't be used nor inherently useful to blind users since we are already using our own technology to do exactly what you are proposing.
[deleted] [OP]2 points2y ago
ok, then. very understandable.
bradley221 points2y ago
I'd personally not use it as I can already use wikipedia, sure yearing left parron link 1 right parron, or however it's said can get a bit annoying but you get used to it.
siriuslylupin61 points2y ago
Very thoughtful of you but not honestly very practical of an idea and there’s already multiple ways to do this. I honestly think you’d be wasting your time. Is this for a class or something nice and generous you would like to do. I suggest you invest in something more needed. I would ask around for need if it’s a project.
meeowth1 points2y ago
Wikipedia does have a spoken article database, though obviously it doesn't include all articles. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Spoken_articles
Prestigious_Ad_9271 points2y ago
Actually, to a degree this already exists. Anyone with Amazon Alexa can ask her to Wikipedia whatever and she reads it. It is a bit clunky, asking every few paragraphs if you want to continue and Alexa’s voice may not be your thing, but it is a start....
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