tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87952394229808229712024-03-13T09:59:30.047-07:00Natural ReaderIntroduction to FREE text to speech softwareJillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02442230451441313356noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-80670677380283861022011-10-20T00:09:00.000-07:002011-10-21T16:23:47.529-07:00How Does it Work?<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DdV8bn8VUiw" width="420"></iframe>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02442230451441313356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-15665253282309073232011-10-20T00:08:00.000-07:002011-10-22T08:24:09.494-07:00How Do I Start?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. Visit the <a href="http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm">NaturalSoft website</a> and download Free NaturalReader 10.0</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. Open the application.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. Open a web page, PDF, email, or any other text.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. Either cut and paste the text into NaturalReader's window as a new file and press play, or open the 'miniboard' (MAC)/ 'floating bar' (PC) and simply highlight text on a page and the miniboard starts to 'read' it automatically.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. Choose the voice that reads back to you (some are more natural sounding than others), and the speed at which it is read. This can be done on the main clipboard or through settings on the miniboard.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">For more information on how to get started, check out these links:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/disability/alttext/programs/naturalreader.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/disability/alttext/programs/naturalreader.html</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/tech_quick_guides/naturalreader.pdf"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/hiat/tech_quick_guides/naturalreader.pdf</span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HmGBKPmEc0&noredirect=1"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHR_1NqMk20/TqIEYDL3N5I/AAAAAAAAADg/e4HrUdyjeSw/s1600/miniboard.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Jillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02442230451441313356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-91907131678789023162011-10-20T00:07:00.000-07:002011-10-22T08:17:16.035-07:00Advantages and Disadvantages<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ADVANTAGES</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Text-to-speech converters are practical for day-to-day use for lots of people! It is so simple you can adopt it as a tool to help read, proofread, study a language or just for enjoyment. Text-to-speech software can: </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Assist persons with disabilities who may be vision impaired by reading text</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Save eye strain – relax, sit back and listen</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Save time - listen while driving, exercising or enjoying nature (mp3 converter feature)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Help writers – improve by listening to your work</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Assist second language students by expanding their experience and understanding through listening to any text at any speed</span></li>
</ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Natural Reader seems to be an excellent text-to-speech program. Following are features we like:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Natural human voices and lots of choice (languages, accents, gender) for listening pleasure and variety</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Easy to use/intuitive controls</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Can help improve spelling, reading, comprehension and writing skills</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">No need to be at computer/have access to wi-fi if using the mp3 converter</span></span></li>
</ul></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Natural Reader provides explanations about why people should use their product: <a href="http://www.naturalreaders.com/whychooseus.htm">http://www.naturalreaders.com/whychooseus.htm</a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">DISADVANTAGES</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Natural readers are not all terribly natural sounding and the program doesn't know how to deal with text features and some symbols such as bullets or dashes. Paying for mp3 capabilities is inconvenient as well.</span></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270137535891965455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-74029813898793645382011-10-20T00:06:00.000-07:002011-10-22T07:02:23.783-07:00mp3 Converter<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The mp3 converter function in Natural Reader is very handy. It allows you to be free from the computer, and an internet connection. You simply highlight the text you want to save as an mp3 file and click on the mp3 converter button. Next you designate where you want to save the file. That's it! You're done. :) Now you can listen to the text you selected anywhere you want... on a walk, in the car, while you make dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGiD78_YEgQ/TqCvDaxb1qI/AAAAAAAAACk/cZOdaYOTvfw/s1600/ipod-music.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="174" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGiD78_YEgQ/TqCvDaxb1qI/AAAAAAAAACk/cZOdaYOTvfw/s200/ipod-music.gif" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #cccccc; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm">Tutorial link on Natural Reader website </a></span></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270137535891965455noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-54453555802214193462011-10-20T00:05:00.000-07:002011-10-22T07:02:56.398-07:00Pronunciation Editor<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If there is a case where you would like to change the way a word is read in Natural Reader you can make adjustments using the Pronunciation Editor. The example on the Natural Reader website is M.D. If you were reading a book where M.D. referred to Mike Dion and you wanted to hear his full name read rather than M.D. you would simply go to the pronunciation guide and replace the source word with the word you want to hear. The Pronunciation Editor is under <em>Tools</em>.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hnrz1Mw-1W4/TqCxmpt798I/AAAAAAAAACs/Z5QSVHxjVAM/s1600/listen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" rda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hnrz1Mw-1W4/TqCxmpt798I/AAAAAAAAACs/Z5QSVHxjVAM/s200/listen.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.naturalreaders.com/features.htm?id=3"><span style="background-color: #999999; color: black;">Tutorial Link</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270137535891965455noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-7136973837507828682011-10-20T00:04:00.000-07:002011-10-22T07:04:04.865-07:00Cost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CURRENTLY: Natural Reader has a basic, personal version that includes two coices for $49.50. There are several other versions that are more expensive because they have more features. There are also education packages which start at $500.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GbmjRnI0Sw0/Tp25ZPw0JoI/AAAAAAAAACc/isjZM9zrCDk/s1600/natural+reader+cost.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GbmjRnI0Sw0/Tp25ZPw0JoI/AAAAAAAAACc/isjZM9zrCDk/s320/natural+reader+cost.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270137535891965455noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-51722556386227961052011-10-20T00:03:00.000-07:002011-10-22T07:04:32.492-07:00Upgrades<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Natural Reader allows you to purchase more voices so you never tire of listening to the same tone, accent or gender!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uI1Y-tHi8QM/TqIB0ocD6OI/AAAAAAAAADM/zpjg68hamSg/s1600/voices.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uI1Y-tHi8QM/TqIB0ocD6OI/AAAAAAAAADM/zpjg68hamSg/s1600/voices.png" /></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270137535891965455noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795239422980822971.post-37927454731841678912011-10-20T00:02:00.000-07:002011-10-21T16:40:52.167-07:00Product Reviews<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://bill-smith.hubpages.com/hub/Natural-Reader-Review-Is-It-REALLY-the-Best-Text-to-Speech-Software"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://bill-smith.hubpages.com/hub/Natural-Reader-Review-Is-It-REALLY-the-Best-Text-to-Speech-Software</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://stevekhuu.blogspot.com/2010/10/naturalreader-100-review.html">http://stevekhuu.blogspot.com/2010/10/naturalreader-100-review.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Against</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><a href="http://zoewhitten.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/product-review-naturalreader-9/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://zoewhitten.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/product-review-naturalreader-9/</span></a></div>Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06270137535891965455noreply@blogger.com0