[Nfb-seniors] Special Alert on Synthetic Speech Survey for Video Web Content

[Dave Mack]

>From another list.  I just wanted to alert all interested list members  that
WGBH in Boston
which produces the science series "Nova: in the United States is doing a
survey on synthesized speech for web-based video content in concert with
IBM's
accessibility lab in  Japan. below is the press release for any blind or low
bision persons interested in participating.

Best regards,
Grandpa Dave in California

Press release as follows . . .
WGBH - February 19, 2010



Recruiting Now for a Survey on Synthesized Speech and Audio Description

IBM Research-Japan and WGBH's Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center
for Accessible Media (NCAM) are conducting a joint study via an online
survey on the applicability of speech synthesis for audio description of
Web-based video.

Adults (18+ years of age) who are blind or have low vision will be asked to
share their opinions about a few short video clips which include synthesized
description.

NCAM is seeking participants with a range of familiarity with synthesized
speech (from little or none to regular users) and as well as familiarity
with audio description (from little or none to regular users).

Interested in sharing your opinion? Please send an email to
access at wgbh.org <mailto:access%40wgbh.org>
with "participate" in the subject line. Once the online survey is posted on
or about March 1, you will be sent an email with the survey's Web site
address and asked to complete the survey by Friday, March 12. The survey,
which will be accessible via screen-reading software, should take no longer
than one half hour.

NCAM will summarize and share the results of the survey once user opinions
are analyzed.

NOTE: This is an early investigation into a subject many people who are
blind or have low-vision have asked about for many years. Though we are
conducting this study, WGBH does not intend to substitute synthesized speech
for human voices on the programs and movies we currently describe. Following
this narrow and limited initial study, further research will be required to
expand the scope of investigation into larger populations, other types of
media and other parameters.

End of press release.

Best regards,
Grandpa Dave in California