News

Goodmans Introduces Smart Talk Freeview Digital Box with Integrated Text to Speech Capabilities (16/8/2010)

Smart Talk(tm), the world's first Freeview digital box with integrated text to speech (TTS) capabilities from Goodmans, is set to give UK consumers a new and improved televisual experience. Marketed under the Goodmans brand, this is the result of a collaboration between the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Harvard International, Pixsan and Loquendo.

Available from August at selected retailers and direct from RNIB, Smart Talk Freeview digital box is an innovative new product which will offer real benefits to millions of people who are elderly, blind or partially sighted, or severely dyslexic. The new Smart Talk Freeview digital box from Goodmans is set to revolutionise the digital television market as its TTS technology will make a world of entertainment accessible for a selection of markets who have to date, been largely ignored.

Loquendo's expressive and versatile synthetic TTS technology allows users of the Smart Talk Freeview digital box to interact with the latest viewing technology by making use of speech-enabled information from the digital box. The result is improved accessibility and a more effective and enjoyable way for all users to access programme information, schedules, screen and audio settings all by means of user-friendly speech feedback.

Consumers can also control the way the text on screen is read out to them with the ability to change the volume and level of detail read out. Changes can also be made to the size and colour of the text. The interface will provide a simple user experience and open a world of entertainment opportunities for people who have previously struggled to read on screen information.

Smart Talk is powered by Bradford based Pixsan's digital TV software. Both Pixsan's DTG compliant "middleware" and their MHEG engine, which runs the red button services for user interactive content, utilise RNIB's carefully designed user interface specifications to ensure the Loquendo TTS and the Graphical User Interface operate in harmony to provide the ultimate user experience for the target market.

John Edwards, Director of Communications at Harvard International said: "We are thrilled to be joining together with such respected and knowledgeable organisations to share the joint vision of creating a product which could help millions of people to enjoy the latest digital television."

Commenting on the announcement of the new collaboration, Steve Tyler from RNIB said: "The development of this product will allow millions of people across the UK to enjoy digital television independently. It is fantastic to see it becoming a reality."

www.smart-talk.com