Web Interface Offers a "New Voice" to People with Speech-Limitations

A new calling service available to those with speech limitations allows individuals to place phone calls and communicate via a Web-based assistive service. With Sentient Solutions’ new service, called Sitris, subscribers are able to select from a variety of natural sounding individualized voices.

According to Sentient Solutions, Sitris’ feature of offering voices to fit the subscriber’s personality is credited for positive initial responses from users who suggest they are being provided with a renewed sense of confidence, independence and privacy when using the telephone. With more than 2 million Americans living with a range of vocal disabilities, Sitris is marketed to benefit persons with Cerebral Palsy (CP), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), laryngectomees, a stroke, brain trauma, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), motor neuron disease, or anyone who struggles to be understood when using the telephone.

To use the service, a subscriber accesses the Sitris platform via any Internet connection, including dial-up, DSL or WiFi. Upon registering a user can select from a variety of voices that reflect his or her personality. To place a telephone call, a “conference call” is created between the Sitris speech engine, the users’ telephone, and the party being called. The user then selects words or phrases, or types sentences that are converted to the caller’s selected voice.

No software download or installation is needed, it’s accessed through the browser allowing the user to place calls from any Web access point. It recognizes common grammatical punctuation and the generated voice responds accordingly to give a more conversational flow. For instance, there is a pause for a period and inflection for question marks.There is an inbound calling component that should be offered fall 2007. This feature, which is not yet available, will allow the user to have a unique telephone number specifically for this service. Subscribers can receive calls and then respond to the inbound call by using the keys on the telephone key pad to play their personal audio from the web interface, such as a greeting, yes, no, or a message asking the caller to wait until they fire up the PC and use the full interface.

The outbound calling service starts at $9.95 per month and is compatible with any calls placed by land-based or cell phones.

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