Log On Voice Banking USAGM
Metadata
- Log On Voice Banking USAGM
- March 7, 2023
- Content Type Package
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn Voice Banking (TV, R) HEADLINE: LogOn: Assistive Technology Lets Users Speak, Sound More Like Themselves TEASER: An artificial intelligence-assisted voice can help those with voice loss or speech impairments preserve or develop their signature sound PUBLISHED AT: 03/06/2023 at 8:30AM BYLINE: Tina Trinh CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: LAS VEGAS, NV VIDEOGRAPHER: Tina Trinh PRODUCER: Tina Trinh SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, Reifenrath VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original, see courtesies PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 1:58 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TV EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Your voice is uniquely yours, but what would happen if you lost it? It’s a reality for some, and while text-to-speech technologies have allowed the voiceless to express themselves, the results can sound robotic. But new technologies are now enabling users to sound more like themselves. Tina Trinh reports.]] ((Bradley Heaven, Assistive Technology Enthusiast)) “It’s amazing, I love it.” ((NARRATOR)) When Bradley Heaven talks, it sounds like this, ((NATS)) “Kind of, ha ha.” ((NARRATOR)) Heaven has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. He uses an eye-tracking device to communicate his thoughts. But until recently, the digital voice that spoke for him sounded pretty … digital. But a company called Acapela Group has come up with a way to turn his voice from this ((NATS)) “It’s really cool and unique.” ((NARRATOR)) into this, ((NATS)) “It’s really cool.” ((Mandatory CG: YouTube logo, Acapela Group)) ((NARRATOR)) The Belgium-based company creates personalized digital voices for those experiencing speech impairment or voice loss. ((End courtesy)) For those affected, it’s a more human way to express themselves.” [[FOR RADIO: Remy Cadic (“REH-mee kah-DEEK”) is the CEO of Acapela Group]] ((Remy Cadic, Acapela Group CEO)) “The key point here is the identity of the person. We want to help the person to be himself or herself in daily life.” ((NARRATOR)) Acapela Group’s “My Own Voice” is a voice-banking service that ((Mandatory CG: Acapela Group)) allows a customer to “bank” or save their voice for future use. Users record themselves reading 50 different sentences or, if they can’t speak, enlist a friend or family member to be their voice. The technology uses algorithms and artificial intelligence … ((End courtesy)) [[FOR RADIO: Again, Cadic (“kah-DEEK”).]] ((Remy Cadic, Acapela Group CEO)) “...So that just based on 50 sentences, then we can create a new synthetic voice.” ((Mandatory CG: YouTube logo, Acapela Group)) ((NARRATOR)) The resulting synthetic voice is more personalized and can be used with various assistive devices. ((End courtesy)) Daniel O’Connor, Heaven’s aide, friend and business partner, recorded his voice for Heaven to use. He says the process was easy. ((Daniel O’Connor, Assistive Technology Enthusiast)) “The first thing Brad said to me is, ‘Hey, let’s order some coffee' and 'Don’t worry, it’s my treat.’ And he used my voice to say that.” ((NARRATOR)) Experts say using this technology could be meaningful for users. [[FOR RADIO: John Costello is a speech language pathologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and has used My Own Voice with patients.]] ((John Costello, Speech Language Pathologist)) “There are individuals whose speech is beginning to change, and by their own admission, it may not be the way they used to sound, but to them, it is who they are.” ((NARRATOR)) Banking a voice to strengthen one's sense of identity. Tina Trinh, VOA News, Las Vegas.
- Transcript/Script USAGM SHARE ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: LogOn Voice Banking (TV, R) HEADLINE: LogOn: Assistive Technology Lets Users Speak, Sound More Like Themselves TEASER: An artificial intelligence-assisted voice can help those with voice loss or speech impairments preserve or develop their signature sound PUBLISHED AT: 03/06/2023 at 8:30AM BYLINE: Tina Trinh CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: LAS VEGAS, NV VIDEOGRAPHER: Tina Trinh PRODUCER: Tina Trinh SCRIPT EDITORS: Michelle Quinn, Reifenrath VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original, see courtesies PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_ TRT: 1:58 VID APPROVED BY: MAS TYPE: TV EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) [[Your voice is uniquely yours, but what would happen if you lost it? It’s a reality for some, and while text-to-speech technologies have allowed the voiceless to express themselves, the results can sound robotic. But new technologies are now enabling users to sound more like themselves. Tina Trinh reports.]] ((Bradley Heaven, Assistive Technology Enthusiast)) “It’s amazing, I love it.” ((NARRATOR)) When Bradley Heaven talks, it sounds like this, ((NATS)) “Kind of, ha ha.” ((NARRATOR)) Heaven has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. He uses an eye-tracking device to communicate his thoughts. But until recently, the digital voice that spoke for him sounded pretty … digital. But a company called Acapela Group has come up with a way to turn his voice from this ((NATS)) “It’s really cool and unique.” ((NARRATOR)) into this, ((NATS)) “It’s really cool.” ((Mandatory CG: YouTube logo, Acapela Group)) ((NARRATOR)) The Belgium-based company creates personalized digital voices for those experiencing speech impairment or voice loss. ((End courtesy)) For those affected, it’s a more human way to express themselves.” [[FOR RADIO: Remy Cadic (“REH-mee kah-DEEK”) is the CEO of Acapela Group]] ((Remy Cadic, Acapela Group CEO)) “The key point here is the identity of the person. We want to help the person to be himself or herself in daily life.” ((NARRATOR)) Acapela Group’s “My Own Voice” is a voice-banking service that ((Mandatory CG: Acapela Group)) allows a customer to “bank” or save their voice for future use. Users record themselves reading 50 different sentences or, if they can’t speak, enlist a friend or family member to be their voice. The technology uses algorithms and artificial intelligence … ((End courtesy)) [[FOR RADIO: Again, Cadic (“kah-DEEK”).]] ((Remy Cadic, Acapela Group CEO)) “...So that just based on 50 sentences, then we can create a new synthetic voice.” ((Mandatory CG: YouTube logo, Acapela Group)) ((NARRATOR)) The resulting synthetic voice is more personalized and can be used with various assistive devices. ((End courtesy)) Daniel O’Connor, Heaven’s aide, friend and business partner, recorded his voice for Heaven to use. He says the process was easy. ((Daniel O’Connor, Assistive Technology Enthusiast)) “The first thing Brad said to me is, ‘Hey, let’s order some coffee' and 'Don’t worry, it’s my treat.’ And he used my voice to say that.” ((NARRATOR)) Experts say using this technology could be meaningful for users. [[FOR RADIO: John Costello is a speech language pathologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and has used My Own Voice with patients.]] ((John Costello, Speech Language Pathologist)) “There are individuals whose speech is beginning to change, and by their own admission, it may not be the way they used to sound, but to them, it is who they are.” ((NARRATOR)) Banking a voice to strengthen one's sense of identity. Tina Trinh, VOA News, Las Vegas.
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- Embargo Date March 7, 2023 08:32 EST
- Byline Trina Trinh
- Brand / Language Service Voice of America