Infovox Desktop 2.2: A Straight Talking Interface from Acapela

Infovox Desktop is a high-end text-to-speech product designed to allow visually impaired people as well as those who are illiterate, dyslexic or who suffer from age related health concerns, to vocally access written information or other accessibility applications using a screen reader.

In an increasingly technical world, users with disabilities are often faced with a number of challenges. Rapid innovations in technology can lead to isolation and frustration. Conversely, advances in the digital age can hugely facilitate daily living where interfaces designed specifically for accessibility are concerned. Infovox Desktop is one such interface.

Infovox Desktop speech synthesis can read aloud any written information with very natural and pleasant sounding voices. Users can simply listen to a written text, access their PC with a screen reader, surf the web or control the typing of a text using simultaneous oral spelling.

Infovox version 2.2 – what is new?

This latest version of the Infovox Desktop is now fully compatible with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Acapela’s product complies with the main requirements of these operating systems to make the integration of the Infovox Desktop’s accessibility applications both easy and effortless.

Already available in 20 languages and 45 different voices, Infovox Desktop 2.2 adds 4 new high quality voices to its portfolio: Peter (UK English), Rosa (North American Spanish), Louise (French Canadian) and Alice (French). Two voices especially adapted for children have also been developed: Nelly (US English) and Kenny, voices that allow young users to choose a vocal persona that is better suited to fit their own identity.

With this latest version, Acapela clients will be able to purchase more voices for the same price, as licensing is now per language and no longer per voice. By purchasing just one license, clients will be able to use all of the voices available for a language. The American voice Heather is also provided free of charge with any language license.

Multilingual voice packages have also been created to meet the demands of Swiss (German, French, Italian and US English Heather) and Belgian users (French, Belgian Dutch and English Heather).

Additional features also include brail text on the software DVD, demonstrating once more Acapela’s desire to facilitate the end user’s experience as much as possible. Using the product’s Lexicon feature, customers can personalise the pronunciation of any word, group of words or even complete sentences to meet their own requirements for optimum comfort and ease of understanding.

With Acapela’s speech solutions, any written information can be read aloud, creating a full dialogue interface and freeing users from screen dependence. Assistive technology such as Infovox Desktop is opening doors for its users to an increasing number of living and working opportunities. Acapela has a long history of focusing on accessibility issues and remains deeply involved in improving the daily life of thousands of users.