Hey Speech-Heads:

It’s time, once again, for Speech Technology’s annual Speech Industry Awards.  That’s right: Our yearly shout-out to the best-of-the-best in the World of Speech.  And as of RIGHT NOW, the Nomination Forms are online and ready to go.

So, get to is Speech-Heads.  Nominate those Speech Luminary and Star Performer?  Let us know about those Great Implementations.  Grab The Crown as a Market Leader.

It’s like my Speech Brother Eric B. says: “This year’s awards are going to be an all out CAGE MATCH.”

The deadline is April 30th this year, so GET CRACKIN’!

Hey Speech-Heads,

Check out this great use of TTS:

Movie Critic Roger Ebert–who is recovering from a serious bout with thyroid cancer that rendered him speechless–has been using TTS to communicate.  However, Ebert’s TTS recently got a new voice–his own.  His new voice by CereProc is programmed from collected audio clips and snippets from the movie critic’s many television appearances and DVD commentaries.

Check out this Esquire Article for more information.

And check out Ebert’s appearance on Oprah for his 2010 Oscar Picks.

Ryan Joe
Editorial Assistant – Speech Tech Magazine

I graduated from UCLA with a BA in English and have completed coursework for my MFA from Columbia. Like Lauren, I write features and case studies for the print edition of the magazine. I contribute heavily to the FYI and author the new Overheard/Underheard column, which premiered in the March issue. I enjoy comics, novels, creepy country music, and pints of Stella. I also enjoy speech technology. I can be reached at rjoe@infotoday.com

We got copies of the March ‘08 issue of Speech Tech on our doorsteps today. Look for it in your mailbox soon. And, if you don’t subscribe, do so now! It’s free if you’re in a field related to speech technology. Sign up here.

In the March issue, I check out the market for contact centers and IVRs in China and India with some help from Paul Greenberg and Sunny Rao; Ryan takes a look at the progress and hangups with voice search; and Len talks with speech industry professionals about Bill Gates’ proclamation that speech would be part of the next “Digital Decade.” And, bonus, David and I (Ed — Mostly David.) finally convinced Ryan to write his own column — “Overheard, Underheard.” It’s written in Ryan’s voice, and, let’s just say the phrase “gangsta flava” manages to make it in.

The features section dives into: budgeting for speech projects, the pluses and minuses of agent-assisted IVRs, and why usability testing is always a good idea.

We’ll also be introducing some new columnists in the March issue: Moshe Yudkowsky, Alex Halikias, Melanie Polkosky, and Adam Elman.

And, just because I’m in a weird mood today, here’s a video that was recently uploaded to YouTube, which demonstrates the worst TTS ever:

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=hMroYX_jg4c[/youtube]

- Marilyn Monroe Speaking [YouTube]