Tech Testing Lab

In this podcast episode, we briefly explore the use of the Natural Reader software for podcasting. I think that the human voice is a special medium for sharing our thoughts and making emotional connections with our listeners. Talking has been my business for more than forty years as a classroom teacher, public speaker, and a podcast producer. However, I think there are some special applications where use of synthetic voices can be a valuable medium for sharing our podcast message. Recently, I have been experimenting with use of synthetic voices, or sometimes referred to as robotic voices, with podcasting. For decades, I have been a prolific writer throughout my career as a higher education educator. I am also an avid consumer of both podcasts and audiobooks. Some people prefer to read, others like to listen, and more like both. I decided to use technology to narrate my library of more than one hundred publications. For several years, I have been experimenting with a text-to-voice software program called Natural Reader.  The software plays a major role of helping dyslectic children and adults read school materials and improve their reading skills. Ask a parent with a dyslectic child and they will probably know that software or one similar to it. The corporation also has a special set of commercial-grade voices that can be licensed to produce narration for YouTube videos, podcast episodes, educational learning materials, public service announcements, and more. You can learn more about the software by checking out their website at https://www.naturalreaders.com/software.html

In this podcast episode, we feature my introduction to the podcast series. I am a technology enthusiast who found ways to incorporate learning technologies into my college global history course over a span of four decades. This podcast will be used to share about new engaging learning technologies and also a demonstration site used during faculty, staff, and student training webinars and workshops. This episode has been produced using Spotify’s Anchor podcast system. I suggest you checkout Anchor training videos on YouTube and the Anchor website at www.anchor.fm  My Anchor website is www.anchor.fm/david-arendale My website where I shared publications and links to podcast resources is www.arendale.org and my five podcasts are available at www.davidmedia.org  Thanks for listening.