NeoSpeech Selected for Flagship Golf Application

FREMONT, CA - NeoSpeech, a provider of speech technologies for hand-held, desktop and network/server applications, announced that new media agency 2112 has selected NeoSpeech's Text-to-Speech (TTS) product VoiceText™, to power its flagship 18interactive product. 18interactive is a web-based, multimedia application combining enhanced graphics, animation, narration, photography and videography to showcase the features, challenges and amenities of individual golf course properties. "We are providing a powerful, cutting-edge solution for golf course owners wanting to promote and market their properties," said Drew Wharton, president and founder of 2112. "NeoSpeech's Text-to-Speech engine provided us with a very natural and realistic voice for speech synthesis that integrates nicely with the animation, video and photography of each course. The voice is so realistic, in fact, that one golfer e-mailed us requesting that the head pro introduce himself at the beginning of the virtual tour. He didn't even realize the voice wasn't human!" Prior to utilizing NeoSpeech's VoiceText for their interactive golf application, 2112 hired professional voice-over talent to create the narrative. This involved paying the talent for multiple takes as well as for the cost of studio time. With the Text-to-Speech (TTS) product, the golf course sends a text document to 2112 advising how to play each hole from various positions. 2112 then uses TTS to turn the text into audio. "2112 has utilized speech and other multimedia technologies to create a very rich and engaging experience for golf enthusiasts," said Yoon Kim, CEO of NeoSpeech. "This application can easily be expanded to help golf course owners promote not only their courses, but their resort facilities and various amenities. We look forward to working with 2112 as they create innovative and exciting interactive applications for the golf industry and various verticals."