Project Sponsored by NASA Langley to use Neospeech's Speech Engine

FREMONT, CA - NeoSpeech, a provider of speech technologies for hand-held, desktop and network/server applications, announced that ODU Center for Advanced Engineering Environments at NASA Langley has selected its Text-to-Speech product, VoiceText as a key component for a learning environment under development. Spearheaded by Old Dominion University Center of AEE at NASA Langley Research Center, the project represents a bold new approach in learning. Comprised of a hub of networks, the learning environment combines software agents, adaptive human-computer and communication technologies, virtual reality, explorative visualization and perceptual user interfaces to elevate learning with more effective instructional tools. Using VoiceText, ODU AEE Center will advance its perceptual user interface, which couples natural voice and emotional interfaces, enhancing the learning process. A number of universities, funded by NASA, are seeking to bolster a projected skills gap and shortage of qualified workers that threatens to impact the U.S. aerospace industry and its leadership position. Currently, more than 54 percent of the science and technology workforce is over age 45 and nearing retirement. Another dynamic impacting the projected worker shortage is the number of science and engineering graduates has been on a steady decline for more than one decade. Stated Professor Ahmed K. Noor, Director of the Old Dominion University Center for Advanced Engineering Environments at NASA, "During our extensive vendor evaluation process, we examined close to two dozen speech technology vendors. We wanted a very flexible, human-like, text-to-speech solution that would blur the distinction between actual and virtual instructors. NeoSpeech came the closest to fitting our needs. VoiceText will be instrumental in transforming learning so it is far more engaging and rewarding." Said Lin Chase, CEO of NeoSpeech, "We are very pleased that VoiceText's superior voice quality came out on top. We look forward to supporting ODU CAEE Center at NASA Langley on this revolutionary mission and expect that we will evolve VoiceText's capabilities to an even greater level."