iSpeech Develops Audio Reader for Elsevier's SciVerse Applications

Elsevier, a provider of scientific, technical, and medical information products and services, has released an audio reader application from iSpeech, a provider of cloud-based speech technology and mobile apps, on its SciVerse Applications platform. The iSpeech Audio Reader is the latest in a growing list of applications enhancing the use of SciVerse ScienceDirect content to improve researchers' workflows.

The iSpeech Audio Reader text-to-speech application instantly converts any full-text article within SciVerse ScienceDirect, a source of peer-reviewed scientific content containing more than 10 million articles, into a natural sounding voice file. It enables researchers to easily convert articles into MP3 audio files and listen to them on any MP3-friendly device.

"Through our continued collaboration with Elsevier, we've expanded our text-to-speech solutions into the realm of scientific research, which is an ideal extension of our strategy to provide convenient, easy-to-use approaches to learning and interacting with information," said Heath Ahrens, CEO of iSpeech.

"The iSpeech Audio Reader is an ideal application for researchers that are auditory learners or that are visually impaired," said Rafael Sidi, wice president of applications and developer networks at Elsevier. "It's an excellent example of our vision to work directly with the communities we serve to provide customized search and discovery applications that solve specific challenges users face within their research workflows."

The iSpeech Audio Reader application stems from a collaborative relationship between iSpeech and Elsevier developed following a 24-hour hackathon hosted by the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Elsevier. Jesse Campbell, a graduate student at NJIT and software developer at iSpeech, and fellow NJIT graduate student Metin Yorulmaz won first place for the SV Social application, which allows users to mark a favorite article, share articles on social networks, and convert text to speech.

SciVerse Applications and the Developer Network provide opportunities for researchers and librarians to collaborate with developers in creating and promoting new applications that improve research workflows. The Developer Network features a growing community of application developers that gain potential recognition, prestige, and revenue through their contributions to SciVerse Applications.