Software speaking up for Scottish pupils

A NEW voice technology has been unveiled to help young male pupils with communication difficulties.

Known as “Stuart”, the technology will allow Scottish pupils with additional support needs to better express themselves.

Stuart joins “Heather”, the current Scottish synthetic voice available to pupils, so that boys can, for the first time, have a male synthetic voice to use in their school studies.

Paul Nisbet, senior research fellow at CALL Scotland, University of Edinburgh, said: “From today, pupils with visual impairment, dyslexia or reading difficulties will be able to have books, learning materials and exam papers read out by Stuart, and boys with speech difficulties who use communication aids will be able to speak with a Scottish computer voice.”