Hovertravel is pleased to announce its commitment to enhancing accessibility by integrating Recite Me’s advanced translation technology into its services. With an estimated one in ten people in the UK not identifying English as their first language, this initiative aims to provide a more inclusive digital experience for all customers.
The innovative Recite Me toolbar enables visitors to instantly translate website text into their preferred language and even allows them to listen to the translated content read aloud at the click of a button. To utilize this feature, users need to select the button marked “Languages,” which will reveal a drop-down list of all the languages offered by Recite. After selecting their desired language, the website automatically converts to that language, making navigation a smooth and user-friendly experience.
Loretta Lale, the Head of Marketing & Digital Development at Hovertravel, emphasized the company’s dedication to ensuring equal access to information about its services. “At Hovertravel, we are committed to ensuring that all our customers have equal access to information about our services,” said Lale. “With many people in the UK not speaking English as their first language, integrating Recite Me technology allows us to break down language barriers and enhance the travel experience for international visitors and non-English speakers.”
As the first cross-Solent ferry with this innovative technology, Hovertravel is now positioned to assist customers from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Whether they are visiting to enjoy the stunning sights of the Isle of Wight, to reconnect with family, or for business purposes, the company is eager to provide improved services that cater to all. “We welcome customers from around the world to experience our hovercraft,” Lale remarked.
The website's integration of Recite Me comes at a crucial time when more than 250 million people worldwide struggle with verbal communication disorders. Addressing this issue is the ongoing development of an AI-integrated app called Speak Ease, pioneered by researchers at Northeastern University. Professors Aanchan Mohan and Mirjana Prpa are at the forefront of this innovation, aiming to facilitate natural communication for individuals with speech impairments.
“More than 250 million people worldwide have verbal communication disorders that make it difficult to use automatic speech recognition programs,” noted Mohan. “Simply sharing what they’d like to eat for dinner by using ASR is cumbersome,” he added, highlighting the shortcomings of current technology.
The Speak Ease app encompasses a range of features designed to enhance user interaction, including speech recognition, text input, whole-word selection, emojis, and personalized text-to-speech synthesis. Prpa noted, “People either use speech recognition in isolation, or they use text-to-speech in isolation, or they type in isolation. Nobody had put all three together.”
By leveraging large language models to predict user phrases, Speak Ease aims to enable speech-impaired individuals to navigate conversations with ease. Crucially, the app allows users to communicate in their own voices and choose the emotional tone they wish to convey, addressing a significant gap in existing communication tools. “Expressivity is always on a back burner because everyone is trying to solve the speed issue,” stated Prpa. The app comes equipped with capabilities that prioritize context awareness and authenticity, two essential aspects often overlooked by traditional speech technologies.
“What we are looking for in our app is that when I talk to mom, or someone in my family, I might want to sound very different than when I speak in school,” explained Prpa. This personalized approach aims to cater to the distinct needs of users, allowing for a range of emotional expressions, from joy to annoyance.
Furthermore, the Speak Ease app is being developed in collaboration with Communication Assistance for Youth and Adults in British Columbia, bringing expert insight to the creation of a powerful communication tool. The platform promises to provide clarity and context, ensuring that users can be understood in real-time, especially in critical situations like visiting a doctor’s office.
Emerging from this collaboration, the app intends to enable someone to describe their condition effectively during medical consultations, addressing the critical communication barriers often encountered by individuals with speech difficulties. As Mohan aptly put it, “Say an individual with Down syndrome is describing a condition.” He stressed the need for clarity in such discussions, indicating that Speak Ease will provide a streamlined path for users to express their thoughts actively.
As the technological landscape continues to evolve, both Hovertravel's integration of Recite Me's translation tools and Northeastern University's Speak Ease app illustrate remarkable strides towards inclusivity. These advancements underscore the importance of fostering an environment where all individuals, regardless of language or speech abilities, can participate fully in society.
