TalkingAid Wireless Device Now Available

Fonix Speech announces the availability of the TalkingAid Wireless, a U.S. model of a TalkingAid Series Portable Communication Aid, a handheld electronic device developed and manufactured by BANDAI NAMCO Group of Tokyo and distributed in the United States by ZYGO Industries, Inc. The TalkingAid Wireless features Fonix DECtalk® text-to-speech (TTS) technology and is designed to help persons with complex communication needs such as hearing and speech impairments. The TalkingAid Wireless will be available in the United States from ZYGO Industries, Inc. beginning December 2006. Fonix receives unit royalties from BANDAI NAMCO Group for the sale of each device.

“We’re pleased to offer the TalkingAid Wireless for U.S. customers in need of communication solutions,” said the developer, Masatoshi Takai from Special Amusement Machine Group, NAMCO BANDAI Games, Inc. “Along with our distributor ZYGO, we specialize in market-leading voice output devices, and the TalkingAid Wireless is a superior product, further enhanced by Fonix text-to-speech, which is clear and easy to understand, especially over the unit’s built-in cell phone.”

“ZYGO has been making and marketing communication aids since 1974,” explained Larry Weiss, President, ZYGO Industries. “Bottom line is … we know and use DECtalk as the primary synthesizer for our business and, although we look at and listen to some of the new ones, we are still fixed on DECtalk.”

Introduced at the 24th annual “Closing the Gap” conference in Minneapolis from October 19 – 21, the TalkingAid Wireless is a portable communication aid for those who have complex communication needs for speaking and writing. Users select keys from the portable keyboard, and messages are displayed on an LCD as well as spoken aloud with Fonix DECtalk TTS.

“NAMCO’s TalkingAid Wireless is a great example of Fonix speech technology at work,” said Walt Nawrocki, Senior VP and GM, Fonix Speech. “Developers looked for ways to make the device user-friendly as well as practical for persons with communication disabilities. Fonix technology enables the device with a selection of intelligible TTS voices in multiple languages. This product illustrates how speech interfaces can be utilized to enhance technology for added functionality and convenience.”

Source: Fonix