Newspaper Vocalisation & Services: Swedish News Journal Riksdag & Departement Chooses TTS-Solution From Acapela Group

Newspaper Vocalisation & Services: Swedish News Journal Riksdag & Departement Chooses TTS-Solution From Acapela Group

MONS, Belgium, May 5/PRNewswire/ -- When the news journal Riksdag & Departement (Swedish Parliament's
newspaper) was looking for a simpler, quicker and more economic solution to
record and distribute its audio version, initially intended for visually
impaired people, they chose a Text-to-Speech (TTS) solution from Acapela
Group.

Riksdag & Departement (R&D), 'Sweden's newspaper on political
developments today,' is issued 38 times a year and has a circulation of 10
800. The first audio version, a 60 minute synthesis of the journal's contents
recorded by a human voice/in a studio, was distributed by mail on CD.

When looking for a more efficient and modern method, R&D considered the
Internet combined with speech synthesis as a possible solution. Of all the
bids received, the one from Acapela was judged to be the most comprehensive
and relevant to R&D's requirements. The excellent quality of Acapela's TTS
and the quick and flexible production process were determining factors.
Instead of just getting a synopsis of the magazine, subscribers that prefer
listening to reading can now access the full contents of every issue.

'We decided to switch to a new, modern method of distributing the audio
version of our news which is more cost efficient than previous methods and is
of very good quality,' says Nils Funcke, editor in chief of R&D.

The printed version of the journal is distributed on a Monday and the
audio version must be available by the following Wednesday at the latest.
The editorial staff send a pdf file of the contents to Acapela on the Friday
before distribution of the printed version. Acapela then creates the audio
version employing its TTS technology, using either the Elin or the Erik
Swedish voices, and delivers the journal within two working days. Subscribers
will be able to download R&D either in DAISY or in MP3-format, from
http://www.rod.se or via a link sent out by email. For those who prefer, the
journal can still also be sent out on a CD. Readers, or listeners, will now
be able to download an MP3-file of the journal and listen to it on their cell
phone or MP3-player.

'We are very pleased to work with R&D on this project. Thanks to the
highly improved quality of speech synthesis over the last couple of years and
new techniques for producing audio newspapers, more and more people will get
the opportunity to listen to their favourite newspaper or magazine whilst out
driving or walking for example. Everyone can now benefit from this
development, not only visually impaired people,' says Lars-Erik Larsson, CEO
of Acapela Group.

About Riksdag & Departement:

With its 38 issues per year, the Riksdag & Departement (Parliament &
Ministry) news journal covers all stages in the government's decision making
process, from receiving and debating an initial proposal through to the final
decision. It provides information on all directives for official
enquiries/reports, proposals coming out of studies and investigations,
memorandums from the ministries, governmental proposals and decisions made by
the Parliament - nothing in the political process leading to new laws
escapes.

R&D also covers the EU, including commentary on the Council of Ministers,
the European Parliament and the Commission. R&D was first published in 1939.
Officially R&D is Parliament's newspaper but it has no influence whatsoever
on content.

The editor in chief of R&D, Nils Funcke, was awarded in 2008 the
journalistic prize of the Swedish lawyers association. The magazine has,
according to the jury, become "an interesting and informative publication
paying special attention to legal issues." For more information, please visit
http://www.rod.se (only in Swedish). The information above was taken from
http://www.rod.se and translated by Acapela.

About Acapela Group:

Acapela Group, the leading European voice expert, invents text-to- speech
solutions to give your content a voice in up to 25 languages.

We help you build your 'voice strategy', to enhance the promotion of your
business to customers through the spoken word, and add audible value to your
services and applications for improved market recognition and audio-brand
visibility.

Our speech solutions allow you to turn any written text into natural
speech files, using over 50 High Quality standard voices or your own
synthesised voice talent. Acapela can answer all your text-to-speech needs
and provide perfect vocalisation whether for voice integration and
development, online & on demand use, audio files production, or ready to
speak products for personal accessibility use.

Our international team of experts is fully dedicated to developing the
best voice solutions, adapted to your particular project and market
specificities. Over 850 companies around the world have already adopted
Acapela high quality voices to voice-empower their products and services, in
very different markets.

Check out http://www.acapela.tv - the sparkling laboratory of Acapela
Group, for a fresh and exciting take on how speech synthesis can now be used:
acapela.tv is a showcase and test playground that shares the possibilities of
speech synthesis with Internet users, allowing them to discover innovative
and attractive ways to make smart use of speech applications online.
http://www.acapela-group.com

Source: Acapela Group

Caroline Houel, PR & Communication Manager, Acapela Group, Tel : +33(0)562-24-71-04

-------
Profile: intent