Text-to-Speech Audio Presentation System for Visually Impaired Users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many Internet resources are inaccessible to users who cannot read textual content due to temporary or permanent visual impairments, such as those unable to view text while driving or with visual impairments, as existing technologies do not provide effective audio alternatives for textual information.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables personalized audio presentation of textual Internet content as synthesized human speech, allowing users to configure presentation modes, queue and stream relevant content, and access additional information based on user inputs, using a client-server architecture with text-to-speech conversion and contextual awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If textual content is provided on the Internet, then information accessibility is improved, but users with visual impairments cannot access the content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces text-to-speech conversion as an intermediary mechanism that transforms textual content into audio format. This mediator enables users with visual impairments to access Internet content by converting inaccessible text into accessible spoken word, thereby resolving the contradiction between information availability and accessibility for visually impaired users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the visual-mechanical reading system with an auditory-acoustic system. Instead of requiring users to visually process text through eyes and displays, the system substitutes audio output through speakers or headphones, allowing users with visual impairments to consume content through their hearing sense.
2Ease of operation
If continuous audio playback is provided, then user convenience is improved, but users cannot control the playback progress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic playback control that adapts to user needs in real-time. The system allows users to pause, resume, skip, and control playback progress based on their immediate requirements. This dynamic control mechanism balances convenience by providing both automatic continuous playback capability and manual intervention options, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and control functionality.
3Loss of information
If complete tracks are transmitted immediately, then content availability is improved, but data transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading and queuing audio tracks in advance based on predicted user interest and playback patterns. This allows the system to have content ready for immediate playback without transmitting all possible content upfront, thereby maintaining content availability while improving transmission efficiency through selective pre-loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating content priority and transmission quality based on specific tracks and user preferences. Instead of uniformly transmitting all content at full quality, the system optimizes transmission by prioritizing frequently accessed or highly relevant content, thereby improving overall data transmission efficiency while maintaining adequate content availability.
Data Source
AI summary
Each of a plurality of stations has a respective sequence of tracks of Internet content of common subject matter and a respective play pointer indicating a location in the sequence of tracks. In response to a first input, the presentation mode of the station is configured in a continuous play mode in which the play pointer is progressed through the sequence of tracks queued to the station regardless of whether or not the station is presently selected for presentation. In response to a second input, the presentation mode is configured in a pause play mode in which the play pointer is progressed through the sequence of tracks queued to the station only while the station is selected for presentation to a user and otherwise pauses progression of the play pointer. The processor transmits tracks of the station and progresses the play pointer in accordance with the configured presentation mode.