{"id":2548513,"date":"2023-07-05T16:12:48","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T20:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platoai.gbaglobal.org\/platowire\/using-amazon-polly-you-can-highlight-text-as-it-is-being-spoken\/"},"modified":"2023-07-05T16:12:48","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T20:12:48","slug":"using-amazon-polly-you-can-highlight-text-as-it-is-being-spoken","status":"publish","type":"platowire","link":"https:\/\/platoai.gbaglobal.org\/platowire\/using-amazon-polly-you-can-highlight-text-as-it-is-being-spoken\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Amazon Polly, you can highlight text as it is being spoken"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Using Amazon Polly, You Can Highlight Text as It Is Being Spoken<\/p>\n

Amazon Polly is a text-to-speech service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows developers to convert written text into lifelike speech. With its advanced features and natural-sounding voices, Amazon Polly has become a popular choice for various applications, including e-learning platforms, accessibility tools, and voice-enabled devices. One of the standout features of Amazon Polly is its ability to highlight text as it is being spoken, enhancing the user experience and making content more engaging.<\/p>\n

Highlighting text as it is being spoken can be particularly useful in scenarios where users need to follow along with the spoken content or when visual cues are necessary to emphasize specific words or phrases. This feature can greatly benefit individuals with visual impairments, language learners, or anyone who prefers a multi-modal learning experience.<\/p>\n

To utilize the text highlighting feature in Amazon Polly, developers can use the Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML). SSML is an XML-based markup language that provides control over various aspects of speech synthesis, including pronunciation, intonation, and timing. By using SSML tags, developers can specify which parts of the text should be highlighted and control the timing and duration of each highlight.<\/p>\n

For example, let’s say you have a sentence like: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” To highlight specific words, you can enclose them within the `` tags. In this case, you could use `quick<\/mark>`, `brown<\/mark>`, and `fox<\/mark>` to highlight those words. By specifying a unique name for each mark, you can control the timing and duration of each highlight individually.<\/p>\n

Once you have marked the desired words or phrases, you can pass the SSML code to Amazon Polly for speech synthesis. The resulting audio will include the highlighted sections, allowing users to follow along visually as the text is being spoken. This synchronized highlighting can significantly improve comprehension and engagement, especially for complex or lengthy content.<\/p>\n

Amazon Polly offers a wide range of voices in multiple languages, each with its own unique characteristics and accents. Developers can choose the most suitable voice for their application, ensuring that the spoken content aligns with the intended audience and context. The ability to highlight text in conjunction with these diverse voices further enhances the user experience, making the content more accessible and engaging for a broader range of users.<\/p>\n

In addition to highlighting specific words or phrases, Amazon Polly also supports other SSML tags that can enhance the speech synthesis experience. For instance, developers can use the “ tag to control the speed, pitch, and volume of the speech. This allows for more expressive and natural-sounding speech output, further improving the overall user experience.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, Amazon Polly’s ability to highlight text as it is being spoken offers a powerful tool for developers to create more engaging and accessible applications. By using SSML tags, developers can control which parts of the text should be highlighted and customize the timing and duration of each highlight. This feature benefits individuals with visual impairments, language learners, and anyone who prefers a multi-modal learning experience. Combined with a wide range of voices and other SSML tags, Amazon Polly provides a comprehensive solution for high-quality text-to-speech conversion.<\/p>\n