Tech firm gives Roger Ebert his own voice

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Trib

After his second surgery, when he learned he would no longer be able to speak, Roger Ebert started writing notes.

But the iconic film critic soon found this took too long to keep up with the normal flow of conversation.

"There is a point when a zinger is perfectly timed, and a point when it is pointless," Ebert wrote in an August 2009 blog entry.

Last summer, Ebert found the Web site of CereProc, a company based in Edinburgh, Scotland that uses "text to speech" technology to provide people with voices that "sound real" and "have character," according to the company's Web site.
Using mostly audio from Ebert's own voice on DVD commentaries of "Citizen Kane" and "Casablanca," the company created a voice that sounds like the one he lost.

On Friday, Ebert demonstrated his voice during a taping of Oprah Winfrey's show, sounding like himself for the first time in nearly four years since his battle and recovery from thyroid cancer left him voiceless, according to a press release from the show's producer.


Read more: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/02/tech-firm-gives-roger-ebert-his-own-voice.html

[Warpy]

1. That's a great deal, much better than the artificial larynx

lampooned by one of the characters on "South Park." I think Ebert probably rejected that device as too artificial a long time ago, preferring to communicate in writing.

[hlthe2b]

2. I heard a public radio piece on this company--wonderful

If anyone deserves to benefit from this innovation, it is Ebert... Stay strong, Roger. You are an incredible motivator.

[MUAD_DIB]

4. Is he in remission?

If he is then that is great news!

[hlthe2b]

6. The interview was of the tech company developer...

who mentioned developing the system for Ebert, but not on Ebert per se, so I don't know... He had thyroid cancer with involvement of his mandible so, he lost major portions of his jaw bone in addition to his larynx. So, while he can't speak, can't eat (fed through a permanent stomach tube) and is disfigured, his mind and attitude are tremendous.

[supernova]

9. Heard the same report you did

I was really hoping they would have shared a snipped of RE's new voice. But I guess they didn't get permission.

It will be good to hear him speak again. He is one of the few people in whose voice I find a very comforting quality.

[arcane1]

3. I love Roger

And this is great news! :D

[onehandle]

5. Very happy for him. nt

[proteus_lives]

7. I recently read an article/interview with him.

It broke my heart.

[progressoid]

11. The one in Esquire?

If so, he responds to it on his blog:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2010/02/roger_eberts_last_words_cont.html#more

[proteus_lives]

12. That's a great 2nd part.

Ebert is such a cool guy.

[Stuart G]

8. Roger is a progressive from way way back..

I have read many of his occasional political columns. Always progressive and for the people. If I recall correctly in 66 he was editor of the "Daily Illini" at U of I and wrote a scathing column from South Africa on apartheid there. He was going to be a political writer but got side tracked into film reviews. I have always
liked his reviews.
His review on Avatar stated that that film would be as uplifting and popular as Star Wars..He was right.
I wish him the very best with his "new voice"

[progressoid]

10. I cut out this picture of him from Esquire.

If you get a chance to read the article on him, do so.

[SemperEadem]

13. Ebert's tweets are great

my daughter suggested I follow him--his sense of humor is fabulous.

[hlthe2b]

14. He has never suffered fools gladly--- especially Sarah Palin

;)

[Name removed]

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[4lbs]

16. I've always like Ebert's reviews and commentary. I agree with his movie reviews about 85% of the

time, which is excellent, considered I agree with most movie reviewers just barely half the time.

I've watched him on TV since the 1980s when he had the "Siskel & Ebert" weekly show with Gene Siskel.

[Starry Messenger]

17. Good for him.

Love Ebert.