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Matt Martin: Take a listen to GoErie's latest feature [Erie Times-News, Pa.](Erie Times-News (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 01--The latest news broadcaster to arrive in Erie has a lovely if robotic voice and a newcomer's unfamiliarity with names. All you have to do to meet her is visit GoErie.com and, once the page has loaded, press the space bar on your tablet, laptop or desktop computer. Earlier this month, the Times Publishing Company placed a way-cool audio reader on the GoErie digital platforms. Audioeye Inc. describes its product as "an interactive, fully accessible audio equivalent of a website." The tool is in place first and foremost to bolster the Newspaper in Education program that the Times Publishing Company, its sponsors and many teachers collaborate on to provide year-round educational opportunities for students throughout northwestern Pennsylvania. For insights into how the program works, have a look at the resource-rich site, nie.goerie.com, maintained by Christopher LaFuria, the company's NIE coordinator. "As most school districts look to ensure inclusive practices, the Internet-based assistive technology now available allows teachers within the NIE program to be more adaptable to their students' needs," LaFuria said. "We could not maximize our level of outreach without the resources and technology provided by AudioEye." Those with limited sight also will benefit from AudioEye; its toolbar includes expansive zoom and text sizes, as well as color palette options. "GoErie.com provides a great example of how compliance with ADA mandates can also increase the reach and utility of even the most dynamic content," said Nathaniel Bradley, chief executive of AudioEye. Any site user with an interest in having the news read aloud can take advantage of AudioEye, though. Here's how it works: When a GoErie.com page loads, the "on" button for AudioEye displays as a gray, right triangle in the bottom right of your browser. Click the triangle, or just press your space bar, to launch the reader. AudioEye analyzes content, then reads information aloud. If you place your cursor on a particular item -- a headline, a photo caption, a paragraph -- it will read it aloud, then seek the next available text. AudioEye will read a page in full if the cursor isn't placed. That's a great feature if you wish to hear all the headlines on a section front. But that same technology will translate text all the way to the "About Us" information in small type at the bottom of the page. If that's not the details you're after, press the enter key to follow a link, or use the navigational arrows to get to the next articles or menus. Find a full list of available tools and functions by visiting the drop-down menu on the left side of the page. That's not the only way to have GoErie content read aloud. Erie Times-News subscribers have access to the Times-News e-edition, an exact replica of each day's print newspaper, with digital capabilities including article clipping and much more. To hear the news, click on any headline in the e-edition (GoErie.com/eedition), then click "Listen" in the menu at the top of the page. The e-edition voice doesn't match the tone of AudioEye, and hopefully you'll forgive both readers their occasional mispronunciations. Hopefully you'll also find them as user-friendly and useful as those who already have made them staples of their GoErie browsing. MATT MARTIN, editor-online news, can be reached at 870-1704 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/etnmmartin. ___ (c)2014 the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) Visit the Erie Times-News (Erie, Pa.) at www.GoErie.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |