A speech synthesizer of Japanese saves patients' voices

Abstract

“MyVoice,” free speech synthesis software for Japanese, developed by one of the authors, is widely used to save many patients' voices in Japan. We lose our voice for various reasons. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is an example. When an ALS patient has difficulty breathing, Tracheotomy becomes an option, and the patient loses the ability to speak. Laryngectomy is another example. By using “MyVoice,” patients can keep communicating using their own voice even after losing that ability. To facilitate this, patients record utterances with their voice before surgery. The recording is designed to minimize time and load of patients as much as possible, by including Japanese basic mora set so that potentially any word can be concatenated from the recorded sounds. The graphical user interface of this software is well-designed so that therapists as well as the patients' family and friends can also use it with a minimum of effort. In fact, we often hear heart-warming stories of making “MyVoice.” “MyVoice” continues to rescue patients’ voices and we will continue making improvements to it in the future.