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Convenient for users and easy to implement, the ReadSpeaker function converts text and streams the corresponding audio content without any software downloads or special plug-ins needed. Users can select any portion of text, or an entire article to be streamed as audio. With a click of a button, any Gale database text can be read aloud via the user’s computer, thus making Gale content accessible in a new way. These audio segments can also be saved as MP3 files for use on MP3 players for listening at a later time.

“We are committed to helping schools and libraries provide information to their readers, and with ReadSpeaker and the addition of this audio component to our databases, we are able to deliver our content to users with different learning styles,” said Tim Lovelace, Product Manager, Gale. “ReadSpeaker aims to help make web content accessible for people with dyslexia, learning disabilities or low literacy levels, as well as people with English as a second language, elderly individuals with impaired vision and others that like to listen, as well as read. Our customers will find great value in this added functionality and doors will be opened for new customers to access our database information as never before.”

Free to database subscribers and the end-user, ReadSpeaker functionality will be added this spring to Gale databases including Student Resource Centers, Discover, Junior Reference Collection, Kids Infobits, Opposing Viewpoints Reference Center, and Science Resource Center.

For more information on these titles, please contact Lindsay Brown at lindsay.brown@cengage.com

About Cengage Learning and Gale
Cengage Learning, formerly Thomson Learning, delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, serves the world's information and education needs through its vast and dynamic content pools, which are used by students and consumers in their libraries, schools and on the Internet. It is best known for the accuracy, breadth and convenience of its data, addressing all types of information needs – from homework help to health questions to business profiles – in a variety of formats – books and eBooks, databases and microfilm. For more information visit: www.cengage.com or www.gale.com.

About VoiceCorp
VoiceCorp is the leading Software as a Service (SaaS) company in the area of speech-enabling online content for web sites and RSS feeds. The founders of VoiceCorp pioneered the first-ever speech-enabling application for web sites with its ReadSpeaker services in 2001 which has over 2000 customers worldwide subscribing to the service and several million users per month. VoiceCorp speech-enables online content in up to 19 languages and provides a portfolio of speech applications for not only web sites but also for RSS feeds, online campaigns, newsletters, and mails deliverable on computers as well as on portable devices such as mp3 phones and mp3 players. Contact : press@voice-corp.com.