Re: [EXTERNAL] DRAFT: Letter to AT Vendors

Some comments:

Second paragraph, third sentence:

> Smart speakers harvest text and markup from the web  but also have an SSML<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2FTR%2Fspeech-synthesis11%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmhakkinen%40ets.org%7C31aba82755b0419458e008daf1ace042%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C638088022080358251%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VC73qJRBKuWLKtTcPwnEf5XQZzCBRkGwDX1rmzKL12A%3D&reserved=0> interface.

I would suggest changing this to:

“Smart speakers can harvest text and markup from the web and provide support for app developers to use SSML.”

AFAIK, the smart speaker API have two modes, passing plain text, or pass fully formed SSML.

Second paragraph, fourth sentence:

> Read aloud tools may use the Web Speech API<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwicg.github.io%2Fspeech-api%2F%23tts-section&data=05%7C01%7Cmhakkinen%40ets.org%7C31aba82755b0419458e008daf1ace042%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C638088022080358251%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bjeOpWqfuE1n%2FAQk5bhiiDatCmwwNRBQAwa09Cqud5k%3D&reserved=0>, also based on SSML.

I would suggest the following change:

“Read Aloud tools may use the Web Speech API for speech synthesis, and can utilize SSML if the requested synthesizer supports it.”

Based on experience, the completeness of the SSML accepted varies by synthesizer.

As for the two options:

I am not clear on these.

  1.  Encourage AT to parse the SSML-based pronunciation information in the same manner as other technologies.
  2.  Work with standards groups and browser vendors to add pronunciation information to the accessibility tree (AxTree).
Perhaps preface it with:

Begin suggested text:

There are two ways to include SSML-based pronunciation into HTML:


  1.  Inline SSML markup in HTML
  2.  Encode SSML-based properties as an attribute applied to text container elements.

Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages, but which ever approach is adopted, the question posed to AT developers (both screen reader and read aloud) specifically is how you will utilize the pronunciation information contained in HTML.  Which of the two options do you prefer:


  1.  We will parse the SSML-based pronunciation information directly from the content (e.g., inline SSML or attribute-based SSML)
  2.  We would expect the browser vendors to add pronunciation information directly to the accessibility tree (AxTree).”

End suggested text.

Based on the responses, we still don’t have a clear picture on which method, inline or attribute is easier for those vendors (AT or browser).



Mark


From: Paul Grenier <pgrenier@gmail.com>
Date: Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 2:16 PM
To: Pronunciation Task Force <public-pronunciation@w3.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] DRAFT: Letter to AT Vendors
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of our organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Audience: AT vendors and developers

Subject: Pronunciation in HTML

The Pronunciation Task Force<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2FWAI%2FAPA%2Ftask-forces%2Fpronunciation%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmhakkinen%40ets.org%7C31aba82755b0419458e008daf1ace042%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C638088022080358251%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=KQSS02TyYPBHHrKMP3kSR%2FLbT1ibIZ0Q4pM%2FwSH63kk%3D&reserved=0> identified multiple possible solutions for improving pronunciation on the web. We would like your opinions about two strategies on our way to choosing our preferred solution.

We aim to give authors control over pronunciation in HTML. Many technologies will benefit from this innovation including smart speakers, read aloud tools, and assistive technology (AT). Smart speakers harvest text and markup from the web but also have an SSML<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2FTR%2Fspeech-synthesis11%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cmhakkinen%40ets.org%7C31aba82755b0419458e008daf1ace042%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C638088022080358251%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=VC73qJRBKuWLKtTcPwnEf5XQZzCBRkGwDX1rmzKL12A%3D&reserved=0> interface. Read aloud tools may use the Web Speech API<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwicg.github.io%2Fspeech-api%2F%23tts-section&data=05%7C01%7Cmhakkinen%40ets.org%7C31aba82755b0419458e008daf1ace042%7C0ba6e9b760b34fae92f37e6ddd9e9b65%7C0%7C0%7C638088022080358251%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=bjeOpWqfuE1n%2FAQk5bhiiDatCmwwNRBQAwa09Cqud5k%3D&reserved=0>, also based on SSML. When it comes to AT, we're presented with two possible strategies:

  1.  Encourage AT to parse the SSML-based pronunciation information in the same manner as other technologies.
  2.  Work with standards groups and browser vendors to add pronunciation information to the accessibility tree (AxTree).

Please let us know which approach you prefer for your products and the users you serve. If you have any questions for our group, use our public email: public-pronunciation@w3.org<mailto:public-pronunciation@w3.org>.

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