CrazyTalk
Just a quick update on a program I saw at BETT.
I received CrazyTalk4 today and I’ve put up a short sample of what it can do. Using an existing sound file, I created the animation in about 20 minutes. It’s not perfect by any means but it shows that you can produce something quickly and easily.
I’ve exported it in the format that requires you to download a plugin. This only works in IE as Firefox can’t find the plugin. I could have saved it as an avi or animated gif but wanted to try this format.
Link to it here.
Andy,
This looks like a very nice piece of software (I’m downloading the trial as I type!)
What do you think the main applications of this will be in the classroom?
I can see it being used to create stand alone lessons, allowing youngsters who have missed a session the chance to “catch up”. Further do you think the use of an avatar such as this could be used to assist pupils who are entitled to a reader in situations where support staff are stretched?
Gordon
I think its main value is that it catches the attention, especially of younger children. It might be used to introduce a topic on a whiteboard or to ‘read’ a poem.
It might be a part of a stand alone lesson but you have to balance the time taken to create the material with the overall benefit to the pupil.
Any kind of mechanical reader will never be good enough as a reader for children who require support as, however good the intonation, speed, etc might be, it cannot react to the listener. A good reader subtly amends the reading style to take the listener’s reactions into account.
You might want to have a look at another program from the same company - iClone - which lets you control the movements of an avatar. Crazy Talk and iClone can work together to create talking, moving avatars.
Fair fa yer honest sonsie face
You seem to have aged alarmingly and I’m not sure about the accent.
Clever software with obvious potential