The Origin of Text to Speech (TTS) Technology

The idea of creating machines that can simulate the human voice has been sparked more than 200 years ago. In 1779, Russian professor Christian Kratzenstein built a device capable of reproducing artificial vowels. Subsequently, in 1791, Wolfgang Von Kempelen introduced the "Acoustic-Mechanical Speech Machine" – a device that could produce single sounds and several combinations of sounds, marking the first step in speech synthesis.

Wolfgang Von Kempelen invented the Acoustic-Mechanical Speech Machine

By the early 19th century, Charles Wheatstone had improved and successfully built a version of the "talking machine" based on Von Kempelen's design. This device is more complex, capable of producing vowels, consonants, and even complete words. This is considered a breakthrough, laying the foundation for future research on text-to-speech technology.

Charles Wheatstone improved and successfully built a version of the "talking machine"

In 1937–1938, at Bell Labs, Homer Dudley successfully developed the VODER voice synthesizer, based on his work on the pronunciation device. VODER not only produces sounds, but also has the ability to simulate human voices more clearly. When it was exhibited at the New York World's Fair in 1939, the VODER attracted great attention, opening up the potential for wide application of Text to Speech technology in the future.

 Homer Dudley successfully built the VODER voice synthesizer

History of the formation and development of TTS technology

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology has gone through a long journey from the first experiments to modern applications, reflecting the tremendous progress of science and technology through each stage.

● Beginning period (1950 – 1970)

TTS technology originated in the 1950s when the first voice synthesis system was developed. In 1961, John Larry Kelly, Jr. and Louis Gerstman at Bell Labs used an IBM 704 computer to synthesize voices and perform the song "Daisy Bell". This is an important step forward, marking the ability of machines to simulate the human voice. In 1966, linear predictive coding (LPC) was born, laying the foundation for audio analysis and synthesis in the following decades.

John Larry Kelly, Jr. and Louis Gerstman at Bell Labs used an IBM 704 computer to synthesize speech

● Development period (1970 – 2010)

Since 1970, Fumitada Itakura has been developing technologies such as Line Spectrum Pair (LSP), which makes it possible to compress speech data more efficiently. In the 1975s, the MUSA speech synthesis system and handheld devices such as Speech+ assisted the visually impaired, along with Texas Instruments' Speak & Spell (1978) that made TTS more popular.

In the 1990s, Ann Syrdal at AT&T Bell Labs created the first female voice for a voice synthesizer, improving naturalness and friendliness. In 1999, Microsoft released Narrator - a screen reader software built into the Windows operating system, bringing TTS to millions of users around the globe.

Texas Instruments' Speak & Spell (1978) helped TTS become more widely used

● Boom period (2010 – present)

Since 2010, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep neural networks (DNNs) have completely changed TTS, helping to create more expressive, natural voices. Tools like DeepMind's WaveNet and Baidu's Deep Voice 3 make it possible for users to transcribe their voices with just a few minutes of audio data. Today's TTS has been deeply integrated into virtual assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, and many other applications such as audiobooks, public notification systems, and video games.

Today's TTS has been more deeply integrated into virtual assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa

The Future Development Direction of Text-to-Speech Technology

In the future, text-to-speech (TTS) technology promises to grow stronger and stronger thanks to the advancement of artificial intelligence and deep learning. Artificial voices will become more natural, capable of reproducing shades and intonations identical to human voices. Virtual assistants and chatbots will also create more natural conversations, providing a human-like sense of communication. In addition, text-to-phoneme technology will also be improved, improving the accuracy and efficiency of speech recognition systems.

Moreover, TTS will also be more deeply integrated into daily life, especially through devices in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Users will be able to control the device by voice in real time, which is more convenient and efficient in human life and work.

Application of Text to Speech technology in life fields

Text to Speech (TTS) technology is an automated text-to-speech conversion solution. This technology has the ability to create natural voices, which are applied in many different areas of life.

Education

In the field of education, TTS plays a role in supporting learners to access knowledge more easily:

● Support for students with disabilities: TTS technology helps students with visual impairments or dyslexia to access learning materials conveniently. TTS can read textbooks, lectures or study notes, helping students keep up with the curriculum.

● Audiobook creation: TTS is used to produce audiobooks quickly and at low cost. This makes it possible for learners to acquire knowledge even when they are on the go or do not have time to read.

● Foreign language learning: TTS has a standard reading voice, supporting learners to improve their listening and pronunciation skills in different languages.

 TTS plays a role in supporting learners to access knowledge easily

Business

In the business environment, TTS helps businesses automate processes and improve services:

● Automated Response System (IVR): TTS is used in customer care call centers to answer basic questions, guide customers, or provide informational announcements. From there, it helps businesses maintain interaction with customers 24/7.

● Create ad content: Businesses use TTS to produce ad content with a standard, uniform voice that can be easily converted into a variety of languages.

● Improved customer experience: TTS helps to personalize services, providing a more friendly feeling when interacting with customers.

TTS is applied in an automated response system (IVR) for effective customer care

Health

TTS technology in the medical field brings many benefits such as:

● Support for visually impaired patients: TTS can read medical documents, medication instructions, or announce treatment schedules, making it easy for visually impaired people to access information.

● Automated notification system: TTS helps hospitals and clinics send notifications about appointments, test results, or healthcare instructions quickly and accurately.

● Breaking down language barriers: TTS is capable of supporting multiple languages, helping foreign patients better understand their health conditions and treatment guidelines.

TTS helps patients better understand their health status

Everyday life

TTS has become an integral part of everyday devices and applications:

● Smart Home: TTS technology is integrated into smart home devices such as smart speakers, voice control to read notifications, reminders, or provide weather information.

● Virtual assistants: Virtual assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa use TTS to answer questions, read the news, or perform tasks such as setting alarms or playing music.

TTS is applied in virtual assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa to answer questions

Entertainment and media

TTS brings significant improvements in the entertainment and media industry:

● Dubbing: This technology is used to dub videos or movies in multiple languages, saving time and production costs.

● Digital content creation: TTS supports digital content creators to create instructional videos, news, or advertisements with a natural and engaging voice.

TTS assists content creators in creating instructional videos, news, or ads that engage customers

Conclusion: Text to Speech technology has undergone a long journey of development from early platforms to modern applications today. Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand the history of text-to-speech technology. If you are looking for a high-quality TTS application, immediately refer to Viettel AI's Text to Speech application. The application is combined with advanced technology, meeting and effectively supporting the flexible needs of users.