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Last post Author Topic: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble  (Read 22576 times)

mouser

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I want to give a little teaser for a new toy app i've been working on for very young kids who are just learning to start to speak.

It's based on my MultiPhotoQuotes engine.

Tentatively called "VoicePics", this program runs full screen (across multiple monitors if present) and listens for a child to speak or press a key.

If the program detects something being spoken, it finds the best match for a word it has photos for, and displays some random photos for that word, as well as the word text.
If a key on the keyboard is pressed, a word beginning with the pressed key is displayed, along with some photos for that word.

Users can add their own photos easily, so you can customize it with pictures of mom, dad, sister, brother, dog, cat, house, etc.  It will scan labeled photos on startup and add those words to its vocabulary.

It uses the microsoft speech recognition engine, which is ok but not ideal.  I wouldn't expect to be able to use this to teach any kid how to pronounce words -- it's more to encourage very young kids to babble and give them the experience of having what they speak affect what it shown in a semi-consistent manner.

If anyone has any kids of an appropriate age, message me and i'll give you a link to a beta version.

I hope people will help by making some additional image packs for the program from royalty free photo sources.

Sample screenshot:
voicepics.png

I need suggestions for an official name for this -- the working title is "VoicePics" but i think it needs a better one.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2011, 05:40 AM by mouser »

mouser

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2011, 05:39 AM »
I should note that while this toy app is not suitable for teaching your kids how to pronounce words, it is very useful for preparing them at an early age for the frustrations of using a Speech Recognition system.  :huh:

app103

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2011, 12:45 PM »
I should note that while this toy app is not suitable for teaching your kids how to pronounce words, it is very useful for preparing them at an early age for the frustrations of using a Speech Recognition system.  :huh:


Deozaan

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2011, 07:09 PM »
I need suggestions for an official name for this -- the working title is "VoicePics" but i think it needs a better one.

BabyBabble

cranioscopical

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2011, 09:18 PM »

BabyBabble


Or, playing off of that, The Babbling Book.

Gothi[c]

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2011, 11:27 PM »

SPEDEROFOHUNCO

Speech Development Robot for Humans under Construction



Target

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2011, 12:11 AM »
FARRFARRFARR?

Ath

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2011, 01:24 AM »
BabyBabble
+2c :up:

mouser

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2011, 02:18 AM »
babybabble is a good name but too many hits on google -- should be a name that is a bit more unique.

cranioscopical

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2011, 08:55 AM »
FARRFARRFARR

Coincidentally, that's a way that I'd like you to go.

 :o

cranioscopical

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2011, 08:58 AM »
See Talk


C'est si bien


ChatterView

« Last Edit: May 13, 2011, 09:19 AM by cranioscopical »

kilele

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2011, 10:15 AM »
BabyChitchat

Chitchattoddler
« Last Edit: May 13, 2011, 10:20 AM by kilele »

cmpm

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2011, 10:27 AM »
Illustrated Word Baby

?

skwire

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2011, 10:51 AM »
Toddler Talk
Baby Vox

Josh

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2011, 10:53 AM »
Toddler speak and spell robot

daddydave

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #15 on: May 13, 2011, 11:34 AM »
Given the description of the intended audience as "just learning to start to speak" and since children try to speak long before they toddle, that would seem to rule out any variation of "toddle" or "toddler" in the name.

Well, I just noticed "toddler" in the subject line so never mind.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2011, 12:30 PM by daddydave »

jaden

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #16 on: May 13, 2011, 12:31 PM »
I'd be willing to help test it.  My 3 year-old would probably enjoy it and my 4 month old could be a backup if development takes a long time :)

Here are some name ideas I came up with:

SpeakNC
BabyPrattle
BabyGab
BabyTox
Babyak
PrattlePix
ChatterPix
ShowTot
MiteSight
TykeSee

Deozaan

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #17 on: May 13, 2011, 02:06 PM »
Ooh, I like Toddler Talk (or Toddle Talk) and PrattlePics. :Thmbsup:

Stoic Joker

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #18 on: May 13, 2011, 03:53 PM »
To avoid a name that age limits it, how about Little Voice Commander

mouser

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #19 on: May 13, 2011, 04:40 PM »
"Little Voice Commander"

I like that one.

I liked some of the others too, but many, like BabyVox, came up with existing products.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2011, 04:43 PM by mouser »

kyrathaba

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2011, 05:04 PM »
GooGooGaaGaa
PrattleRattle
MeSee-Say"Hay!" (Jar-Jar-Binks suggested this one...)
MonkeyHear-MonkeySay
SpunkyStarter
BabbleBooster
« Last Edit: May 14, 2011, 07:48 AM by kyrathaba »

cthorpe

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #21 on: May 13, 2011, 05:08 PM »
No name ideas, but I got a little guy who can test it for you.

cranioscopical

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #22 on: May 13, 2011, 10:12 PM »
Little Voice Commander
-Stoic Joker (May 13, 2011, 03:53 PM)

Nice one!  :Thmbsup:

and, at the drop of a vowel
mouser can begin work on the sequel for the somewhat older child… Little Vice Commander.


daddydave

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #23 on: May 13, 2011, 10:48 PM »
To avoid a name that age limits it, how about Little Voice Commander
-Stoic Joker (May 13, 2011, 03:53 PM)

The nice thing about this name is that is conveys the child is actually giving orders.

mouser

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Re: VoicePics - A Toy App that encourages toddlers to Babble
« Reply #24 on: May 15, 2011, 07:29 PM »
Any feedback from beta users?

Also: I'd love help making some additional image packs appropriate for kids.