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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Woman happy to have own voice for first time | Woman happy to have own voice for first time |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lauren Courtney, from Sevenoaks, is now using a voice created from recordings of her family | Lauren Courtney, from Sevenoaks, is now using a voice created from recordings of her family |
| Lauren Courtney, from Sevenoaks, is now using a voice created from recordings of her family | Lauren Courtney, from Sevenoaks, is now using a voice created from recordings of her family |
| Published28 September 2024, 10:06 BST | |
| A Kent woman says she is "so happy" to have her own voice for the first time. | A Kent woman says she is "so happy" to have her own voice for the first time. |
| Lauren Courtney, from Sevenoaks, previously used a communication aid with computerised voices which her family likened to a sat-nav. | Lauren Courtney, from Sevenoaks, previously used a communication aid with computerised voices which her family likened to a sat-nav. |
| But now, the 48-year-old can speak with a synthesised voice made up of recordings from two of her female relatives. | But now, the 48-year-old can speak with a synthesised voice made up of recordings from two of her female relatives. |
| Ms Courtney first words were, “Daddy, Mummy, I love you.” | Ms Courtney first words were, “Daddy, Mummy, I love you.” |
| She added: “Having my own voice makes me so happy. It’s really motivated me to improve my skills with the technology and speak more.” | She added: “Having my own voice makes me so happy. It’s really motivated me to improve my skills with the technology and speak more.” |
| 'Challenging to adopt' | 'Challenging to adopt' |
| The technology has been provided by Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology (KM CAT), a service based at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. | The technology has been provided by Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technology (KM CAT), a service based at Kent and Canterbury Hospital. |
| Her father, Dr Nigel Courtney, said she has form for adapting to new technology. | Her father, Dr Nigel Courtney, said she has form for adapting to new technology. |
| He said: “When she was six, she could operate a BBC microcomputer with a foot switch. At 12, she learned to operate a Windows PC. At 14, she could use a head switch to operate a copy of Stephen Hawking’s speech output device,” he said. | He said: “When she was six, she could operate a BBC microcomputer with a foot switch. At 12, she learned to operate a Windows PC. At 14, she could use a head switch to operate a copy of Stephen Hawking’s speech output device,” he said. |
| He added: “Although Lauren has found it challenging to adopt and master these changes, she has persevered and was thrilled to use the voice for the first time.” | He added: “Although Lauren has found it challenging to adopt and master these changes, she has persevered and was thrilled to use the voice for the first time.” |
| Voice banking was first suggested to Ms Courtney by Georgina Overell, of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. | Voice banking was first suggested to Ms Courtney by Georgina Overell, of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. |
| Two of Ms Courtney’s family members recorded lists of words and phrases which were then used to create a single personalised synthetic voice that is capable of generating an infinite number of words and sentences. | Two of Ms Courtney’s family members recorded lists of words and phrases which were then used to create a single personalised synthetic voice that is capable of generating an infinite number of words and sentences. |
| The new voice was installed to Ms Courtney’s communication aid device, which she uses through a head switch attached to her wheelchair. | The new voice was installed to Ms Courtney’s communication aid device, which she uses through a head switch attached to her wheelchair. |
| Ms Overell said: “Lauren is brilliant to work with. She has so much to say and it is lovely to hear her speak with her very own unique voice.” | Ms Overell said: “Lauren is brilliant to work with. She has so much to say and it is lovely to hear her speak with her very own unique voice.” |
| Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |
| Related topics | Related topics |
| Sevenoaks | Sevenoaks |
| Disability | Disability |
| Canterbury | Canterbury |
| NHS | NHS |
| Stephen Hawking | Stephen Hawking |