14 DAY TRIAL // Immediately available in the Apple App Store and featured as "New and Noteworthy,” the PlaySay language learning app uses voice technology by Nuance Communications, Inc., the latter has announced.
Using the NDEV Mobile developer program, which provides developers access to Nuance's voice recognition and text-to-speech technology, PlaySay integrates Nuance's Dragon voice technology to connect Spanish and English language learners so they can learn useful phrases and improve pronunciation by practicing with a real-life partner.
PlaySay evaluates users' pronunciation and enables conversations in an interactive game that instructs users to complete a series of real-world “missions”, all powered by Nuance's Dragon voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies.
Scenarios include ordering food, introducing yourself, asking someone for help, and others.
Ryan Meinzer, founder and CEO of PlaySay Inc., said "Since my founding of PlaySay four years ago out of my own need to learn Japanese, technological advances in voice recognition by Nuance and cloud technologies have enabled us to create this iPhone app that I am most proud of.”
“With NDEV Mobile's Dragon Mobile SDK, we have quickly integrated the power of Dragon into our app to expand the functionality and user experience from a non-verbal app, to a social mobile experience that is changing language learning on a global scale,” added Meinzer.
“Through Dragon's voice technology, the gaming, social and educational elements of PlaySay come together to promote an engaging user experience,” said Matt Revis, vice president and general manager, handset business, Nuance Mobile. “As the NDEV Mobile developer program rapidly expands, we're thrilled to see a diverse range of apps like PlaySay take advantage of Dragon to provide a unique, fun and intuitive way of engaging consumers.”
PlaySay is free and works with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad. The app requires iOS 5.0 or later.