Xbox is testing accessible chat options like transcription and speech synthesis
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Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
Microsoft has announced new text-to-speech and speech-to-text features for Xbox Party Chat, which aim to help make communication on the platform more accessible. The features are currently being tested through the Xbox Insider program.
The speech-to-text feature puts a window on the screen with automatic transcriptions of what people in the voice chat are saying, along with an indicator of whether the message was typed or spoken aloud. This could help people who are hard of hearing to participate in the chat, even if the other participants are speaking instead of typing.
Removing a communications barrier for some on May 13, 2021, 9:21
Bottom line: Microsoft said either of these features (or both enabled at the same time) can help deaf or hard of hearing gamers or those who cannot speak participate in Xbox Party Chat without any special accommodations from other members of the chat.
Microsoft is well ahead of the curve in terms of supporting disabled gamers thanks to products like the Xbox Adaptive Controller, but Redmond knows there are opportunities to improve.
Starting today, Xbox Insiders can try out a couple of new Xbox Party Chat features. When enabling speech-to-text transcription, all words spoken by people in your party chat will be converted into text and displayed in an adjustable onscreen overlay.
Xbox Survival billboard : won numerous Cannes Lions for Microsoft The organisers of the Cannes Lions International Creativy has named Microsoft its Creative Marketer of the Year. The award is given annually to “an advertiser that has amassed a body of creative and Lion-winning work over a sustained period of time and has established a reputation for producing brave creative and innovative marketing solutions”, according to the organisation. Microsoft has won a number of Cannes Lions over the years. In 2019, it scooped 11, with McCann New York’s “Changing the game” for Xbox winning picking up five of those, including a Grand Prix in Brand Experience and Activation as well as a Titanium Lion.
For years I’ve been waiting for Microsoft to finally ditch the drive and allow us Xbox gamers the chance to embrace a fully digital life. In fact, when the original Xbox One, then Xbox One S, and then Xbox One X released, I was ready to make the jump with each iteration. I haven’t bought a physical copy of a game in years, and with one less thing to go wrong, removing the drive seemed like a sensible idea. However, the only hint that they were ready to make the move was with the launch of the
Xbox One S All-Digital Edition in 2019, and by that time it just felt like one console variation too many. I mean, why ditch the more powerful Xbox One X just to have an aesthetically pleasing front face?
Cannes Lions 2021 awards Microsoft with Creative Marketer of the Year
The tech giant will be honoured on Friday, June 25, during Cannes Lions Live, which runs from June 21-25, 2021 Delhi, May 12, 2021
Cannes Lions has announced that it will honour Microsoft as this yearâs Creative Marketer of the Year. The accolade is presented to an advertiser that has amassed a body of creative and Lion-winning work over a sustained period of time, and has established a reputation for producing brave creative and innovative marketing solutions.
Rising Star Awards 2021 Entry Deadline - Monday, May 17, 2021 -
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In 2019, Microsoft won 11 Lions, with McCann New Yorkâs âChanging the Gameâ for the Xbox Adaptive Controller winning five, including a Grand Prix in Brand Experience & Activation as well as a Titanium Lion. Other stand-out winners have included McCann New Yorkâs âMake Whatâs Nextâ campaign focused on STEM for International W