Speech design tool: Sesign

We developed a tool (Sesign: Speech design tool) to create speech messages. Sesign provides a graphical user interface to manipulate parameters of speech synthesis, and makes it possible to synthesize various types of speech. The manipulation is performed in text level such as to change Chinese characters and accent types, and in parameter level such as to modify speech power, fundamental frequency and duration. Speech messages created by Sesign have several advantages. Examples include easy synchronization with other media such as moving picture and a low bit rate; i.e., only phonetic symbols and prosodic parameters should be transmitted at approximately 1 kbit/s or less.