Central Audio-Library of the University of Novi Sad

Abstract

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. This paper presents the project Central Audio Library of the University of Novi Sad (CABUNS), aimed at automated creation of audio editions of textbooks, presentations and other course material using the new technology of text-to-speech synthesis in the Serbian language. The paper describes the architecture and the features of the developed system, from the points of view of both teachers and assistants who upload course material to the CABUNS server, as well as students who can download audio editions and listen to them (and view them) using their computers and mobile phones. The examples of the first audio editions of textbooks and PowerPoint presentations related to the course Acoustics and Audio Engineering are presented. The paper also analyzes the advantages and drawbacks of this new learning technology, which has a potential to greatly contribute to the quality of higher education, but also to education at other levels. The paper also presents the most recent results in the development of text-to-speech, enabling voice conversion, which means that very soon it will be possible to produce an audio edition in the voice of the author of the textbook or the person who delivers the lecture.