Episode 181 - Let Your Web Pages Talk With CSS

In this episode of Two Voice Devs, hosts Allen Firstenberg and Mark Tucker discuss the CSS Speech Module Level 1 Candidate Recommendation Draft, a standard that enables webpages to talk, developed in collaboration with the voice browser activity. They explore its features including the 'aural' box model concept, voice families, earcons and more, drawing parallels with SSML and highlight its innovative approach to web accessibility complementing screen readers. Despite acknowledging its potential, they address some of its key omissions such as phonemes and the lack of a background audio feature. 00:04 Introduction and Welcome 01:14 Exploring the Concept of Webpages Talking 03:00 Deep Dive into CSS Speech Module 03:48 Understanding the Scope of CSS Speech Module 04:27 The Evolution of Voice Interaction 05:22 Comparing CSS Speech with SSML 07:13 The Power of CSS in Voice Development 22:49 The Impact of Voice Balance Property 29:20 The Limitations of CSS Speech 39:37 The Future of CSS Speech 42:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts