Note about EPUB 3 Text-to-Speech Support needs wordsmithing

[murata2makoto]

Section

https://www.w3.org/TR/epub/#sec-tts

Describe the problem

The explanation note (with the reference) in the EPUB spec says:

See EPUB 3 Text-to-Speech Support [epub-tts-10] for more information about using TTS technologies in EPUB publications.

But we now have Aural rendering, which is about the use of TTS technologies in EPUB publications in general.

The abstract of EPUB 3 Text-to-Speech Support is

This document describes authoring features and reading system support for improving the voicing of EPUB® 3 publications.

Here, "improving" is very important. On top of text within EPUB publications, EPUB 3 Text-to-Speech Support introduces the use of SSML, PLS, and CSS Speech.

Describe the fix or new feature you propose

The note should be more specific.

[mattgarrish]

EPUB 3 Text-to-Speech Support introduces the use of SSML, PLS, and CSS Speech.

But the fact unfortunately remains that none of these are supported. We discussed the state of TTS support with APA prior to TPAC and they acknowledged that they're trying to start again by seeing if maybe there is a slimmed down set of CSS Speech properties that could get support, and whether some manifestation of SSML could be implemented. But we lack real-world solutions to this problem, or clear direction yet on what might survive.

In any case, the note you cite from 3.3 is out of date now. The TTS section under aural rendering mentions all three technologies with a clear warning that their future is uncertain, which is the most honest way to present this issue.

[murata2makoto]

But the fact unfortunately remains that none of these are supported.

As I reported before, one textbook publisher in Japan uses SMIL and another uses PLS. They are used in Japanese elementary and junior-high schools. Both companies follow "EPUB 3 Text-to-Speech Support".

In any case, the note you cite from 3.3 is out of date now.

So, how do you rewrite the note?