Suggestion for Easy Diary Android app; Enhance the TTS feature by implementing the ability to; modify voice type/texture and speed: and also by adding reading player navigation buttons.

Repository

https://github.com/hanjoongcho/aaf-easydiary

Components

The feature I'm suggesting affects one of the basic features of the software (Easy Diary). That is; The reading feature of the software, otherwise known as TTS.
The TTS feature on the app works well, but it could be further improved by adding some functions which will be of great benefit to end-users.

Proposal Description

The TTS feature lacks some basic functions which I proposed to the project owner to implement. I suggested that users should be able to modify the feature. Here's my suggestion in details;

Ability to modify voice texture.

The TTS feature uses only one voice. A female voice. Which isn't so bad in my opinion. But, it might not be ideal for everyone. Sometimes, I'd ideally want to read the contents of my diary entry with a much deeper voice, or even a male voice. But that's not possible on the app currently. Aside from either a male or female voice, I suggested to the project owner that other kinds of sounds could be used. So far the content of the diary is read.

Ability to adjust reading speed.

The app comes with the inability for users to adjust the reading speed of the reader. I didn't quite like the reading speed that's currently in use. Sometimes it's fast and sometimes, it feels too slow. But, with this function, I can adjust it to suit my desires.

Ability to play/pause/rewind/fast-forward.

Think of the reader as a music player. Sometimes, you might want to pause the music to quickly do something else and continue from where you after you are done with that task. That's where the ability to pause and play comes in handy.
Sometimes, you just want to get passed some parts of the song to the part that's important to you; that's when you need to use fast-forward.
You weren't paying attention to what was playing and you missed an important part, you can rewind it and get back to what you missed.

The same scenario that we experience with music players can be experienced with the reading feature on this app. The only difference is that this app currently doesn't have these features and that's why I suggested it to the project owner.

Mockups / Examples

To implement the feature on the app, things like voice type/texture and reading speeding has to be located in the app's setting. Like this

From the settings in the picture above, users can now select voice type, adjust voice texture, and adjust reading speed.

The navigation button; that is, play/pause, rewind and fast-forward, has to be implemented where the content is being read. Just like this;

The navigation button won't be available until a user must have opted to use the TTS function. To read content of the Diary, users have to click on the icon which I enclosed in a black box on the image above. When they enable the TTS function, then the navigation buttons will appear. Users can now use it as they deem fit.
Another way this might be implemented is by using gestures. But, I doubt if the project owner will be willing to go that extreme.

Benefits

• In general, the features I've suggested are bound to improve user experience. Amazing user experience is what the project owner strives for (according to the project's readme file). This feature will certainly do that.
• The navigation buttons for the TTS feature has the same benefits as I explained with a music player. End-users can now experience more flexibility with the TTS feature as they would with a music player.
• Reading speed would be valuable for either slow or fast listeners. They can adjust the reader to whichever speed suits their needs.
• Having the ability to tweak voice type/texture would certainly make the app more enjoyable to use.

GitHub Account

https://github.com/HarryHeights

I've already proposed this feature to the project owner. It's something he can do and has shown interest in implementing the feature in the next release of the software.
You can read my discussion with the project owner here