Innovative AI Audiobook Booth Captivates Visitors at New Delhi World Book Fair
A Unique Experience at the New Delhi World Book Fair
The 'New Delhi World Book Fair' at Pragati Maidan is proving to be a remarkable event not just for book lovers but also for technology enthusiasts. This year, the fair features an AI-powered audiobook booth that has become a major attraction for curious readers of all ages.
Engaging with Audiobooks
The online bookstore Bookswagon is offering readers a unique opportunity to step into the spotlight and experience listening to audiobooks in their own voice. Participants can read only a small excerpt at a time.
Recording Personal Narrations
Visitors are lining up to record samples of their voices, becoming narrators of their favorite stories. The selection includes classics like 'Moby-Dick' and 'Kim', as well as revered Hindu epics such as the 'Ramayana' and 'Bhagavad Gita'. The process is straightforward: record a brief segment and choose from over 100 titles on the Bookswagon platform to listen to the audiobook in your own voice.
Future Developments
Shubham Jain, the founder of Bookswagon, mentioned that a mere 30-second voice sample is sufficient. Currently, this feature is in its demo format, allowing users to listen to excerpts read in their cloned voice. Jain anticipates that a fully developed version will be available next month, enabling listeners to enjoy entire audiobooks in their own voice.
Personalized Storytelling
This means that soon, listeners will be able to hear stories narrated in the voices of their loved ones, whether it's a grandmother telling children's Panchatantra tales or parents reading bedtime stories. Excited about bringing stories to life with her voice, 14-year-old Varsha Poonj expressed that hearing her own voice was an incredible experience, even if it was just for a paragraph. She added, 'It's mind-blowing to see what artificial intelligence can do in just a few minutes. It was truly a unique experience.'
Key Highlights
Location: New Delhi World Book Fair (Pragati Maidan).
Attraction: AI-based audiobook recording booth.
Experience: Readers can record stories in their own voice.
Objective: Bridging the gap between technology and literature.