Politics
Proud Yorkshireman with cerebral palsy is swapping his Stephen Hawking-like robotic voice for one with a local twang
A PROUD Yorkshireman with cerebral palsy is swapping his robotic voice for one with a local twang.
Richie Cottingham, 26, relies on a computer linked to a keyboard like the one used by the late Professor Stephen Hawking.
Proud Yorkshireman Richie Cottingham who has had cerebral palsy since birth is swapping his robotic voice for one with a local twang[/caption]
Richie relies on a computer linked to a keyboard like the one used by the late Professor Stephen Hawking[/caption]
But it has an American accent and Richie is desperate to sound more like where he’s from — Hull, East Yorkshire.
He is now working with a speech and language therapist to try to get the voice on his device changed.
Richie, who has had cerebral palsy since birth, said: “I want to sound like my family and friends.
“I’ve lived in East Yorkshire all my life, so I think a local accent would fit well. I would love to have my own voice.”
Therapist Jennifer Benson, 46, said: “Our voices are unique to us as individuals.
“It’s like your fingerprints. It’s key to your identity and your sense of self.”
Richie says: ‘I’ve lived in East Yorkshire all my life, so I think a local accent would fit well. I would love to have my own voice’[/caption]
Richie, pictured with therapist Jennifer Benson, said: ‘I want to sound like my family and friends’[/caption]
Jennifer said: ‘We have the opportunity to literally give Richie a voice’[/caption]
Most read in News
Richie will choose two local men who will each record around 200 phrases.
They will then be merged together digitally to form a unique voice just for him.
Jennifer said: “We have the opportunity to literally give Richie a voice.”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk
