A virtual newscaster, or also called a virtual host, virtual presenter, virtual teleprompter or virtual anchor is a computer-generated character created for the purpose of reading forth news from a website. While

Ananova Ananova was a web-oriented news service that originally featured a computer-simulated newscaster named ''Ananova'' programmed to read newscasts to users 24 hours a day. Ananova became a subsidiary of mobile telecommunication operator Orange S.A., ...

is often credited to be the first virtual newscaster on the web, it went off-line in 2004. Delta Seven, created by Bruce C. Pippin, uses

Microsoft Agent Microsoft Agent was a technology developed by Microsoft which employed animated characters, text-to-speech engines, and speech recognition software to enhance interaction with computer users. Thus it was an example of an embodied agent. It came ...

technology to deliver real-time changes in news, weather, sports and stock market quotes in less than seven minutes. Advantages of having such a character on a website include that it has a more familiar effect on viewers. Also, as newscasters are typically coupled with an audio reading of any article they are featured on,

visually impaired Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment� ...

illiterate Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, hum ...

persons can benefit from this method of information delivery.

External links

Delta Seven
{{web-stub Computer animation