Since last month's launch of the Amazon Kindle eBook reader, technology pundits have been debating whether or not Amazon's salvo will do anything to kick-start the lagging eBook market.

Now Engadget is reporting that according to unnamed sources, an Iranian inventor named Ramin Sedighi has created a "talking" e-book, which utilizes a stylus that can be moved across words and then pronounce them out loud:

"The system can also apparently 'explain' pictures, though it's unclear whether or not it uses image recognition or some type of embedded data."

The laptop-sized unit will be aimed at educational applications for children 4 through 16, and will be available sometime in early 2008, according to the article.

Talking e-book reader coming next year [Engadget]