I remember walking into bookstores, smelling all those books and feeling empty in side, knowing I couldn't read them. I know you've all been there.
At 02:15 PM 3/15/2007, Fred Wurtzel wrote:
Hello, I, also have a similar history. I started with a Texas Instruments TI-994a computer with speech then went to an Apple II plus. What we have now is amazing and a blessing. The computer and Bookport along with Bookshare is an unbelievable combination to provide access to printed material. I can't imagine what a difference this would have made for me in college in the early 70's just after the invention of the cassette tape. -----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cy Selfridge Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 2:50 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk Hi folks, Well, I gues I'll throw in my couple of cents worth here. I concur with William and Crystal as I also have been around this synthetic speech game for a considerable amount of years. A long time ago about the only thing which talked was some of the DEC terminals which would hook up to some IBM mainframes. They did have very good speech with a German accent and they also cost around $8,000. My wife and I were elated to find the Voltrax Type and Talk synthesizer for the old Apple II+ because it was only $350 or so. While it was *very* limited it was better than nothing. Next I migrated up to an IBM compatible micro which was, I think, a 286 processor with a fantastic speed of about 4Khz. On this wonderful piece of equipment I had a Symphonics 215 speech board and it was, at best, miserable but it also was a lot better than nothing. What we have today with Eloquence, Double and Triple Talk along with the SAPI voicesis a true blessing. I use the USB Triple Talk on my 3GHZ XP Home computer because I can listen to JAWS and music independently of each other. When I request a "Read All" command I get the new SAPI voice through the computer's speakers. Now, how can you complain about this? Cy, the Ancient Okie... -----Original Message----- From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of William Stephan Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 12:34 PM To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [bookport] Re: In defense of Double Talk Crystal's right! Some of us who've been doing this for a while can still remember when synthetic speech sounded about like someone reading through a kazoo. Since folks can apparently designate whatever speech engine they want to use on a file-by-file basis, I'm not sure why which synthesizer is used is particularly significant in any case. -----Original Message----- .From: "Crystal French"<raincrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> .Sent: 3/15/07 9:25:01 AM .To: "bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"<bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> .Subject: [bookport] In defense of Double Talk . .For my two cents, I have no problem with Eloquence, or Double Talk. . .I have lived enough years to remember only too well a time when access to .printed material was very limited. . .So, Eloquence and Double Talk sound like normal people to me. . .In fact, Perfect Paul and I have a very nice relationship, thank you very .much, and I am happy to hear that he will be continued in BP II. . .Crystal . . . . -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: 3/15/2007 11:27 AM -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: 3/15/2007 11:27 AM -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/723 - Release Date: 3/15/2007 11:27 AM -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.11/722 - Release Date: 3/14/2007 3:38 PM
Sandy Licht Jeremiah 29:11 - 14 A .11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. 14 I will be found by you," says the Lord.
