[bookport] Re: speech

  • From: Bruce Toews <DogRiver@xxxxxxxx>
  • To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 20:09:59 -0600 (CST)

There's no way to please everybody on the speech issue. And there's also, it would seem, no choice that would please a majority. I have no speech preference. I've gotten used to the DoubleTalk, I've gotten used to the DECTalk, I could get used to AT&T, I've gotten used to the Echo, Artic, the old Braille 'n Speak, as long as it talks and I have a while to get used to it, fine.

Bruce

--
Bruce Toews
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On Wed, 8 Feb 2006, Mike Arrigo wrote:

Yep, speech is very subjective, in my opinion, dectalk would be the worst
choice.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris G" <chrisg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 12:19 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: speech


How about decTalk?
i know speech is very subjective.



--
Chris G <chrisg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 11:51:46 -0600
"Richard Ring" <ring.richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Considering the time period which is historically known as the dark
ages, I sincerely doubt if the Doubletalk chip was available then.
I don't mind if improvements are made in speech, but please, don't use
Keynote, and don't use AT&T natural voices.
I am currently testing a piece of software that APH sells that features
the AT&T Natural voices, and that speech is extremely difficult for me
to become accustomed to.
Although the overall sound of many individual words is more human than,
say, Eloquence or the Doubletalk, the inflection/rhythm is quite
strange.  The speech sounds as if digitized words are being patched
together so as to create the illusion of human sounding speech.
It doesn't work.


-----Original Message-----
From: bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bookport-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rick and Pauline
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 11:34 PM
To: bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bookport] Re: speech


Hi All,

Considering the improvements that have been made in synthesized speech
in
the last few years, it would be a shame for the American Printinghouse
to
saddle us with an antiquated system like Doubletalk.  It simply doesn't
meet
acceptable standards as a speech system any longer.  People I have
talked
with have held back from buying a Bookport because they have little
tolerance for Doubletalk.  To package an up to date product like the new

Bookport with yesterday's technology makes no sense at all to me.  For
those
who want to remain in the dark ages, you can keep what you have become
accustomed to, but please don't try to hold back the rest of us who hope
for
something better.

Rick


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Arrigo" <n0oxy@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 7:20 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: speech


The problem with eloquence is that it's software speech which means
you 
need
a few more things then you would by sticking with the doubletalk
synth.
First a more powerful processor, and second, an operating system for
the
speech to work with. Most likely that would result in a higher cost
unit, 
in
which case I'd say, by all means stick with doubletalk.
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Bennett" <david382@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 9:31 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: speech


Just remember that the better the speech, the higher will be the
cost.
I'd 
love to have eloquence, but it's one of the more costly ways to go.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue" <sjfryer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 9:19 PM
Subject: [bookport] Re: speech


       Hi Mike,

I'm with you, mate.   I think Eloquence would be a great idea.

Sue.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Arrigo" <n0oxy@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <bookport@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2006 11:35 AM
Subject: [bookport] speech


Since we're talking about the new unit, speech might be worth
discussing. 
My
vote would be for doubletalk or eloquence. Of course, everyone has
their
favorites, and there's no way you're going to please everyone, but
that's 
my
vote. Perhaps the new units could have 2 speech engines like the
braillenotes do















2.21.03





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