Newsgroups: comp.speech
Path: pavo.csi.cam.ac.uk!pipex!uunet!psgrain!m2xenix!clark!pacifier!mikef
From: mikef@pacifier.rain.com (Mike Freeman)
Subject: Re: WANTED: ms-dos text-to-speech
Message-ID: <1992Oct4.171702.14641@pacifier.rain.com>
Organization: Pacifier BBS
References: <1992Oct4.085656.1@venus.ycc.yale.edu>
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 17:17:02 GMT
Lines: 39

In article <1992Oct4.085656.1@venus.ycc.yale.edu> weed@venus.ycc.yale.edu writes:

>Please, Please, remember that there are other possible answers.  Various
>Macintosh-based applications are coming to market, which, I think will handle
>as well, or better, than anything out (in terms of PC software), in the
>availability of control over one's computer.  I am currently writing this post
>on a mac, using Berkeley Systems' "outSPOKEN" a product which I am *very* happy
>with.  If ther   are  blind users out there, who haven't looked at Macintoshes
>because of the perceived vision-biased user interface, it may not be as much of
>a problem as you might think.  

Kelly Ford (another blind user who works for the Trace Center) would
agree with you.  Nevertheless, two things should be pointed out:  (1)
there are many blind users who find Outspoken on the Mac rather confusing
to use; they tell me they tend to go "round and round" in trying to
navigate its menus.  (2) Although I have received this info second-hand
and it may be thus ruled inadmissible, I understand that Outspoken has
trouble with unfamiliar (read out-of-the-ordinary) applications; it
doesn't always speak everything that it should.

I don't want to start a flame-war over specific speech software/hardware
for the blind (we can do that on BlinkTalk).  In the interests of
providing complete info to those unfamiliar with this rather 
specialized subject, though, I thought these things should be mentioned.

For those who are knew to this world, I again reiterate that there is
more to good speech software for the blind than just reciting what goes
by on the screen (Matt, you and I can agree on that, at least <grin>).
See my earlier post and that of Dan Frankowski.

BTW, this is a great new newsgroup!

Thanks for reading.

-- 
Mike Freeman <K7UIJ>    |       Internet: mikef@pacifier.rain.com
301 N.E. 107th Street   |         or freeman@watsun.cc.columbia.edu
Vancouver, WA 98685 USA |       GEnie: M.FREEMAN11
Telephone (206)574-8221 |       Loose bits sink chips!
