Newsgroups: comp.speech
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From: ebohlman@netcom.com (Eric Bohlman)
Subject: Re: Laptop text to speech question
Message-ID: <ebohlmanD6Ar11.5I@netcom.com>
Organization: OMS Development
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Date: Fri, 31 Mar 1995 08:46:12 GMT
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Kevin M McLaughlin (kmclaugh@osf1.gmu.edu) wrote:
: I would like to use my laptop in my car to read files to me as I drive.
: I have checked out TinyTalk, and think that it will suit my needs.
: However, I don't want to go the SoundBlaster route because of cost
: (PCMCIA card, etc.)  If I buy a true speech-synthesizer (Doubletalk), can
: I just hook it right up to a serial or parallel port and run with
: TinyTalk, or will I also need some other interface hardware or software?

The Doubletalk plugs straight into a serial port.  You might also check 
out the SmarTalk, a new portable synthesizer from Automated Functions, 
which plugs into a parallel port (small enough to hang straight off the 
connector) and can run at least 25 hours on a 9V alkaline battery (the 
Doubletalk LT is only good for about 8 hours).  The Smartalk does require 
a (included) software driver, but it's fairly small.  It lists for $369; 
we sell it as a package with Tinytalk for $450 (Tinytalk itself went up 
from $75 to $100 when we added a pronunciation-dictionary module).  The 
SmarTalk is an SSI263-based synthesizer, so most people won't think it 
sounds as good as the Doubletalk, but to each his own; IMHO, it sounds 
better than the Artic boards but not as good as the Accent.

For more information, call OMS Development at 800-831-0272 (708-251-5787 
outside the US and Canada) or send me email.

