Visual Impairments
Audio Output
Speech Synthesizer


This category provides information about vaious speech synthesizers. These products provide a way of synthesizing voice messages. Using sophisticated text-to-speech conversion rules, they process incoming text to produce intelligible speech output with human-like intonation.


Accent

Accent is a text-to-speech synthesizer with unlimited vocaulary capability and many features in five models. All models employ the standard Accent text-processor which speaks in two modes; text and spell. Speech rate is from 60 to 850 words per minute. The IBM Screen Reader supports Accent-SA, Laptop, MC, PC; check with the vendor for installation and technical support.
AICOM Corp.
1590 Oakland Rd. - Suite B112
San Jose, CA 95131
(408)453-8251

Apollo Speech Synthesizer

The Apollo Speech Synthesizer offers clear speech with pleasant inflection and tonal sixteen speeds from slow to very fast, a rechargeable battery, connections to serial and parallel ports of a PC and connections to any laptop. The Apollo is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
EVANS
P.O. Box 371
Westerly, RI 02891
(800)872-3891

Audapter Speech System

Audapter Speech System is a speech synthesizer. Its features include: intelligibility over 93 percent on the industry standard MRT test, fast response, 700-word-per-minute speech rate, speech halt control, compact unit with built-in speaker, personalized pronouncing dictionary; price includes AC adapter, cable and serial interface. The user's manual is available on disk. The IBM Screen Reader supports this product Contact the vendor for installation and technical support.
Personal Data Systems
100 W. Rincom Ave. - Suite 103
Campbell, CA 95003
(408)866-1126

BeSTspeech

This text to speech conversion facility is useful to persons who are blind and vision impaired and may be used by those with speech, hearing and learning difficulties. BeSTspeech products are compatible with VBX architecture; computer-created synthetic speech can be delivered over many phone lines simultaneously by a single AT-PC platform running under OS/2. A one-line DOS version is available. All packages offer digital voice recording and phone management capabilities.
Berkely Speech Technologies Inc.
2409 Telegraph Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94704
(415)841-5083

Braille 'n Speak

Braille 'n Speak, a compact, protable talking device with a seven-key Braille keyboard, may be used as a talking computer terminal, a Braille to print transcriber and a word processor. It is supported by the IBM Screen Reader; other features include a talking clock, calendar, calculator, stopwatch and a note organizer. It stores 20 file folders of information and has a 200,000 character memory. This battery-operated device also has a communication port for computer or printer connections. It allows information that is entered to print on a printer and will convert Grad 2 Braille entered into pritable text. Braille 'n Speak has a built-in speech synthesizer; a battery charger and headset are included. Also available is a disk drive accessory, a small disk storage device that lets the user save files from Braille 'n Speak to standard 3.5 disks.
Blazie Engineering
109 E. Jarrettsville Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
(410)893-9333

Braille Blazer printer

Braille Blazer is a small, light, quiet personal Braille printer with speech output for configuring the printer and as voice to any computer; it is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Blazie Engineering
109 E. Jarrettsville Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
(410)893-9333

CallText 5000

CallText 50000 is an internal circuit card that provides intelligible synthesized speech output for the IBM PC. It converts any sequence of ASCII characters routed to it into English speech. A speaker may connect directly tothe board. CallText 5000 answers incoming phone clals, sends a sythesized speech message and dials ougoing calls. Three different male voices are provided. For information about programs compatible with CallText 5000 (such as screen display to voice output programs), contact the manufacturer.
Centigram Communications Corp.
4415 Fortran Court
San Jose, CA 95134
(408)944-0250

CallText 5050

CallText 5050 is an external module that converts computer output into intelligible synthesized English speech. CallText 5050 connects to a computer's RS-232 port and converts the outgoing ASCII characters into speech according to its rules of pronunciation. A number of special pronunciation modes, such as letter by letter of abbreviation expanding, are possible. An external speaker may be connected to the unit. CallText 5050 answers incoming phone calls, sends a synthesized speech message and dials outgoing calls. Three male voices are provided. The system may be adapted to handle up to five channels of data input/output calls. Three male voices are provided. The system may be adapted to handle up to five channels of data input/output (eg., five different phone calls). This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Centigram Communications Corp.
4415 Fortran Court
San Jose, CA 95134
(408)944-0250

DECtalk

DECtalk, a full-featured voice synthesizer compatible with many systems, offers nine voices (male and female, chaild and adult) plus natural sentence rhythm and intonaton. It converts text to a pronunciation code using dictionaries and latter-to-sound rules, taking into consideration surrounding words and their effects on pronunciations. Speech rate adjusts from 120 to 350 words per minute. DECtalk provides a user-specified dictionary for common acronyms, trade terms and special words. It speaks through its internal speaker, headphones, an external speaker or over the telephone and accepts input from the computer through a standard RS-232C communications port. A portable version is available (see separate listing). For a telephone demonstration of DECtalk, call (617) 493-TALK. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Terminals Business Unit
146 Main Street
Maynard, MA 01754-2571
(800)832-6277 (617)493-3587

Double Talk PC

DoubleTalk PC has a dual-synthesizer design allowing it to talk for blind, learning disabled and visually impaired users. DoubleTalk allows the user to read and spell individual words or listen to paragraphs and sentences. An unlimited text=to-speech synthesizer translates text ouput from any program capable of printing to a printer into high-quality male voice.
RC Systems Inc.
121 West Winesap Road
Bothell, WA 98012
(206)672-6909

Echo PC

The Echo PC is an external text-to-speech synthesizer connecting to the computer's serial port. The Echo PC is no longer available, but those currently in use are asupported by the IBM Screen Reader. The Echo PC plus synthesizer is an internally connected synthesizer card. The IBM Screen Reader supports the Echo PC synthesizer and not the Echo PC plus.
Street Electronics Corporation
6420 Via Real
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805)684-4593

Eureka A4

Eureka is a 3-pound Braille input stand-alone computer with 64K of RAM; it uses a 3.5" disk drive, runs on rechargeable batteries and features a word processor, database, notepad and scientific calculator. This unit has VT-100 terminal emulation capabilities and acts as a talking thermometer and volt meter. The Eureka A4 can be interfaced with an IBM PC such that it can take the place of a traditional speech synthesizer.
Enabling Technologies Co.
3102 S.E. Jay St.
Stuart, FL 34997
(407)283-4817

Intex-Talker

Intex-Talker is a text-to-speech synthesizer that pronounces phonemes, letters, words or lines of text. It has variable pitch and intonation, can produce musical tones, recognizes all ASCII characters and speak punctuation. Intex-Talker works with any computer having serial or parallel ASCII as output. Options include a 2.7K buffer, and 8K user-programmable memory, a 16K vocabulary module and a built-in speaker.
Intex Micro Systems Corporation
P.O. Box 12310
Birmingham, MI 48012
(313)540-7601

Keynote Gold

Keynote GOLD is a high quality synthetic speech synthesizer for blind and visually impaired users - either laptop or desktop computers. Call Human Ware at (800)722-2822 to listen to a sample of the speech.
Human Ware Inc.
6140 Horseshoe Bar Rd. - Suite P
Loomis, CA 95650
(800)722-3393 (916)652-7253

Micro IntroVoice

Micro IntroVoice is a voice input/output system which provides voice recognition of 1,000 words with a 98% accuracy and ulimited text-to-speech synthesis. It listens to command or data input, then responds by sending keystrokes via the serial port and text to the on-board synthesizer for audio prompting and verification.
Voice Connexion
17835 Skypark Circle - Suite C
Irvine, CA 92714
(714)261-2366

MultiVoice

The MultiVoice Speech Synthesizer is a battery-operated version of DECtalk. It is a full-featured voice synthesizer, supported by the IBM Screen Reader, offering high quality voices and sentence rhythm and intonation. Eight voices (male, female, child, adult) are available. Thismodel weighs 4 pounds and attaches through a standard RS-232 port. Rate of speech is adjustable from 120 to 500 words/minute.
Institute on Applied Technology
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617)735-8391

NovaTrans

NovaTrans enhances the IBM PC or compatible through screen magnification (up to 12x, speech synthesis and camera enlargement. NovaTrans also allows for one-finger use of the keyboard.
Compute Able Network
P.O. Box 1706
Portland, OR 97207
(503)645-0009

PC-Voice

PC-Voice is an add-on hardware and software package that transforms an IBM PC into an augmentative communication system. Speech may be generated in five ways: by accessing user modifiable phrase lists, word lists, scratch pads, text files, and/or direct typing. The system may be controlled by mouse, trackball, keyboard, or other pointing device. The system includes a speech synthesizer, software, speaker/amplifier, and a user's guide.
Compeer Inc.
1409 Graywood Dr.
San Jose, CA 95129
(408)255-3950

Personal Speech System (PSS)

Personal Speech System (PSS) is a sef-contined external speech synthesizer that connects to the serial or parallel port. Transmitted data is sent to the PSS and becomes synthesized speech through a speaker. Pronunciation is determined by phonetic rules programmmed into the PSS. Optional phonetic rules may be programmed by the user, and text may be sent in standard orthographic or special phonetic spellings. Teh PSS has music capabilities. A 3,500 character buffer is provided so no delay in speech transmission occurs. Inflection, rate and amplitude of speech are adjustable. The PSS has its own auxiliary serial and parallel ports, so a printer can remain connected while the PSS is hooked up. Contact the manufacturer about voice-output software written for the PSS. This product issupported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Vysion Inc.
30777 Schoolcraft Rd.
Livonia, MI 48150
(800)521-1350 (313)522-3300

Porta-Voice Speech System

Porta-Voice is an augmentative communication speech system that includes a battery operated computer, speech synthesizer and software. Porta-Voice is used by locating words or phrases within lists, making vocabulary lists and typing owrds the user wishes to speak.
Compeer Inc.
1409 Graywood Dr.
San Jose, CA 95129
(408)255-3950

Prose 2020

Prose 2020 is a text-to-speech conversion program for easy, flexible voice synthesis. The user sends English words or whole sentences; the 2020 does the rest. Using sophisticated text-to-speech conversion rules, it processes the incoming text to produce immediately intelligible speech output with human-like intonation. Its vocabulary capability is unlimited. Anyone can create libraries of words, sentences or entire paragraphs using a terminal on any computer with an RS-232 port. Whenever spoken output is needed, the text is transmitted to the 2020. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Centigram Communications Corp.
4415 Fortran Court
San Jose, CA 95134
(408)944-0250

Prose 4000

The Prose 4000 speech synthesizer uses the same digital signal processing technology as Dec-Talk. Very high quality speech is produced at 50-250 words per minute for those requiring the most human-like speech possible.
Centigram Communications Corp.
4415 Fortran Court
San Jose, CA 95134
(408)944-0250

Screen Sound

Screen Sound is a keystroke-for keystroke interactive voice synthesizer driver that works with most popular synthesizers (Votrax, DECTalk, Vert, and others). It supports many off-the-shelf applications including graphics programs, spreadsheets, word processing, CAD, etc. It supports many Windows 3 applications.
Andromida Inc.
326 E. Mason Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
(703)549-3214

Seekline Screen Reader Program

Seekline is a text-to-speech TSR program for IBM and compatible personal computers that allows visually impaired and blind users to access most software programs. It uses the Covox Speech Thing speech synthesizer and its software and is a menu-driven system; a demo copy is available for $2.50
speech Systems for the Blind
76 Wheaton Dr.
Attleboro, MA 02703
(508)226-0447

Sounding Board

The Sounding Board is an internal voice synthesizer with speaker for blind and visully-impaired users - in six models. Features include capitalization alert, format alert, fast forward/rewind, pause, hyperscan, and exception dictionary for mispronounced words. An extetnal speaker with volume control and phone jack is included.
GW Micro
310 Recquet Dr.
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
(219)483-3625

SpeakEasy

SpeakEasy is a general purpose 32-bit computer (Amiga 500) running a software package that turns it into a speech synthesizer. It provides speech output for Pcs or ASCII terminals.
Chip Orange
3227 Rain Valley Ct.
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(904)487-2680

SynPhonix 200

SynPhonix 200 is a speech synthesizer for the IBM PC. An internal circuit card with speaker offers an unlimited vocabulary of phonetic synthesized speech. The device also produces music and sound effects and simulates singing. Speech characteristics are adjustable, including rate, pitch and amplitude. Various software programs come with the SynPhonix, including programs for text to speech, programs for creating fixed vocabulary files and a demonstration program. Options include programs for creating and managing vocabularies and PortTalk, a program allowing output to be routed to the SynPhonix 200 as if it were a printer. Artic Vision, a screen reading and navigating program, is available.
Artic Technologies
55 Park St. - Suite 2
Troy, MI 48083-2753
(313)588-7370

Syntha-Voice Synthesizer

Syntha-Voice is a serial synthesizer with speech rates up to 720 words per minute which supports IBM's Screen Reader. It is an external 25 ounce box with built-in speaker, a 1/8 inch external speaker jack, a 9 pin RS-232 female connector and a power adapter jack. Thereis no power switch or external volume control; the unit is powered through an adapter and an internal sealed lead-acid battery. The vocabulary is 70,000 English words. Pitch, speech rate, and volume are controlled through software.
Syntha-Voice Computers Inc.
125 Gailmont Dr.
Hamilton, ON L8K 4B8
Canada
(800)263-4540 (416)578-0565

Type 'N Talk

This self-contained speech synthesizer connects to a PC's serial port. Output can be routed to Type 'N Talk just as it is to a printer or a monitor. Characters sent will be spoken in English, According to the synthesizer's rules of pronunciation; text may be sent in standard orthographic or phonetic spellings. A 750 character buffer is provided, allowing for no delay in voice transmission; volume and frequency of speech are adjustable. This product is sopported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Vysion Inc.
30777 Schoolcraft Rd.
Livonia, MI 48150
(800)521-1350 (313)522-3300

Vox Box

The VoxBox is a text-to-speech synthesizer formerly represented by Adhoc Reading Systems; when an address for InfoBox in Sweden is available,we will publish it. This is an external unit, weighing 2-3 pounds. A high-quality (99% accuracy) synthesizer, VoxBox hlds up to seven different languages and comes with the language of choice installed. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
InfoBox
Sweden
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