Devices

Speech Synthesisers

A speech access system converts text from a computer into spoken words. The speech synthesiser is the hardware device that does the speaking in a speech access system. There are also speech synthesisers that are entirely based on software. The screen access program is the software that directs the synthesiser. These products give blind users the opportunity of working with operating systems, text processors, databases etc. Some synthesisers and speech access programs are integrated and sold as a package. Before choosing a synthesiser it is worthwhile considering what is required by the user in terms of the screen access program.

The speech synthesiser can be a portable external device that connects to the back of the computer and comes with speakers and a socket for headphones. An external synthesiser has the advantage that it can be moved around to different machines.

Internal synthesisers come as a chip or a circuit board that must be inserted inside the computer with sockets for speakers and headphones. Since the internal synthesiser works directly with the computer’s operating system it can work faster than an external device.

A software-based synthesiser outputs speech through the sound system of the computer itself.

Important features of synthesisers include voice quality, the speed at which text is converted to speech, memory requirements, the compatibility of the synthesiser to the computer (Mac or PC) and the number of languages available.

Table comparing products and prices

Acapela Group
Englundavägen 7, PO Box 1328, 171 26 Solna, Sweden.
Tel: +46 8 799 8600
Fax: +46 8 799 8601
Email: info@acapela-group.com
Web: www.acapela-group.com

Acapela Mobility
Acapela Mobility is designed to optimise user interactivity with mobile devices. It allows the user to develop outstanding voice user interface for their mobile users, while perfectly fitting the user's technical constraints. Acapela Mobility is available in 21 languages, 50 voices, and offers the best compromise between footprint issues, performance requirements and quality demands. Acapela Mobility is ready available for the most common mobile platforms: as PowerPC2002, Windows Mobile 2003, Symbian and Palm OS.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Acapela Multimedia
Acapela Multimedia is a multilingual Text to Speech application for translating written information to speech in multimedia applications such as, e-learning programs, games and end user manuals. Acapela Multimedia is available in 19 languages and over 50 voices. Offers several APIs to make the integration process seamless and straightforward, allowing the user to concentrate on the voice interface design. Requires Windows 98SE, NT4 SP6, 2000 SP3, XP, or Mac OSX.2 or higher.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Infovox Desktop V.2 Pro Edition
Infovox Desktop for Windows can read any text selected, can spell out text whilst typing in any Windows application, allows access to the computer through a screen reader and gives a voice to any other application supporting voice output. Features include: full control of voice parameters, choose optional reading modes, use SpeechPad or Voice Manager. Offers up to 12 high quality spoken languages and a broad choice of voices. Requires: PC Pentium II, Windows 98se, ME, NT, 2000, XP.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Infovox Desktop V.2 Standard Edition
Infovox Desktop for Windows can read any text selected, can spell out text whilst typing in any Windows application, allows access to the computer through a screen reader and gives a voice to any other application supporting voice output. Features include: full control of voice parameters, choose optional reading modes, use SpeechPad or Voice Manager. Offers up to 17 languages and a broad choice of voices. Requires: PC Pentium, Windows 98se, ME, NT, 2000, XP.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Infovox iVox
Infovox iVox for Macintosh allows access to the computer through a screen reader, checks spellings, reads any selected text and gives a voice to any other application supporting voice output. Available in 14 languages. Each language pack contains all available male and femal voices in the chosen language plus one high quality American English female voice. Compatible with the VoiceOver screen reader and the Universal Access suite in Mac OS X. Requires: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Artic Technologies
1000 John R. Road, Ste. #108, Troy, Michigan 48083-4317, USA.
Tel: +1 248 588 7370 Ext. 11
Fax: +1 248 588 2650
Email: info@artictech.com
Web: www.artictech.com

BrailleDesk 2000
Talking note taker that is self-contained with an external NICAD battery and 2.5 MB of memory (expandable). Based on a Braille keyboard plus dedicated keys for frequently used functions (ESC, Menu, Rewind, Turbo, Enter and Backspace) it has a number/cursor pad for rapid data entry and cursor control. The Control & ALT keys allow for special commands. Speed Braille can be turned on to allow characters and commands to be accepted when the keys are depressed rather than when released. Input can be in grade 1 or grade 2 Braille and has a back translator so grade 2 Braille can be spoken or printed. High speed keyboarding can be done with Chord Command's ON/OFF selector. Several applications can be open simultaneously with task switching command to move between them. Featured are Phonetic speech, ON LINE HELP, talking editor, spell checker, organiser, phone book, timers, alarms, calculator, terminal emulation software, bookreader, phone dialer. Can also simultaneously act as a speech synthesiser (TransPort or Accent SA interface) for computer access. Files can be stored in the internal electronic disk memory, in removable MicroFlash data cards or transferred to another computer. Additional features include: standard RS232 serial port; parallel printer port, digital volume & tone controls; jack for headphone, internal speaker; 2.5MB memory; 256K system ROM; micro flash slot for memory expansion cards; serial data transfer rate 110 to 115,200 baud. Includes case and serial cable. Compatible with most screen readers and all Windows or DOS Screen Access programmes.
Length: 260mm Width: 108mm Height: 32mm
Weight: 0.45kg
Last updated: 14/12/2006

TransType 2000/2000X
Talking note taker using a QWERTY keyboard for input. A synthesizer and note taker in one, TransType features a talking editor, spell checker, organiser, phone book, timers, alarms, calculator, terminal emulation (for file transfers and external hookups) software, bookreader, phone dialer. Can also simultaneously act as a speech synthesiser (TransPort or Accent SA interface) for computer access. Has rechargeable slide-out NICAD battery and 2mg of memory (expandable). Files can be stored in the internal electronic disk memory, in removable MicroFlash data cards or transferred to another computer. Additional features include: standard RS232 serial port; parallel printer port, digital volume & tone controls; jack for headphone, internal speaker; 2.5MB memory; 256K system ROM; micro flash slot for memory expansion cards; serial data transfer rate 110 to 115,200 baud. Includes carrying case.
Length: 260mm Width: 108mm Height: 32mm
Weight: 0.45kg
Last updated: 14/12/2006

Dolphin Computer Access Ltd
Technology House, Blackpole Estate West, Worcester WR3 8TJ, UK.
Tel: +44 1905 754577
Fax: +44 1905 754559
Email: info@dolphinuk.co.uk
Web: www.YourDolphin.com

Cicero
Scans and converts printed documents to synthesised speech and reads them aloud. Using a scanner, Cicero works simply by pressing a single button. Accurate character recognition. Choose text and background colours to suit vision requirements. Supports a large number of languages for scanning, reading and software operation.
Price: £245.00 (1 user licence)
Last updated: 06/09/2007

Frank Audiodata
Kriegsstraße 13 -15, D-68794 Oberhausen-Rheinhausen, Germany.
Tel: +49 7254 5050
Fax: +49 7254 505111
Email: info@audiodata.de
Web: www.audiodata.de/

Audioterminal
Picture
Produces synthetic speech. Provides a line-slider for vertical and a column-slider for horizontal orientation in the screen display. Provides a 12 key numeric keypad for entering commands for the speech output, Braille output and large print. Parallel use of speech output, Braille output and large print is possible. Interface for Braille-line. Requires: Windows operating system 98, ME, 2000, XP.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

RC Systems Inc
1609 England Avenue, Everett, Washington 98203, USA.
Tel: +1 206 355 3800
Fax: +1 206 355 1098
Email: postmaster@rcsys.com
Web: www.rcsys.com

DoubleTalk
Speech synthesiser card for the Apple II is the original member of the DoubleTalk family, designed for the Apple IIe and IIgs. It works with programs written for the Slotbuster II and Echo synthesizers, including AppleWorks. The text-to-speech synthesizer can also be accessed as a "talking printer" with standard printer commands.
Price: $39.00
Last updated: 14/12/2006

DoubleTalk Chipsets
Versatile voice and sound synthesizers, integrating a sophisticated text-to-speech processor, audio recording and playback, musical and sinusoidal tone generators, telephone dialer and A/D converter.
Translate plain English text into speech in real time, without the assistance of a PC or high-powered processor. The RC8660 offers extended voice control ranges, real time control of commands and other unique features.
RC8650
Price: $42.00 - $49.00

RC8660
Price: $44.00 - $59.00
Last updated: 14/12/2006

DoubleTalk LT
Picture
Portable speech output device. It works with virtually any PC or laptop equipped with an RS-232 serial port. Operation is from a 9 volt alkaline battery, or AC wall adapter (included). Speaker, headphone jack, volume control, and serial interface are all built into the unit.
Price: $299.00
Last updated: 14/12/2006

DoubleTalk PC
DoubleTalk PC is designed for use in any PC that has standard 8-bit or 16-bit PC/XT ("ISA") slots. Installation is a snap - simply install the card, plug in the supplied speaker, and you're ready to go! Because DoubleTalk PC uses no IRQ's or DMA, there's nothing to configure. And in most cases, you don't even need to install any additional software.
Price: $79.00
Last updated: 14/12/2006

DoubleTalk PC/104
DoubleTalk PC/104 is an 8-bit stack-through card for PC/104-based embedded systems. It features 5V-only operation and low power consumption; speaker, line, and voice synchronization signals are brought out to a six pin connector. Non-standard product; minimum quantity order may apply.
Last updated: 14/12/2006

V8600A
The V8600A voice synthesizer is a versatile, modular voice synthesizer designed to satisfy just about any voice output requirement. The onboard RC8650 chipset enables the V8600A to automatically convert plain English text into a high quality male voice. Measuring less than 12 square inches in size, the V8600A requires only a 5 V power supply and speaker to operate. Its small size and low power consumption make it an ideal solution for any application, ranging from robotics to telecommunications. The V8600A is designed to be piggy-backed onto a host PCB, such as a system's controller board, via two 12-pin headers. An eight bit bidirectional data bus and read/write control pins enable the V8600A to be easily interfaced to virtually any microprocessor bus. Stand-alone applications are also possible with the V8600A's built in printer and serial ports.
Price: $109.00
Last updated: 14/12/2006

V-Stamp
The V-Stamp is a feature-rich, self-contained voice/sound synthesizer and recorder, measuring only 1.7 square inches in size. Among the V-Stamp's many features are text-to-speech conversion, audio recording and playback, musical and sinusoidal tone generation, telephone dialer and four-channel A/D converter. Operation is from a 3.3 V or 5 V power supply; low-level line and 1-watt speaker outputs are provided.
Price: $89.00 - $95.00
Last updated: 14/12/2006