SOFTWARE DREAMS AND TALKING MACHINES
LOW COST ADAPTIVE ALTERNATIVES.
The following programs were gathered from the internet and
worldwide web during April AND May 1996.
IN THIS REVIEW ... FREEWARE is free, and SHAREWARE is low
priced [under $ 50.00]. All software is "full featured"
with/or without time limits.
REVIEW POLICY ... All items REVIEWED are PRE-TESTED before
writing, and ONLY ITEMS WE LIKE are reviewed. All other
items are just REPORTED.
TEXT BY SUPERADAPTOID
- WINDOWS 3.1/3.11 SPEECH ALTERNATIVES ... KEYED SPEECH
NOTE: SORRY-TO-SAY ... keyed speech is NOT a "full screen
display reader or speech synthesizer".
Talkeys ...
Male voice [100 Wav files]. Alpha-numeric keystroke input
is announced by letter and number ... including CAPITAL
letters. Call Talkeys to work in Windows applications
to announce your keystroke input. Click on "huge" icon.
SHAREWARE DEMONSTRATION. No expiration. Full featured.
*Requires PC Sound Card*. Demomstration Copy available on
the web-net for download ...
SpkQQ ...
This a SHAREWARE "alternative" to MS Windows Spreaker Driver
Package. Auto-install, set-up adjustable configuration, and
auto-load to run. SpkQQ redirects wav sound output to the PC
enternal speaker ... *RATHER THAT A SOUND CARD*. Installation
may require removal of existing MS Windows System Wav-Driver
[SND930.drv] ... if so pre-copy and save to restore. Also a
variable byte Wav Player with volume control. DOES NOT LOCK-UP
KEYBOARD or MOUSE functions while in use. [*WORKS WITH TALKEYS*]
SHAREWARE DEMONSTRATION. 1 WEEK TIME DURATION. HAS IT'S OWN
INSTALL AND UNINSTALL FUNCTIONS. Reloadable. Demonstration
copy available on the web-net for download ... Ziff Davis PC
MAGAZINE SHAREWARE LIBRARY ...
PLEASE NOTE:
An external PC speaker is usually small and mounted to the
inside case wall. External speakers usually have sufficient
sound quality and volume. An external PC "SQUEEKER" is a
small can-shaped-object mounted directly to the enternal
MOTHERBOARD. External squeekers are sound devices [they
beep, and cheep] and may not have sufficient sound volume.
If you have a squeeker and not a speaker ... watch this
column for low cost alternatives to sound cards.
COMMENTS:
Although NOT a reader or speech synthesizer for the
MS Windows PC environment ... Talkeys with SpkQQ is a
functional adaptation at an affordable price. They
will NOT fully address the needs of BLIND users ...
without further computer adaptation and blind user training.
HOWEVER, they are a functional adaptive assists to LOW VISION
users. Speech quality is "realistic" speech output is
adjustable and stable in PC's 386SX [and higher]. These
products were demonstrated before reviewing and are "RECOMMENDED".
SUGGESTION:
When testing ANY demonstration software in MS Windows ...
it is suggested that:
- An "UNINSTALL" program/utility be used.
- Backup copies of win.ini, system.ini, progman.ini to be held "on floppy".
- A zipped copy of the demonstration software be held "on floppy".
GOOD SURFING AND ENJOY!
SUPERADAPTOID
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