speech output

speech output

[Neil Foster]

Hi
  I am returning to linux havign lost my sight adn need to get speech 
output. The best way seems to be via speakup with a hardware speech synth. 
The problems I have are.

1) Can you get external hardware speech synths that wil work vai usb porst
2) does speakup support usb ports?

  I need it to work via usb ports as my laptops only have usb porst. I have 
heard that you can get serial port/usb converts usb ports are obviusly fast 
enough and capable enough if hardware manufacturers watn to provide the kit 
and feel there is a market for it but will this appear as a /dev/tty port 
without special drivers?

Not bothered about the speech outptu quality that much . I've used flite on 
win xp and assuem its the same on linux beign the same source coes and 
although not good its understandalbe which is the point after all.

Thanks

Neil Foster
but am not hat impresed with what the likes of flite output, 

Re: speech output

[Lorenzo Taylor]

You would be better off using software speech, as Speakup doesn't have
access to USB ports and as I understand it, converters don't
work.Speakup does work using software speech, and orca does as well, the
difference being that Speakup only works with the text shell and orca
works with the graphical Gnome interface including the gnome-terminal,
which will run all your favourite text applications and shell commands.
Depending on your distribution of choice, either should be easy enough
to get going.

Live long and prosper,
Lorenzo

Re: speech output

[Geoff Shang]

Hi,

I have heard the odd anecdote about people using Speakup with an USB to 
serial converter but I've never heard any details.

As previously mentioned, Speakup can use software speech.  This requires 
the speech Dispatcher package and Speechd-up to connect the two together.

If you want software speech during install though, the only two options I 
know of are Oralux and Ubuntu.

Geoff.

Re: speech output

[Kristoffer Gustafsson]

Hello!
If you use ttsynth, you don't need speech dispathcer and speechd-up.
You only need the speakup bridge wich connects speakup with ttsynth, to get 
it working.
I use that and it works well for me at home, except for a few annoying 
things.

/Kristoffer
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoff Shang" <Geoff@quitelikely.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 12:37 AM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hi,
>
> I have heard the odd anecdote about people using Speakup with an USB to 
> serial converter but I've never heard any details.
>
> As previously mentioned, Speakup can use software speech.  This requires 
> the speech Dispatcher package and Speechd-up to connect the two together.
>
> If you want software speech during install though, the only two options I 
> know of are Oralux and Ubuntu.
>
> Geoff.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Willem van der Walt]

Hi,
Unless you plan on doing a lot of new kernel builds and stuff, you can do 
well with software speech.
Espeak is a software synthesizer which is now a days very popular.  It is 
miles better than flite and supported by all the speech applications like 
speakup, emacspeak, orca etc.
There is a sapi version for windows so you can give it a spin there.
See http://espeak.sf.net/test/latest.html for the latest version.
You can also these days buy a version of IBM Viavoice now knows as 
ttsynth, from Janina and elsewhere.
As far as Linux distributions go, the easiest ones to get going with 
speech seem to be Ubuntu 7.4/feisti and grml, but you can get software 
speech going with most linuxes if you put in enough effort.
HTH, Willem


On Sun, 27 Jan 2008, Neil Foster wrote:

> Hi
>  I am returning to linux havign lost my sight adn need to get speech output.
> The best way seems to be via speakup with a hardware speech synth. The
> problems I have are.
> 
> 1) Can you get external hardware speech synths that wil work vai usb porst
> 2) does speakup support usb ports?
> 
>  I need it to work via usb ports as my laptops only have usb porst. I have
> heard that you can get serial port/usb converts usb ports are obviusly fast
> enough and capable enough if hardware manufacturers watn to provide the kit
> and feel there is a market for it but will this appear as a /dev/tty port
> without special drivers?
> 
> Not bothered about the speech outptu quality that much . I've used flite on
> win xp and assuem its the same on linux beign the same source coes and
> although not good its understandalbe which is the point after all.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Neil Foster
> but am not hat impresed with what the likes of flite output, 
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> 

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Re: speech output

[Neil Foster]

There are obviously problems with a hardware speech synth but you can run it 
with any os eg. freedos or evne old version fo windows if you need it for 
any reason eg. you can't get at hardware such as cmos settings in win xp you 
need to do it in linux or an older version of windows such as 98., put it on 
other computers etc it doesn't ned a ton of drivers loaded to get it goign 
just chuck the text out the serial port which is dead simple to do. You can 
boot of a floppy which are stil very useful. YOu can't boot of a usb peen 
and I still do work on pc's that don't have usbor evne cd-rom. Also if you 
need to work on a pc that you dont' know the sound card on your knackerd 
with software speech synthesis. The only thing you can do in that 
situationis to write a probe of somesort to investigate the hardware find 
out the soundcard and modprobe the drivers. also the hardware speech synth 
doesn't take a ton nd harlf of memory and processing speed.

I don't quite see the point in usign a graphical interface I'm blind and 
graphical interfaces are for the sighted loonies who seem to think that you 
can program a computer with pictures instead of algorithms, and logic, I 
didn't see the point in the things when I was  sighted and dont' see the 
point tin in the things now.

They are slow cumbersome inefficinet diffuicult to program, reduce 
productivity of the user bloody stupid idea takes a business man like bill 
gates to popularise the thigs, that said I have to admit that things like 
file selection lists can be useful. you can do better pipign stdout into vim 
or whatever and dpassing through filters to genrate commadns to do what you 
want. The gui is a bloody daft idea.

Ta

Neil Foster

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lorenzo Taylor" <daxlinux@gmail.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:07 PM
Subject: Re: speech output


> You would be better off using software speech, as Speakup doesn't have
> access to USB ports and as I understand it, converters don't
> work.Speakup does work using software speech, and orca does as well, the
> difference being that Speakup only works with the text shell and orca
> works with the graphical Gnome interface including the gnome-terminal,
> which will run all your favourite text applications and shell commands.
> Depending on your distribution of choice, either should be easy enough
> to get going.
>
> Live long and prosper,
> Lorenzo
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Neil Foster]

Thanks for the info. I ; will check out the names you mention. I do need 
speech output from the go. You can obviously get the startup stuff since it 
save ti but if you've got somethign like a dodgy fstab, then  your 
screwed. You need to fix it and remount the disk. since speakup patches ther 
kernel and is built in your goign to know that you need to remount your disk 
change the kernel or whatever. Also for recovery/restore software speech 
synthesis takes ashitload of space and processing power and if your needing 
to do stuff on older pcs is a bit of  a problem.

Ta

Neil Foster

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoff Shang" <Geoff@quitelikely.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 11:37 PM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hi,
>
> I have heard the odd anecdote about people using Speakup with an USB to 
> serial converter but I've never heard any details.
>
> As previously mentioned, Speakup can use software speech.  This requires 
> the speech Dispatcher package and Speechd-up to connect the two together.
>
> If you want software speech during install though, the only two options I 
> know of are Oralux and Ubuntu.
>
> Geoff.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Neil Foster]

So does this setup allow you to get the kernle msgs at sartup?. If you've 
got problems in the kernel code eg. in a driver or such how do you get at 
debugging info? If yo've got to wait for the sound drivers to be loaded then 
you've basiclaly had to load a ton of stuff to get that far which if you 
need to even get at the system V startup wstuff which mandrak and redhat and 
a few others used to use thne it could well be difficult let alone getting 
at kernel msgs. Ok it does save time  but it could still be a monumental 
pain.

  I think I may have to learn how to write a usb driver! Can't be taht 
difficult.

Ta

Neil Foster

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kristoffer Gustafsson" <kg84@dreamwld.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 2:19 AM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hello!
> If you use ttsynth, you don't need speech dispathcer and speechd-up.
> You only need the speakup bridge wich connects speakup with ttsynth, to 
> get it working.
> I use that and it works well for me at home, except for a few annoying 
> things.
>
> /Kristoffer
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Geoff Shang" <Geoff@quitelikely.com>
> To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 12:37 AM
> Subject: Re: speech output
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have heard the odd anecdote about people using Speakup with an USB to 
>> serial converter but I've never heard any details.
>>
>> As previously mentioned, Speakup can use software speech.  This requires 
>> the speech Dispatcher package and Speechd-up to connect the two together.
>>
>> If you want software speech during install though, the only two options I 
>> know of are Oralux and Ubuntu.
>>
>> Geoff.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blinux-list mailing list
>> Blinux-list@redhat.com
>> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Neil Foster]

Umm doing kernel builds is sort of the whole point of linux if all you want 
to do is write borign old application level code e you might as well use 
windoze! Thoser awfully nice people at gnu do supply you with source coe adn 
I do like to know what it does.

Ta

Neil Foster

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Willem van der Walt" <wvdwalt@csir.co.za>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 7:19 AM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hi,
> Unless you plan on doing a lot of new kernel builds and stuff, you can do
> well with software speech.
> Espeak is a software synthesizer which is now a days very popular.  It is
> miles better than flite and supported by all the speech applications like
> speakup, emacspeak, orca etc.
> There is a sapi version for windows so you can give it a spin there.
> See http://espeak.sf.net/test/latest.html for the latest version.
> You can also these days buy a version of IBM Viavoice now knows as
> ttsynth, from Janina and elsewhere.
> As far as Linux distributions go, the easiest ones to get going with
> speech seem to be Ubuntu 7.4/feisti and grml, but you can get software
> speech going with most linuxes if you put in enough effort.
> HTH, Willem
>
>
> On Sun, 27 Jan 2008, Neil Foster wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>  I am returning to linux havign lost my sight adn need to get speech 
>> output.
>> The best way seems to be via speakup with a hardware speech synth. The
>> problems I have are.
>>
>> 1) Can you get external hardware speech synths that wil work vai usb 
>> porst
>> 2) does speakup support usb ports?
>>
>>  I need it to work via usb ports as my laptops only have usb porst. I 
>> have
>> heard that you can get serial port/usb converts usb ports are obviusly 
>> fast
>> enough and capable enough if hardware manufacturers watn to provide the 
>> kit
>> and feel there is a market for it but will this appear as a /dev/tty port
>> without special drivers?
>>
>> Not bothered about the speech outptu quality that much . I've used flite 
>> on
>> win xp and assuem its the same on linux beign the same source coes and
>> although not good its understandalbe which is the point after all.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Neil Foster
>> but am not hat impresed with what the likes of flite output,
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blinux-list mailing list
>> Blinux-list@redhat.com
>> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>>
>
> -- 
> This message is subject to the CSIR's copyright terms and conditions, 
> e-mail legal notice, and implemented Open Document Format (ODF) standard.
> The full disclaimer details can be found at 
> http://www.csir.co.za/disclaimer.html.
>
> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by 
> MailScanner,
> and is believed to be clean.  MailScanner thanks Transtec Computers for 
> their support.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Valiant (on laptop)]

Hi.
I'm confused here about software speakup. Anybody have any idea what that 
is? Software version of speakup? Or something else?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lorenzo Taylor" <daxlinux@gmail.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:07 PM
Subject: Re: speech output


> You would be better off using software speech, as Speakup doesn't have
> access to USB ports and as I understand it, converters don't
> work.Speakup does work using software speech, and orca does as well, the
> difference being that Speakup only works with the text shell and orca
> works with the graphical Gnome interface including the gnome-terminal,
> which will run all your favourite text applications and shell commands.
> Depending on your distribution of choice, either should be easy enough
> to get going.
>
> Live long and prosper,
> Lorenzo
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Valiant (on laptop)]

Hi.
Is this GRML stuff software speech?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoff Shang" <Geoff@quitelikely.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hi,
>
> I have heard the odd anecdote about people using Speakup with an USB to 
> serial converter but I've never heard any details.
>
> As previously mentioned, Speakup can use software speech.  This requires 
> the speech Dispatcher package and Speechd-up to connect the two together.
>
> If you want software speech during install though, the only two options I 
> know of are Oralux and Ubuntu.
>
> Geoff.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Valiant (on laptop)]

blinks? 7.4?
Last I know is 7.10, where'd I miss?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Willem van der Walt" <wvdwalt@csir.co.za>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 2:19 AM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hi,
> Unless you plan on doing a lot of new kernel builds and stuff, you can do
> well with software speech.
> Espeak is a software synthesizer which is now a days very popular.  It is
> miles better than flite and supported by all the speech applications like
> speakup, emacspeak, orca etc.
> There is a sapi version for windows so you can give it a spin there.
> See http://espeak.sf.net/test/latest.html for the latest version.
> You can also these days buy a version of IBM Viavoice now knows as
> ttsynth, from Janina and elsewhere.
> As far as Linux distributions go, the easiest ones to get going with
> speech seem to be Ubuntu 7.4/feisti and grml, but you can get software
> speech going with most linuxes if you put in enough effort.
> HTH, Willem
>
>
> On Sun, 27 Jan 2008, Neil Foster wrote:
>
>> Hi
>>  I am returning to linux havign lost my sight adn need to get speech 
>> output.
>> The best way seems to be via speakup with a hardware speech synth. The
>> problems I have are.
>>
>> 1) Can you get external hardware speech synths that wil work vai usb 
>> porst
>> 2) does speakup support usb ports?
>>
>>  I need it to work via usb ports as my laptops only have usb porst. I 
>> have
>> heard that you can get serial port/usb converts usb ports are obviusly 
>> fast
>> enough and capable enough if hardware manufacturers watn to provide the 
>> kit
>> and feel there is a market for it but will this appear as a /dev/tty port
>> without special drivers?
>>
>> Not bothered about the speech outptu quality that much . I've used flite 
>> on
>> win xp and assuem its the same on linux beign the same source coes and
>> although not good its understandalbe which is the point after all.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Neil Foster
>> but am not hat impresed with what the likes of flite output,
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blinux-list mailing list
>> Blinux-list@redhat.com
>> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
>>
>
> -- 
> This message is subject to the CSIR's copyright terms and conditions, 
> e-mail legal notice, and implemented Open Document Format (ODF) standard.
> The full disclaimer details can be found at 
> http://www.csir.co.za/disclaimer.html.
>
> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by 
> MailScanner,
> and is believed to be clean.  MailScanner thanks Transtec Computers for 
> their support.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

Re: speech output

[Willem van der Walt]

I am not sure if speakup is included in the latest Ubuntu.


On Mon, 28 Jan 2008, Valiant (on laptop) wrote:

> blinks? 7.4?
> Last I know is 7.10, where'd I miss?
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Willem van der Walt" <wvdwalt@csir.co.za>
> To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 2:19 AM
> Subject: Re: speech output
> 
> 
> > Hi,
> > Unless you plan on doing a lot of new kernel builds and stuff, you can do
> > well with software speech.
> > Espeak is a software synthesizer which is now a days very popular.  It is
> > miles better than flite and supported by all the speech applications like
> > speakup, emacspeak, orca etc.
> > There is a sapi version for windows so you can give it a spin there.
> > See http://espeak.sf.net/test/latest.html for the latest version.
> > You can also these days buy a version of IBM Viavoice now knows as
> > ttsynth, from Janina and elsewhere.
> > As far as Linux distributions go, the easiest ones to get going with
> > speech seem to be Ubuntu 7.4/feisti and grml, but you can get software
> > speech going with most linuxes if you put in enough effort.
> > HTH, Willem
> >
> >
> > On Sun, 27 Jan 2008, Neil Foster wrote:
> >
> > > Hi
> > > I am returning to linux havign lost my sight adn need to get speech
> > > output.
> > > The best way seems to be via speakup with a hardware speech synth. The
> > > problems I have are.
> > >
> > > 1) Can you get external hardware speech synths that wil work vai usb porst
> > > 2) does speakup support usb ports?
> > >
> > > I need it to work via usb ports as my laptops only have usb porst. I have
> > > heard that you can get serial port/usb converts usb ports are obviusly
> > > fast
> > > enough and capable enough if hardware manufacturers watn to provide the
> > > kit
> > > and feel there is a market for it but will this appear as a /dev/tty port
> > > without special drivers?
> > >
> > > Not bothered about the speech outptu quality that much . I've used flite
> > > on
> > > win xp and assuem its the same on linux beign the same source coes and
> > > although not good its understandalbe which is the point after all.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Neil Foster
> > > but am not hat impresed with what the likes of flite output,
> >> _______________________________________________
> > > Blinux-list mailing list
> > > Blinux-list@redhat.com
> > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> > >
> >
> > -- 
> > This message is subject to the CSIR's copyright terms and conditions, e-mail
> > legal notice, and implemented Open Document Format (ODF) standard.
> > The full disclaimer details can be found at
> > http://www.csir.co.za/disclaimer.html.
> >
> > This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
> > MailScanner,
> > and is believed to be clean.  MailScanner thanks Transtec Computers for
> > their support.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Blinux-list mailing list
> > Blinux-list@redhat.com
> > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list
> 

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The full disclaimer details can be found at http://www.csir.co.za/disclaimer.html.

This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, 
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RE: speech output

[Robin Williams]

GRML is a distribution, you could find that out through Google. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blinux-list-bounces@redhat.com [mailto:blinux-list-bounces@redhat.com]
On Behalf Of Valiant (on laptop)
Sent: 28 January 2008 12:59
To: Linux for blind general discussion
Subject: Re: speech output

Hi.
Is this GRML stuff software speech?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Geoff Shang" <Geoff@quitelikely.com>
To: "Linux for blind general discussion" <blinux-list@redhat.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: speech output


> Hi,
>
> I have heard the odd anecdote about people using Speakup with an USB to 
> serial converter but I've never heard any details.
>
> As previously mentioned, Speakup can use software speech.  This requires 
> the speech Dispatcher package and Speechd-up to connect the two together.
>
> If you want software speech during install though, the only two options I 
> know of are Oralux and Ubuntu.
>
> Geoff.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blinux-list mailing list
> Blinux-list@redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list 

_______________________________________________
Blinux-list mailing list
Blinux-list@redhat.com
https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/blinux-list

Re: speech output

[Geoff Shang]

Valiant (on laptop) wrote:

> blinks? 7.4?
> Last I know is 7.10, where'd I miss?

I believe he meant 7.04, the previous version to ;7.10.  The 04 and 10 
represent the month of release.  If they stick to their 6-month schedule, 
the next version should be 8.04.

Geoff.