speech output for Linux, speakup-0.03 released

speech output for Linux, speakup-0.03 released

[Kirk Reiser]

	Announcing the third alpha release of speakup v-0.03.

Speakup is a screen review package for the Linux operating system.  It
allows you to hear all output directed to the console and move around
the screen using the typical screen review functions.

This is an alpha release which means it is by no means complete.  It
only supports the Double Talk internal synthesizer currently, but
hopefully we will increase it's variety of synths in the not to
distant future.

It is quite usable in it's current incarnation though, with the
blaring lack of cursor output support.  That means in an editor it
doesn't read each line as you move up and down the screen.  It tracks
the cursor so you just need to do a say current line but it doesn't do
it all by itself.  There is more to be said for cursor tracking and
speaking than meets the ear at first glance.

Speakup is a set of kernel patches which means you should have some
experience with kernel compiling.  It currently works on the Linux
development kernels 2.1.125 and above.  At this release we are at
kernel 2.1.130.

What's new in v-0.03?  Read the Changes file included in the tar
archive for full descriptions of my changes.  Say phonetic character
is new.  Speakup now says the status of caps_lock, num_lock and
scroll_lock when they are toggled.  Rewrote portions of various files
to speed up operation and clean up some bugs.  Oh, don't worry there's
still plenty of bugs to squash!

There is a mailing list for speakup which you are welcome to join if
you are interested in it's on going development.  You can subscribe to
the mailing list by sending a message to listserv@braille.uwo.ca with
a line in the body of the message like this:

subscribe speakup (YourFirstName YourLastName)
 
The mailing list is currently a very low traffic forum so you probably
won't be overwhelmed with mail.

The official speakup distribution point is
ftp://ftp.braille.uwo.ca/pub/speakup.  For now, I am just dropping the
documents there as I write them.  It will probably become more
organized as time goes on but for now I just want to get information
written and out there for public consumption as quickly as possible.

Speakup is written by Kirk Reiser and Andy Berdan.  It is covered by
the GPL (GNU Public License).

So, like I think that's about it.  If you have any questions feel free
to write me at kirk@braille.uwo.ca.  If you have a DoubleTalk internal
synth, we could really use your feedback.  If you are just diing to
get involved in a software project, boy do we have a bridge to sell
you! 'grin'

  Kirk

email: kirk@braille.uwo.ca
phone: (519) 679-6845 (home)

Re: speech output for Linux, speakup-0.03 released

[Whistler]

While I have not used your product yet I want to just send a mail of
support.  I want to use it as soon as I am able to get a machine set up
witht he development kernal.  I have to many machines that just use 2.0.
Anyway I just wanted tos end my mail of support for your product.

ken /whistler

On Mon, 30 Nov 1998, Kirk Reiser wrote:

> 	Announcing the third alpha release of speakup v-0.03.
> 
> Speakup is a screen review package for the Linux operating system.  It
> allows you to hear all output directed to the console and move around
> the screen using the typical screen review functions.
> 
> This is an alpha release which means it is by no means complete.  It
> only supports the Double Talk internal synthesizer currently, but
> hopefully we will increase it's variety of synths in the not to
> distant future.
> 
> It is quite usable in it's current incarnation though, with the
> blaring lack of cursor output support.  That means in an editor it
> doesn't read each line as you move up and down the screen.  It tracks
> the cursor so you just need to do a say current line but it doesn't do
> it all by itself.  There is more to be said for cursor tracking and
> speaking than meets the ear at first glance.
> 
> Speakup is a set of kernel patches which means you should have some
> experience with kernel compiling.  It currently works on the Linux
> development kernels 2.1.125 and above.  At this release we are at
> kernel 2.1.130.
> 
> What's new in v-0.03?  Read the Changes file included in the tar
> archive for full descriptions of my changes.  Say phonetic character
> is new.  Speakup now says the status of caps_lock, num_lock and
> scroll_lock when they are toggled.  Rewrote portions of various files
> to speed up operation and clean up some bugs.  Oh, don't worry there's
> still plenty of bugs to squash!
> 
> There is a mailing list for speakup which you are welcome to join if
> you are interested in it's on going development.  You can subscribe to
> the mailing list by sending a message to listserv@braille.uwo.ca with
> a line in the body of the message like this:
> 
> subscribe speakup (YourFirstName YourLastName)
>  
> The mailing list is currently a very low traffic forum so you probably
> won't be overwhelmed with mail.
> 
> The official speakup distribution point is
> ftp://ftp.braille.uwo.ca/pub/speakup.  For now, I am just dropping the
> documents there as I write them.  It will probably become more
> organized as time goes on but for now I just want to get information
> written and out there for public consumption as quickly as possible.
> 
> Speakup is written by Kirk Reiser and Andy Berdan.  It is covered by
> the GPL (GNU Public License).
> 
> So, like I think that's about it.  If you have any questions feel free
> to write me at kirk@braille.uwo.ca.  If you have a DoubleTalk internal
> synth, we could really use your feedback.  If you are just diing to
> get involved in a software project, boy do we have a bridge to sell
> you! 'grin'
> 
>   Kirk
> 
> email: kirk@braille.uwo.ca
> phone: (519) 679-6845 (home)
> 
> ---
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> with subject line: unsubscribe
> 

Re: speech output for Linux, speakup-0.03 released

[Kirk Reiser]

Thanx Ken:  I think we are making some pretty good headway.  We are
going to make a change in the direction now and work towards adding
synths.  That is probably the best way to get more folks involved in
speakup's development.

  Kirk

-- 

Kirk Reiser				The Computer Braille Facility
e-mail: kirk@braille.uwo.ca		University of Western Ontario
phone: (519) 661-3061

Re: speech output for Linux, speakup-0.03 released

[Roger Butenuth]

Hello,

> Thanx Ken:  I think we are making some pretty good headway.  We are
> going to make a change in the direction now and work towards adding
> synths.  That is probably the best way to get more folks involved in
> speakup's development.

I am currently working on speech output in brltty-2.0 (which causes majore
changes in brltty-2.0), currently there is support for a software speech
solution (freephone + mbrola for english, hadifix + mbrola for german) and
one hardware solution (Dolphin synthesizer). I think we should cooperate
to have one universal interface for all synthesizers. 

A copy of the code (not up to date) can be found at:

http://www.uni-paderborn.de/cs/heiss/blinux/index-en.html

I try to upload an improved version in the next days.

Regards,

	Roger

--
Roger Butenuth
University of Paderborn
FB 17, Mathematik-Informatik
33095 Paderborn
Tel.: 05251/60-6611
Fax.: 05251/60-6619