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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>One other thing. Enable Rehab. Think about
the name, Enable Rehab. I have a good question, what is enabling about
Enable, when they want to disable the singing in Dectalk? Do that, and
Dectalk will need rehab.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>And no, I'm not trying to be funny. ENABLE WANTS
TO DISABLE SINGING. it's just wrong.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4></FONT></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=4>SNOOPI BOTTEN </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 6/27/2011 8:57:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
beroberts@hughes.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=771424000-28062011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>I agree 100% with both Alex's and Snoopi's comments. Dectalk
SAPI needs to both sing and screen-read for some very important
reasons.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=771424000-28062011><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=771424000-28062011>First,
</SPAN>when a new version of Windows comes out, it is possible the Speak windows will no longer work. If/when that happens, everyone who makes Dectalk sing wil experience a tragedy.<SPAN class=771424000-28062011> Second, all Dectalk users with any disability will
have equal access to the synth functionality for years to come. Finally,
limiting functionality in Dectalk SAPI by disabling access to some
parameters will mean Dectalk can no longer act. I made a multi-voice skit
years ago in which parameters in the speak window were modified to make new
voices. In one segment, I had Betty tell a story. I changed her head size and
changed her voice to sound like the characters, both a little girl and
her mother. In other words, I turned one voice into
three.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=771424000-28062011></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=771424000-28062011>In conclusion, the Dectalk
SAPI needs to have all the functionality available within the Speak
windows so that everyone can sing, act and do whatever they wish both now and
for decades to come.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=771424000-28062011>Blake</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN class=771424000-28062011></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com
[mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Alex
H.<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 27, 2011 7:51 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
dectalk@bluegrasspals.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [DECtalk]
TEST<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>OK, here's my thoughts on what's going on here:<BR><BR>I love the
fact that we're able to make DECTalk sing, some people like it just as a
screen reader voice, or in the case of NWAA they use DT for weather
broadcasts. In short, dT is used for singing and non-singing acts alike. It's
important though to keep in mind that disabled people who may not be able to
sing need this to express their arts in music, write songs and perform, etc.
Removing it on the basis of saying 'it's for screen readers' is inaccurate
and, in my opinion, not necessary. As you may or may not be aware, there's a
non-classic version of SAPI DT flying around in the Interwebs, and it's
possible to use it with a screen reader, and make it sing. So that argument is
tosh, quite frankly.<BR><BR>I do think singing being enabled is important and
don't really understand why it's going to be disabled.<BR><BR>Also, let me
clear something up, yet again (already stated above for any doubts to be
banished that this is possible), before it gets all tangled and messy as is
often the case with this sort of thing. It is possible to get a DECTalk SAPI
working with screen readers - most screen readers support SAPI5 as an option
so this isn't an issue. It is also possible to have the same synth sing, or
operate with other software not that of the screen reader. For instance,
Microsoft annah works with JAWS, NVDA, and Window-Eyes, three screen readers.
It also worsk with TTSApp.exe, an external utility that sends text strings to
SAPI5 voices using a simple GUI interface. It's possible and has been
happening for the invention of SAIP4/SAPI5. So there.<BR> I think
somewhere down the line a developer/somebody or other is thinking that it's
one or the other - it sings or it gets used with screen readers. It is
possible to do both. That is, one could hypothetically install the DT SAPI,
use it with their favorite screen reader, then turn around and pipe text
directly into it using a utility like TTSApp.exe. You usually wouldn't get a
version of DECTalk to sing using a screen reader, since these programs use an
array of punctuation filters and it's mostly a failed experiment. E.g., try
putting phonemic text into an email and read it with MobileSpeak on your
smartphone. It won't work, and will just spit back the text with all the
brackets and <> stuff spoken and phonemes will not be read
properly.<BR><BR>In conclusion, it is possible to market a SAPI dectalk that
sings and satisfies the needs of screen reader users at the same time. There's
no special rocket science wankery which needs to be done or anything, if it
works with singing and can also speak text, and it's compliant with SAPI
standards, what exactly is the problem? I don't really know where the
confusion of having DECTalk sing and being operable with screen readers came
up. Do people seriously think that a version of DT that is being used with
screen readers means it can't sing? Such foolish thinking. They're not even
connected. Of course you should be able to pipe text into a DT synth and have
it come back singing as long as the punctuation doesn't get all screwed up -
see my comments above. Now, here's the clincher. If somebody goes in and
purposefully messes with the DT engine and makes it so it cannot sing,
regardless of parameters and input methods, then of course it's not going to
sing, and it's not true DECTalk. If the damn synth supports it, make it
happen. I'm tired of this "features being disabled" crap. Just give me my
synth for a decent [low] price, let me do as I will with it, but for pete's
sake don't disable functions because of misfed information or assumptions
without checking on this list! After all, this is probably where a good chunk
of customers for this synth will hear about its status - through this list and
its members, and the word will spread, etc. If we get jerked around and hear
stuff is going to be intentionally disabled/be one voice/any other trickery,
it's not worth a CENT to me. Honestly, why, would, you, do, more, work, for,
yourself, when you don't need to! If the voices work, if it's classic
sounding, just sell it! Don't fiddle with it and disable features for the heck
of it.<BR><BR>Hopefully, I've repeated myself enough and walked circles around
this issue and clarified for the people in charge of this stuff that, once
again, you can sing and screenread with the same voice. Maybe not at the same
time, but it's posslbe quite easily.<BR><BR>Respectfully (but a little
tired),<BR>Faithful DECTalk User<BR><BR>On 6/27/2011 6:54 PM, Blake Roberts
wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid:20110627225422.699AC1CB960@smtprelay04.b.hostedemail.com type="cite">
<META content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" http-equiv=Context-Type>
<DIV><SPAN>The majority of Dectalk users use Dectalk for singing, 90-95
percent. Singing is the primary reason most people use Dectalk these days. I
know people on the Internet who love hearing Dectalk because of
its singing ability, even though they have no desire to get a Dectalk
product. Dectalk singing has been enjoyed by many people for years and
still is. Making Dectalk sing was very important to Dennis Klat.
</SPAN></DIV><SPAN></SPAN>Blake<SPAN></SPAN> <BR>
<DIV lang=en-us><B>From:</B> <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated title=mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com href="mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com">dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com</A>
[<A class=moz-txt-link-freetext title=mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com href="mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com">mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com</A>]
<B>On Behalf Of </B>FRIDO ORDEMANN<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 27, 2011
6:34 PM<BR><B>To:</B> DECtalk Discussions<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [DECtalk]
TEST<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><SPAN>There are other users of DECtalk than those who use it for
singing.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV><B><SPAN>From:</SPAN></B> <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E title=mailto:Dectalk@aol.com href="mailto:Dectalk@aol.com">"Dectalk@aol.com"</A> <A class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E title=mailto:Dectalk@aol.com href="mailto:Dectalk@aol.com"><Dectalk@aol.com></A><BR><B><SPAN>To:</SPAN></B>
<A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated title=mailto:dectalk@bluegrasspals.com href="mailto:dectalk@bluegrasspals.com">dectalk@bluegrasspals.com</A><BR><B><SPAN>Sent:</SPAN></B>
Mon, June 27, 2011 2:10:43 PM<BR><B><SPAN>Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [DECtalk]
TEST<BR><BR>
<DIV><STRONG>Actually I was scared I was removed for exploding on the list
last night. I also find it odd that Corine never apologized for her
misleading post. I'm still in total shock at how her post was
worded. And to post that on the list when we all have a speak window
or other form of Dectalk. Heck, if I did have a singing SAPI, why
would anyone buy her non-singing version? </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>That post just totally made no sense to me. I still feel
bad about my response, but I was and still am angry. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>SNOOPI BOTTEN </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 6/27/2011 1:22:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated title=mailto:linuxx64.bashsh@gmail.com href="mailto:linuxx64.bashsh@gmail.com">linuxx64.bashsh@gmail.com</A>
writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>Your message came through. It's all
good.<BR><BR>Alex<BR><BR>On 6/27/2011 12:58 PM, <A title=mailto:Dectalk@aol.com href="mailto:Dectalk@aol.com" moz-do-not-send="true">Dectalk@aol.com</A> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite">
<DIV>My mail got too full, so I'm just making sure everything is
ok.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>SNOOPI BOTTEN </STRONG></DIV><PRE>
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</SPAN></PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>
<DIV>-- <BR>Sent via
Thunderbird.</DIV><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>DECtalk
mailing list<BR><A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated title=mailto:DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com href="mailto:DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com">DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com</A><BR><SPAN><A title=http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk href="http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk" moz-do-not-send="true">http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk</A></SPAN><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV><PRE wrap=""><FIELDSET class=mimeAttachmentHeader></FIELDSET>
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</PRE></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>
<DIV class=moz-signature>-- <BR>Sent via
Thunderbird.</DIV><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>DECtalk
mailing
list<BR>DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com<BR>http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>