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<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"
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<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
href="mailto:dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com">dectalk-bounces@bluegrasspals.com</A>
[<A class=moz-txt-link-freetext
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
href="mailto:Dectalk@aol.com">"Dectalk@aol.com"</A> <A
class=moz-txt-link-rfc2396E
href="mailto:Dectalk@aol.com"><Dectalk@aol.com></A><BR><B><SPAN>To:</SPAN></B>
<A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
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
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
href="mailto:DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com">DECtalk@bluegrasspals.com</A><BR><SPAN><A
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></BODY></HTML>