[DECtalk] DECtalk TTS licensing

[Don]

On 8/30/2021 9:32 AM, Karen Lewellen wrote:
> speaking personally?
> Yes I do believe a set of voices, clear easy to understand voices should apply
> to everything I do with my computer...after all one does not get a different
> set of ears or a brain to read email,  research the net, shop, read a book.
> Nor does one get a different set of eyes for a different task.
> the *major* problem with  your method for the end user is that quality and
> consistency  across activity, having to configure things over and over again
> leads to poor performance.

Again, you're thinking in terms of a "bolt on adapter".  Had those applications
been designed with speech, braille, graphics, text, etc. all CO-EQUAL, then
you'd simply pick the output (and input) methodologies that are appropriate
to you.  There'd be no additional hardware or *use* costs; a *speaker* is
cheaper than a *display*!

> with my  dectalk talk, I can choose from 9 voices, one for the main stuff and
> one for alerts, and just. get. to. work.

Now, imagine you weren't using the synthesizer as an alternative
output modality for a vision deficiency but, instead, were using it
to speak *for* you -- because you have lost your ability to speak.
Would *you* want to sound like Stephen Hawkins?  Or, would you
want to sound like "Karen Lewellen" *used* to?

If this was an interface to one of your children, would they want
it to sound like "Dennis" or "Paul"?  Or, perhaps, one of their
parents?  An imagined friend?

[Speech synthesis has many potential uses; don't get hung up on
the uses that apply to YOUR needs]

> My hands stay on the  keyboard, and i know that the voices will provide
> consistent information no matter what I am doing, like the human body actually
> works.

My aural interface can be binaural -- so, I can position voices (and
sound annunciators) "in space", around your head.  A "ding" (or a voice)
from above and to the left can signal "your laundry is ready".  A "buzz"
from the right can tell you that Tom is calling.  And, the voice "straight
ahead" can tell you whatever you have your active attention focused on.

Note that you don't have to *need* audio output in order to benefit from
this form of interaction.  Why do sighted people "read" audio books?
Why do they listen to the news broadcast -- instead of reading a newspaper?

> I say please give this gift back to end users who are not programmers, and
> who   just want to  have  base line quality and consistency.
> ..and communication.  after all there is a reason why dectalk remained the
> synthesis for Stephen Hawking.
> Being understood as well as flawless understanding.