New Voice

[Andrew MacLean]

Those who have followed my posts over the last number of years will know that I have a talking computer. I have become used to hearing the familiar voice of "Fred" reading all the posts in the forum (and everything else that floats across my screen).

My new OS came with a brand new voice. Now I listen to "Alex", and it sounds weird. Alex even pauses for breath, and I can hear him "breathing" in as he reads all your posts. How spooky is that?

Andrew

ps He just read this back to me!

[rosemary johnson]

Oh yes, I've heard people writing about "Alex".
THe general consensus I've heard is that people tend to prefer the newer voices.
Me, I'm still on "Maggie" - with pitch set low to be almost an "androgynous" voice.
Which software are you using that runs your Alex?
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

The voice is embedded in Mac OS 10.5

The mac is ideal for people with visual problems as the embedded "Universal Access" software makes all sorts of things very easy indeed.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

I thought you used a Mac......
Reports I've heard on access software and Macs, mainly from "totals" and people who've long been used Jaws, windoweyes or even Hal haven't been too complimentary about Macs.
Is this version 10 new/upgraded fcilities you now have? = or is this the case that, as you can see a bit and use the voice for concentrated work, it fits the bill for you very well, because you use the vision you have?
- whereas a totally-blind person you can't use any vision for navigating around the system, or "leaning over keyboard peering" if all else fails, would have more problems?
Just interested in how the technology is getting on these days...... some time, this 12 year old laptop I'm using .....
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

Actually, since I upgraded to OSX, I have sometimes used my computer with the screen turned off: I am doing that right now!

You navigate using the tab key and hit "enter" when the voice tells you which button is highlighted.

Fortunately my keyboard skills are quite good. But it does take longer when the screen is off. I have configured my machine to accept some instructions by voice.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Ah. SOunds like Macs are indeed better than they (allegedly) used to be for speech output only.
Good news - gives a lot more choice for assistive technology users. Particularly good is to hear that it is all part of the operating system and doesn't need several hundred or thousand quid of special software added.
Not, you understand, that I want to start a Mac-PC war on the KC forum!! - me, if or when I have to move on from this one, am seriously proposing to go Linux. Now, I agree, the status of speech output software from linux is another big issue. At least I know enough native unix from having once upon a time been system manager of some unic boxes at work that I could at least housekeep the thing.
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

I think that with the OSX Apple really took hold of the universal access issue. I really do not need the software now, except that my eyes do become tired and it is good sometimes to be able to work at my computer without having the screen turned on.

It does, sometimes, give rise to some risible bits of nonsense. I was in full flow the other day, writing a paper for a meeting to which I was going. Actually I got a bit carried away in the wee small hours and typed for several hundred words without checking what I had written. Even 'Alex' was challenged by the need to read aloud:

qgenn qw fwr ri rth irgwe aisw ,,,

I had typed pages of gibberish because my fingers had started 'off the home keys'. I think that the next challenge for the nice people at Apple is to develop software protocols for embedding in the OS that will notice the keys that are being struck and intuit the ones that were intended.

Andrew

[rosemary johnson]

Software that intuits what you meant to type????? - ah, now that's a thought - but definitely one I wouldn't entrust to microdosh!
My favourite "desired" computer peripheral is a peice of software that monitors the typing, and when the typing speed starts to go down and the rate of typos to go it, it automatically sends a signal down a wire to a coffee-machine and brews the next mugful.
Rosemary