Home > Archive > Visual Basic > March 2006 > Microsoft SAPI 5.0 - Is there something better out there?
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
| Author |
Microsoft SAPI 5.0 - Is there something better out there?
|
|
|
| Hi Everybody;
I'm working on programs to help aid blind and handicap people (which I hope
to distribute as FREEWARE). To make my software work, I have to use the
Microsoft SAPI to take care of the Text To Speech portions my VB program.
I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is other free downloads that could
replace the SAPI software. The sound quality is very poor.
Thanks
Kurt
| |
| mayayana 2006-03-17, 6:55 pm |
| Some notes that may or may not be helpful:
1) I wonder if it could be the speakers. I have
a blind friend who uses Jaws, a well-regarded
screen-reader. (Or at least a very expensive one.)
Jaws gives him something that sounds just like
Stephen J. Hawking, although I think that there
are also other options. I send him VBScripts to
do maintenance on his computer and the scripts
use SAPI 5.1 with the "Microsoft Mary" voice.
To my ear the SAPI voice is at least as good as
what Jaws produces, and both are very much audible.
2) If you can get access to a Jaws install you might
look at the options. I don't remember what was there
for speech options but I do seem to remember that
it was able to use several different TTS engines. That
might at least provide you a list for further research into
free engines.
3) In case you're also working with Active Accessibility -
I started to write a screen reader for my friend at
one point, so that he wouldn't have to pay the outrageous
cost of Jaws. I didn't finish, partly because my friend
ended up getting Jaws paid for by the state, and
partly because AA turned out to be a somewhat
half-baked system. Nevertheless, I ended up doing
a fair amount of research into AA before quitting. If
you need any VB code for that:
http://www.jsware.net/jsware/vbcode.php3#acc
---------------
> Hi Everybody;
>
> I'm working on programs to help aid blind and handicap people (which I
hope
> to distribute as FREEWARE). To make my software work, I have to use the
> Microsoft SAPI to take care of the Text To Speech portions my VB program.
> I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is other free downloads that could
> replace the SAPI software. The sound quality is very poor.
>
> Thanks
> Kurt
| |
|
| Mayayana:
Thanks for your tips, I'll look into each of them as soon as possible. My,
goals are a little different than JAWS. As far as I can tell, jaws is mostly
a screen reader. I would like to concerntrate on using a computer to help
solve other problems such as identifying medications, dialing phone numbers,
and supplying entertainment. One of my issues is to have the system work for
people who have never used a computer before and don't know the keyboard to
type.
Thanks
Kurt
"mayayana" wrote:
> Some notes that may or may not be helpful:
>
> 1) I wonder if it could be the speakers. I have
> a blind friend who uses Jaws, a well-regarded
> screen-reader. (Or at least a very expensive one.)
> Jaws gives him something that sounds just like
> Stephen J. Hawking, although I think that there
> are also other options. I send him VBScripts to
> do maintenance on his computer and the scripts
> use SAPI 5.1 with the "Microsoft Mary" voice.
> To my ear the SAPI voice is at least as good as
> what Jaws produces, and both are very much audible.
>
> 2) If you can get access to a Jaws install you might
> look at the options. I don't remember what was there
> for speech options but I do seem to remember that
> it was able to use several different TTS engines. That
> might at least provide you a list for further research into
> free engines.
>
> 3) In case you're also working with Active Accessibility -
>
> I started to write a screen reader for my friend at
> one point, so that he wouldn't have to pay the outrageous
> cost of Jaws. I didn't finish, partly because my friend
> ended up getting Jaws paid for by the state, and
> partly because AA turned out to be a somewhat
> half-baked system. Nevertheless, I ended up doing
> a fair amount of research into AA before quitting. If
> you need any VB code for that:
>
> http://www.jsware.net/jsware/vbcode.php3#acc
>
> ---------------
> hope
>
>
>
| |
| mayayana 2006-03-18, 6:55 pm |
| Yes, Jaws is just a screen reader, but that's
Text to Speech. It sounds like maybe you
need speech recognition? That would be a
completely different thing. (Sorry but I don't know
anything about that, as far as what's available.)
> Mayayana:
> Thanks for your tips, I'll look into each of them as soon as possible.
My,
> goals are a little different than JAWS. As far as I can tell, jaws is
mostly
> a screen reader. I would like to concerntrate on using a computer to help
> solve other problems such as identifying medications, dialing phone
numbers,
> and supplying entertainment. One of my issues is to have the system work
for
> people who have never used a computer before and don't know the keyboard
to[color=darkred]
> type.
> Thanks
> Kurt
>
> "mayayana" wrote:
>
the[color=darkred]
program.[color=darkred]
could[color=darkred]
| |
|
| My program doesn't use speech recognition. I rejected it for several
reasons. I tried looking at the link you gave me, but it's
restricted-couldn't get in. If I have time today, I'll try SAPI5.1-maybe
it's better.
Would it be possible to exchange email address? I may have a few questions
for you in the future.
kboroush@hotmail.com
"mayayana" wrote:
> Yes, Jaws is just a screen reader, but that's
> Text to Speech. It sounds like maybe you
> need speech recognition? That would be a
> completely different thing. (Sorry but I don't know
> anything about that, as far as what's available.)
>
> My,
> mostly
> numbers,
> for
> to
> the
> program.
> could
>
>
>
| |
| mayayana 2006-03-18, 6:55 pm |
|
> My program doesn't use speech recognition. I rejected it for several
> reasons. I tried looking at the link you gave me, but it's
> restricted-couldn't get in
It's not restricted to browsers. It just blocks "download helper"
programs, and most of those are not very well designed,
so instead of telling you that they're getting a 403 response
they just pop up a password login.
It might be a problem if you have a permanently
operating download helper browser plugin installed.
>
> Would it be possible to exchange email address? I may have a few
questions
> for you in the future.
> kboroush@hotmail.com
>
My email:
mayayanaXX1a@mindXXspring.com
(Remove Xs for return email.)
It's better not to type in your actual email. The spam
bots will pick it up.
| |
| Abhishek 2006-03-19, 7:55 am |
| hi,
you can use SAPI 4.0, SAPI 4.0 has more numbers TTS Engines available.
bye,
abhishek
www.abhisoft.net
www.succeedcomponents.com
mayayana wrote:
>
> It's not restricted to browsers. It just blocks "download helper"
> programs, and most of those are not very well designed,
> so instead of telling you that they're getting a 403 response
> they just pop up a password login.
> It might be a problem if you have a permanently
> operating download helper browser plugin installed.
>
> questions
>
> My email:
> mayayanaXX1a@mindXXspring.com
> (Remove Xs for return email.)
>
> It's better not to type in your actual email. The spam
> bots will pick it up.
| |
|
| Hi Abhishek:
I've looked into SAPI 4.0 before and had some problems with it. However, I
will take a look at it again.
Thanks
Kurt
"Abhishek" wrote:
> hi,
>
> you can use SAPI 4.0, SAPI 4.0 has more numbers TTS Engines available.
>
>
> bye,
> abhishek
> www.abhisoft.net
> www.succeedcomponents.com
>
> mayayana wrote:
>
>
| |
|
| On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 07:35:27 -0800, KAB
<KAB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>Hi Everybody;
>
>I'm working on programs to help aid blind and handicap people (which I hope
>to distribute as FREEWARE). To make my software work, I have to use the
>Microsoft SAPI to take care of the Text To Speech portions my VB program.
>I'm wondering if anyone knows if there is other free downloads that could
>replace the SAPI software. The sound quality is very poor.
You could look at http://www.acapela-group.com/
MM
|
|
|
|
|