Visual Impairments
Synthesizers Supported by Screen Reader

The following listing identifies text-to-speech synthesizers compatible with the IBM Screen Reader. THis list of synthesizers does not include all synthesizers that may be compatible with thte Screen Reader and is not intended as an endorsement or warranty by IBM of any synthesizer.




Accent
Accent is a text-to-speech synthesizer with unlimited vocabulary capability and many features in five models. All models employ the standard Accent text-processor which speaks in two modes: text and spell. Speech rate is from 60 to 850 words per minute. The IBM Screen Reader supports Accent-SA, Laptop, MC PC; check with the vendor for installation and technical support.

AICOM Corp.
1590 Oakland Rd. - Suite B112
San Jose, CA 95131
(408) 453-8251



Apollo Speech Synthesizer
The Apollo speech Synthesizer offers clear speech with pleasant indlection and tonal quality as well as variable pitch, intonation and voices. Its features include a quick response to speak and mute, sixteen speeds from slow to very fast, a rechargeable battery, connections to serial and parallel ports of a PC and connections to any laptop. The Apollow is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
EVAS
P.O. Box 371
Westerly, RI 02891
(800)872-3827 (401)596-3155



Audapter Speech System
Audapter Speech System is a speech synthesizer. Its features include: intelligibility over 93 percent on the industry standard MRT test, fast response, 700 word pwer minute speech rate, speech halt control, compact unit with built-in speaker, personalized pronouncign dictionary; price includes AC adapter, cable and serial interface. The user's manual is available on disk. The IBN Screen Reader supports this product. Contact the vendor for installation and technical support.
Personal Data Systems
100 W. Rincon Ave.- Suite 103
Campbell, CA 95003
(408)866-1126



Braille 'n Speak
Braille 'n Speak, a compact, prtable talking device with a seven-key Braille keyboard, may be used as a talking computer terminal, a Braille to print transcriber and a word processor. It is supported by the IBM Screen Reader; other features include a talking clock, calendar, calculator, stopwatch and a not organizer. It stores 20 file folders of information and has a 200,000 character memory. This battery-operated device also has a communication port for computer or printer connections. It allows information that is entered to print on a printer and will converty Grade 2 Braille entered into printable text. Braille 'n Speak has a built-in speech synthesizer; a battery charger and headset are included. Also available is a disk drive accessory, a small disk storage device that lets the user save files from Braille 'n Speak to standared 3.5 disks.




Blazie Engineering
109 E. Jarrettsville Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
(410) 893-9333
Braille Blazer printer
Braille Blazer is a small, light, quiet personal Braille printer with speech output for configuring the printer and as voice to any computer; it is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Blazie Engineering
109 E. Jarrettsville Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
(410)893-9333



CallText 5050
CallText 5050 is an external module that converts computer output into intelligible synthesized English speech. CallText 5050 connects to a computer's RS-232 port and converts the outgoing ASCII characters into speech according to its rules of pronunciation. A number of special pronunciation modes, such as letter by letter or abbreviation expanding, are possible. An external speaker may be connected to the unit. CallText 5050 answers incoming phone calls, sends a synthesized speech message and dials outgoing calls. Three mail voices are provided. The system may be adapted to handle up to five channels of data input/output (eg.,five different phone calls). This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Centigram Communications Corp.
4415 Fortran Court
San Jose, CA 95134
(408)944-0250



DECtalk
DECtalk, a full-featured voice synthesizer compatible with many systems, offers nine voices (male and female, child and adult) plus natural sentence rhythm and intonation. It converts text to a pronunciation code using dictionaries and letter-to-sound rules, taking into consideration surrounding words and their effects on pronunciations. Speech rate adjusts from 120 to350 words per minute. DECtalk provides a user-specified dictionary for common acronyms, trade terms and special words. It speaks through its internal speaker, headphone, an external speaker or over the telephone and accepts input from the computer through a standard RS-232C communications port. A portable version is available (see separate listing). For a telephone demonstration of DECtalk, call (617) 493-TALK. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Digital Equipment Corporation
Terminals Business Unit
146 Min Street
Maynard, MA 01754-2571
(800)832-6277 (617)493-3587



Echo PC
The Echo PC is an external text-to-speech synthesizer connecting to the computer's serial port. The Echo PC is no longer available, but those currently in use are supported by the IBM Screen Reader. The Echo PC plus synthesizer is an internally connected synthesizer card. The IBM Screen Reader supports the Echo PC synthesizer and not the Echo PC plus.
Street Electronics Corporation
6420 Via Real
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(805)684-4593



MultiVoice
The MultiVoice Speech Synthesizer is a battery-operated version of DECtalk. It is a full-featured voice synthesizer, supported by the IBM Screen Reader, offering high quality voices and sentence rhythm and intonation. Eight voices (male, female, child, adult) are available. This model weighs 4 pounds and attaches through a standard RS-232 port. Rate of speech is adjustable from 120 to 550 words/minute.
Institute on Applied Technology
Boston Children's Hospital
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 735-8391



Personal Speech System(PSS)
Personal Speech System (PSS) is a self-contained external speech synthesizer that connects tothe serial or parallel port. Transmitted data is sent to the PSS and becomes synthesized speech through a speaker. Pronunciation is determined by phonetic rules programmed into the PSS. Optional phonetic rules may be programmed by the user, and text may be sent in standard orthographic or special phonetic spellings. The PSS has music capabilities. A 3,500 character buffer is provided so no delay in speech transmission occurs. Inflection, rate and amplitude of speech are adjustable. The PSS has its own auxiliary serial and parallel prots, so a printer can remain connected while the PSS is hooked up. Contact the numufacturer about voice--output software written for the PSS. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Vysion Inc.
30777 Schoolcraft Rd.
Livonia, MI 48150
(800)521-1350 (313)522-3300


Prose 2020
Prose 2020 is a text-to-speech conversion program for easy, flexible voice synthesis. The user sends English words or whole sentences; the 2020 does the rest. Using sophisticated text-to-speech conversion rules, it processes the incoming text to produce immediately intelligible speech output with human-like intonation. Its vocabulary capability is unlimited. Anyone can create libraries of words, sentences or entire paragraphs using a teminal on any computer with an RS-232 port. Whenever spoken output is needed, the text is transmitted to the 2020. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Centigram Communications Corp.
4415 Fortran Court
San Jose, CA 95134
(408)944-0250


Syntha-Voice Synthesizer
Syntha-Voice is a serial synthesizer with speech rates up to 720 words per minute which supports IBM's Screen Reader. It is an external 25 ounce box with built-in speaker, a 1/8 inch external speaker jack, a 9 pin RS-232 female connector and a power adapter jack. There is no power switch or external volume control; the usnit ispowered through an adapther and an internal sealed lead-acid battery. The vocabulary is 70,000 English words. Pitch, speech rate, and volume are controlled through software.
Syntha-Voice Cmputers Inc.
125 Gailmont Dr.
Hamilton, ON L8K 4B8
Canada
(800)263-4540 (416)578-0565



Type 'N Talk
This self-contained speech synthesizer connects to a pc's serial port. Output can be routed to Type 'N Talk just as it is to a printer or a monitor. Characters sent will be spoken in English, according to the synthesizer's rules of pronunciation; thext may be sent n standard orthographic or phonetic spellings. A 750 character buffer is provided, allowing for no delay in voice transmission; volume and frequency of speech are adjustable. This product is supported by the IBM Screen Reader.
Vysion Inc.
30777 Schoolcraft Rd.
Livonia, MI 48150
(800)521-1350 (313)522-3300