Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!ox.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!369!8!Rick.Alfaro From: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Alfaro) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: artic vs vocalize Message-ID: <18894@bunker.isc-br.com> Date: 19 Apr 91 20:24:56 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.isc-br.com Reply-To: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org Organization: FidoNet node 1:369/8 - The Catwalk BBS, Davie FL Lines: 67 Approved: wtm@bunker.hcap.fidonet.org Index Number: 15071 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] MO> changing rate volume, etc on the fly. I guess my big argument MO> at this time is the one artivficial intelligence versus MO> configuration type programs that I adressed in an earlier MO> message. I"d like to know how the configuration users know how MO> to set up their config files if they're having trouble figuring MO> out a program in the first place. I don't like the idea of MO> having to understand a program, that is an application program, MO> inside out before you can set up an intelligent configuration MO> file to deal with it. How do you do that with no sighted help MO> when the application in question isn't working well in the MO> first place? Oh well. Off my soapbox. I know I've made that MO> point before. I wish more of you config guys would get over on MO> Genie and enter into dialog with Larry of microtali, author of MO> the asap, artifiacial intalligence based program. Thanks. I MO> love this interchange of ideas. Keep it going. Hello Mary... The artificial inteligence stuff sound great, but I wonder how responsive the software is? With everything that is is looking for on the screen, I am willing to bet that the program is on the sluggish side. Ofcourse, I have no real way of knowing, since there is no demo available, and the software will only work with 1 type of synthesizer! That alone, is its biggest drawback! For whatever their reasons, they are making the same mistake Artic has, but atleast Artic lets you purchase a seperate software package that will allow the artic card to work with other screen readers. I would never consider buying a package that is limited to a proprietary configuration of software and ahardware. I have 2 machines here. One has a sounding board, and the other has an old sonix sp200 card. I would never trade the flexibility of being able to use Vocal-eyes in either machine, and if I go somewhere where I need to use someone elses computer, I can freely take my Braille N Speak and a floppy with Vocal-eyes on it and have instant access to their computer. The absense of this flexibility would be absolutely intollarable for me. This may not seem like such a big deal to you, but it will when the time comes when you want to do something on another machine. I was onh Genie last night and read osme of the messages addressed to and from microtalk. I remember Larry from the Apple days, and he is a fine fellow, and I think he ha some very good ideas with his program, however, he seems to have the idea that no other synthesizers can do what the double talk can do with respect to auto reading and interruptibility. This just isn't the case. There are several synths out there that have indexing so that you can stop during autoread and be right on the character or word you just heard. There are also several programs out there that support an auto read mode, and support many many types of synthesizers. Basing his support for only 1 synthesizer on these incorrect assumptions is going to keep a lot of people from purchasing his package. Sorry to bend your ear! I wanted to make sure that you were aware of this very serious limitation and that it isn't to be taken lightly. Great typing at you, and I hope when the time comes, you will make the correct decision with respect to your needs... Regards, Rick -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!369!8!Rick.Alfaro Internet: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org