Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!mips!pacbell.com!iggy.GW.Vitalink.COM!widener!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!eniac.seas.upenn.edu!mfontana
From: mfontana@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Mark A Fontana)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc
Subject: How to access First Byte's software speech?
Message-ID: <44560@netnews.upenn.edu>
Date: 13 Jun 91 05:35:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: netnews.44560
Sender: news@netnews.upenn.edu
Reply-To: mfontana@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Mark A Fontana)
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Pennsylvania
Lines: 18
Nntp-Posting-Host: eniac.seas.upenn.edu


I was recently playing around with First Byte's "First Letters and Words,"
a program for preschoolers that talks using either one of several
supported speech accessories or a built-in software speech driver.

The software speech driver is contained in a separate 80k file that loads
as a TSR.  The speech quality isn't great, but it's better than most of
the public domain attempts that I've heard.  It's actually understandable.

I examined the data files with a binary file editor, and the phonetic
code was pretty obvious: ex. A BIG DOG = "2AAb5IHgd2AWg."  I played
around with it and managed to 'customize' what the children's game says.

But I'd like to use this TSR speech driver for my own applications.
Does anyone know how I can communicate with this program?


Mark