Cited By
View all- KUTSCH JKUTSCH K(1979)Considerations in the employment of blind computer professionals1979 International Workshop on Managing Requirements Knowledge (MARK)10.1109/MARK.1979.8817092(383-384)Online publication date: Jun-1979
A talking computer terminal
Pages 357 - 362
Abstract
In an attempt to provide a communications medium for blind computer users, the requirements for an optimal method of communications were set forth. Previous solutions to the problem were studied and their shortcomings were noted. Through a combination of ideas from previous approaches and the author's personal experience, a new and unique direction was taken, which resulted in a host independent talking computer terminal.
The hardware for the terminal, consisting of a microprocessor, a speech synthesizer, a keyboard, and a modem, were assembled to form a prototype system. An analysis of algorithms for the translation from text to synthesizer commands was conducted, resulting in a decision to use a technique designed by McIlroy from Bell Laboratories, with modifications to tailor it to the needs of the talking terminal. The necessary software was written and the talking terminal was demonstrated using the University of Illinois' PDP 10 as the host computer. It is currently being used at West Virginia University on an IBM 360-75 as a research tool of the author.
References
[1]
Bliss, J. C., "A Relatively High-Resolution Reading Aid for the Blind", IEEE Trans. Man Machine.
[2]
Bliss, J. C., M. H. Catcher, C. H. Rogers and R. P. Shepard, "Optical-to-Tactile Image Conversion for the Blind", IEEE Trans. Man-Machine System, Vol. MMS-11, March 1970, pp. 58--65.
[3]
Loeber, N. C., "Proposed Braille Computer Terminal Offers Expanded World to the Blind", Proc. AFIPS Fall Joint Comp. Conf., Vol. 39, 1971, pp. 79--87.
[4]
Homsby, T. G., Jr., "Voice response systems", Modern Data, November 1972, pp. 46--50.
[5]
Liberman, A. M., F. S. Cooper, D. P. Shankweiler and M. Studdert-Kennedy, "Perception of the speech code", Psychol. Rev., Vol. 74, 1967, pp. 432--461.
[6]
Lee, F. F., "Reading Machine: From Text to Speech", IEEE Trans. on Audio and Electroacoustics, Vol. AU-17, No. 4, Dec. 1969, pp. 275--282.
[7]
Allen, J., "Machine-to-Man Communication by Speech, Part II: Synthesis of Prosodic Features of Speech by Rule", Proc. AFIPS Spring Joint Comp. Conf., Vol. 32, 1968, pp. 339--344.
[8]
Allen, J., "Reading Machines for the Blind: The Technical Problems and the Methods Adopted for Their Solution", IEEE Trans. Audio and Electroacoustics, Vol. AU-21. No. 3, June 1973, pp. 259--364.
[9]
Gerstman, L. J., and J. L. Kelly, "An Artificial Talker Driven from Phonetic Input", Journal of Acoustical Society of America, Vol, 33, 1961, pp. 835(A).
[10]
McIlroy, M. D., "Synthetic English Speech by Rule", Bell Telephone Laboratories, March 1974.
[11]
Rabiner, L. R., and R. W. Schafer, "Digital Techniques for Computer Voice Response: Implementations and Applications", Proc. IEEE, Vol. 64, No. 4, April 1976, pp. 416--433.
[12]
Rahimi, M. A., and J. B. Eulenberg, "Modes of Information Presentation for the Blind Programmer", Proc. Assoc. for Computer Machinery Annual Conf., 1974.
[13]
Rahimi, M. A., and J. B. Eulenberg, "A Computing Environment for the Blind", Proc. AFIPS National Computer Conference, Vol. 43, 1974, pp. 121--124.
[14]
Votrax Audio Response System Operators Manual, Vocal Interface Division, Federal Screw Works.
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Published In
June 1977
1039 pages
ISBN:9781450379144
DOI:10.1145/1499402
Copyright © 1977 ACM.
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- AFIPS: American Federation of Information Processing Societies
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Association for Computing Machinery
New York, NY, United States
Publication History
Published: 13 June 1977
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View all- KUTSCH JKUTSCH K(1979)Considerations in the employment of blind computer professionals1979 International Workshop on Managing Requirements Knowledge (MARK)10.1109/MARK.1979.8817092(383-384)Online publication date: Jun-1979
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