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UPDATE: THIS FILE LAST EDITED 1-2007

A SIGHT LOSS INFORMATION DETECTIVE
PUBLICATION - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ENDORSEMENT OR RECOMMENDATION, AND IS PRESENTED SIMPLY AS A CONVENIENCE TO THE READER. BECAUSE OF THE CHANGING AVAILABILITY OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, THE COMPLETENESS OF THIS LISTING IS NOT GUARANTEED.

12. VOICES, VOICES

GENERALLY PEOPLE FIRST NOTICE WHAT A VOICE SOUNDS LIKE BEFORE THEY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING SAID.

IN THE WORLD OF SYNTHETIC SPEECH FOR VISION LOSS, WHETHER YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE A PARTICULAR ARTIFICIAL VOICE CAN SOMETIMES PRODUCE STRONG FEELINGS.

HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOME CONSUMERS FIRST PRIORITY IS VOICE SPEED NOT QUALITY.

BESIDES THE JAWS AND WINDOW-EYES PC SCREEN READERS, A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOME ARTIFICIAL TALKERS INCLUDE:

1. VERA TALKING SCANNER

VERY EASY READING APPLIANCE (VERA) FIRST SOLD BY ARKENSTONE IN 1999 AND IT USES THE DECKTALK TEXT-TO-SPEECH

2. SARA TALKING SCANNER

SCANNING AND READING APPLIANCE (SARA) FIRST SOLD BY FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC IN 2004 AND IT USES THE REAL SPEAK VOICES SOFTWARE

3. outSPOKEN SCREEN READER

SPOKEN INTERFACE FOR MACINTOSH COMPUTERS FIRST SOLD BY BERKELEY SYSTEMS IN 1988 AND LATER UPGRADED BY ALVA ACCESS FOR MACOS-9.2.2

4. VoiceOver SCREEN READER

SPOKEN INTERFACE FOR MACINTOSH COMPUTERS FIRST SOLD BY APPLE COMPUTER IN 2005 FOR MACOS-10.4 OR LATER

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