Jim:

Yes, I thought "typing by touch" was a given, I thought it a waste of time
in mentioning to anyone using a keyboard...

However, once it is necessary to present the blind with text-to-speech it
is only obvious they can make excellent use of speech-to-text--especially
since the text is usually spelled back to them for checking...

We used to have a blind coder at a kernel driver shop I worked for, that
was ten years ago, and he was using the both engines... I don't even have
a concept of how far all that has advanced in a decade.

But, I take it for granted, the only reason I am still using a keyboard is
because of my religious devotion to it... on IRC chat I come into contact
with those using the speech-to-text engines (many blind/disabled use
IRC for social contact)--if they did not make me aware, I would only
believe they were faster typists than myself...

John

On Sat, 27 Aug 2005 19:55:27 +0000, Jim Hampton wrote:


"John Smith" wrote in message
news
Jim:

It is only necessary to create the association between any spoken word and
the series of characters you wish to generate when that word is spoken,
into a library of such associations...

In other words, if I speak "the" and make the association to the
characters "t-h-e" the speech to text engine will always generate those
characters when I speak that specific word--I could just as easily
associate the spoken "the" with any other series of characters.

Now, while you and I might not go to that trouble if we are fast typists,
others who do not type will... those who are blind will... companies and
corps will (and especially those employing disabled workers.) I have seen
such libraries on the net for specific uses, such as programming, before.
You most likely can download one for the speech engine in question...

There are groups devoted to the blind who could easily supply you with
them, I am sure...

John


Hello, John

You have an idea that is remiss in a thought or two. One of my friends I
have known for years is blind. He types. You do *not* have to see in order
to type. I need not (and usually do not) look at the keyboard. In fact, I
never look at the keyboard. Once you know where the home keys are, you
don't need to see. In fact, check and see if your "f" and "j" keys have
little bumps on them to assist you in finding the home keys. Amazing, ain't
it LOL

I learned grade 1.5 Braille when I was a teenager. I used a Braille slate,
although it is far easier to use a Braille writer. My friend has a text to
speach translator. They work quite well and are great for his e-mail, but
speach to text has a problem.

This brings to mind a simple diddy:
Rockabye homonym, on the tree top
when the wind blows, the homonym will rock
and when the bow breaks, the homonym will fall
and down comes your arguement, homonym and all.
takes a bough

As you can see, I might associate "to" with the letters "t" and "o" combined
for one word. Unfortunately, when I wish to add the word "two", I will see
that the spoken word is already associated with the word "to". Too big a
problem, I suspect. Woops, there just went another too, too - or is that
tu-tu?

Further, how does one do addresses? I want the numbers to be stated as one
block, with no commas should the address be something like 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue. Of course, no one is usually there at 1600 Pennsylvania avenue, but
the arguement seems solid. I can't even use "my address" as two words come
out rather than my street address - heaven help me if I want to add my
e-mail address. Will "at" appear as "at" or "@"? Will ampersand appear as
"ampersand" or "@"? Suppose I wish to use the word in a sentence?

If you can't speak, you could always be in a restaurant with a lap-top with
text to speach and type in "blew cheese dressing, please" and it sounds
perfectly proper, despite the error in spelling. However, it doesn't work
in the other direction. Now you have a spelling and/or context problem.

Hope you understand my point


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA