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To:	linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu
Subject: Speech output for Linux: speakup-0.07 released
From:	Kirk Reiser <kirk@braille.uwo.ca>
Date:	22 Jun 1999 15:00:36 -0400

Announcing the seventh alpha release, speakup v-0.07

Speakup is a screen review package for the Linux operating system.  It
allows you to hear all output directed to the console and move around
the screen using the typical screen review functions.

This is an alpha release which means it is by no means complete.

It is quite usable in it's current incarnation though, with the
blaring lack of cursor output support.  That means in an editor it
doesn't read each line as you move up and down the screen.  It tracks
the cursor so you just need to do a say current line but it doesn't do
it all by itself.  There is more to be said for cursor tracking and
speaking than meets the ear at first glance.

Speakup is a set of kernel patches which means you should have some
experience with kernel compiling.  It currently works on the Linux
development kernels 2.2.7 and above.  At this release we are at
kernel 2.2.10.

What's new in v-0.07?  Read the Changes file included in the tar
archive for full descriptions of my changes.  Speakup now has
accompanying utilities for loading and dumping its configuration
settings.  Speakup has a totally new device driver mechanism which
reduces the size of the driver code.  Speakup now supports a number of
various synthesizers including the DoubleTalk PC, the LightTalk and
DoubleTalk LT, the Accent PC and SA/Transport, and last but not least
the Speakout.  The current version is now configurable within the make
config system which will make installation much more straight forward.

There is a mailing list for speakup which you are welcome to join if
you are interested in it's on going development.  You can subscribe to
the mailing list by sending a message to listserv@braille.uwo.ca with
a line in the body of the message like this:

subscribe speakup (YourFirstName YourLastName)
 
The mailing list is currently a very low traffic forum so you probably
won't be overwhelmed with mail.

The official speakup distribution point is
ftp://ftp.braille.uwo.ca/pub/linux/speakup.  The ftp area includes all
of the current speakup files and utilities.  It also includes a
subdirectory containing older versions of speakup.  There is a new
directory tree which contains the base debian installation disks with
speakup already installed.  So if you have a doubleTalk card you can
down load the disk images and install your entire system with speech.
The installation disks currently contain speakup version-0.06.  There
is also a Linux kernel image "linux" which contains speakup and the
drivers usually included in the Debian kernels.  There are images
available for Slackware users as well.  We will hopefully have boot
disks and or kernel images available for the newly supported synths in
the near future..

We are in the middle of writing a set of web pages for speakup.  You
can check them out at http://www.braille.uwo.ca/speakup.  We would
like to hear what you think of them and will gladly consider
recommendations on their improvement.  We have what we consider a way
cool logo for the speakup project as well, it would be nice to hear
your opinions on that also.

Speakup is written by Kirk Reiser and Andy Berdan.  It is covered by
the GPL (GNU Public License).

So, like I think that's about it.  If you have any questions feel free
to write me at kirk@braille.uwo.ca.  If you have any of the synths now
covered by speakup, we could really use your feedback.  If you are
just diing to get involved in a software project, boy do we have a
bridge to sell you! 'grin'

  Kirk

email: kirk@braille.uwo.ca
phone: (519) 679-6845 (home)


-- 

Kirk Reiser				The Computer Braille Facility
e-mail: kirk@braille.uwo.ca		University of Western Ontario
phone: (519) 661-3061

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