Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/games/speech.zip/TQUERY.DOC

Text File | 1980-01-01 | 8KB | 183 lines

              TQuery 1.0.0
          Quick and dirty documentation
          <c> 1986 Michael B. Garrett/WAO Labs

TQuery is simple telephone database that talks. It is intended to
be  used  by  the visually impaired individual    that  needs  easy
access to large amounts of name/number type data.

The  actual  'speaking'  subroutine and alphabet was found  in  a
public-domain  program    called 'TALKER.BAS' downloaded  from  the
RBBS in Durham,  NC 919-471-5918 (Dan Delius,  Sysop).    As I  was
enchanted  with  the quick and dirty method used by some  unknown
programmer  to    output digital recordings stored  as  strings,    I
decided to put the routine to work,  so to speak.  The result  is
TQuery.

To use TQuery:
--------------
First  make sure that the  files  "TQUERY.BAS",  "LOGO.ZAP",  and
"PHONE.DAT"  reside  on  the same disk.  If you use a  disk  that
contains  only the system,  BASICA or equivalent,  and the  files
mentioned above,  you'll have room enough for at least 5000 names
and numbers at a rough guess. In other words, more than enough.

To  execute the program,  type "BASICA {or  equivalent}  TQUERY".
After  seeing the signon and logo,  your computer will say  'OK'.
Also, the prompt "Query:" will be displayed.

There are 2 phone numbers already in TQuery's database. The first
is the number for International Bancorp in Raleigh,  NC,  where I
can  be  contacted.  The  second is the number for  the  RBBS  in
Durham,   where   those  interested  may  download  the   program
"TALKER.BAS"  and  also a standard Query- as well as  many  other
good public-domain and freeware programs.

The  names  assigned  these  numbers are  'Darkshot'  and  'RBBS'
respectively.

Type 'RBBS' at the Query:  prompt.  After a disk access, you will
hear  spoken  from  your PC's speaker "919  {pause}  471  {pause}
5918".  In other words,  enter the name and hear the number.  You
will  notice as you enter the name that each letter is spoken  as
you  type it.  Also notice that the screen displays the name  and
number as it is being spoken. The backspace key will 'feep' as it
as  pressed  during entry,  and one letter will be  removed  from
input each time. At any point you wish to have all the letters in
the input line to be spoken, (in case you aren't sure how far you
backspaced) press the "/" key. Each letter in the input line will
be  spoken  and then you may edit as necessary.  If  you  hear    a
"BEEP",  you  have either backspaced to the beginning or you have
filled    the input line.  Inputs are limited to 20 characters  for
both name and number.

After each name is displayed and the number is spoken,    you  will
hear a "gleep" (AKA a  'climbing feep').  At this point,  you may
press  the  spacebar for the next number that matches your  input
search key (if another exists) or to return you to 'OK'  {spoken}
and 'Query:' {displayed} if you are at the end of your data.  ANY
OTHER  KEY that is pressed at this point will cause the  spelling
out of each letter in the name, followed by the number.

In use it would go like this:

Query: RBBS
<CR> feep.
Displayed- RBBS     919-471-5918
Spoken- 919 {p} 471 {p} 5918
gleep
<SPACEBAR>
Spoken- OK
Displayed- Query:
Query: RBBS
<CR> feep.
Displayed- RBBS     919-471-5918
Spoken- 919 {p} 471 {p} 5918
gleep
<CR> (or any key other than spacebar)
Display- no change.
Spoken- RBBS {p} 919 {p} 471 {p} 5918
gleep
<SPACEBAR>
Spoken- OK
Displayed- Query:

To add a name and number to TQuery:
-----------------------------------

At the Query: prompt, hit '+'.
TQuery    will  display the prompt "Name:" and speak  "W-H-O"  (one
letter at a time).

At this point, enter the name.

TQuery will respond by displaying "Tel#:" and will speak "N-U-M".
Enter the number. Be advised that spaces or "-"'s in either input
will  translate as pauses in the spoken output,  which is  as  it
should be.

That's  all there is- after storing your data TQuery will display
the "Query:" prompt and say 'OK'.  It is then ready to respond to
the next action.

To exit TQuery, simply answer the Query: prompt with "EXIT".

Special Programmer's Notes:
---------------------------

I  didn't  write  the machine  language   routine  that  actually
'speaks'  the string (stored in HELLO$ and in array A$(),  and  I
haven't  yet dug into it so I can be of little help right now  in
understanding its operation.  However, upon examination by myself
and James Kirby of WAO Labs,  the strings were found to graph out
to a perfect replica of digitized speech.  Basically,  we wrote a
program  to  draw  a  line as long as the  ascii  value  for  the
particular  byte  in a string.    After setting up  parameters  for
lows,  mids and highs (white,  blue,  purple) we were left with a
display  remarkably  similar  to that of a  Sony  digital  studio
recorder, albeit with very little frequence response, which is to
be  expected.  It seems to us that a program to edit waveforms on
the fly,  with instant feedback,  would be a simple prospect.  In
this way we hope to create words- and using the 64 or so standard
noises in English (I think they call them phenomes or something),
a  text to speech program is a simple prospect as  well.  All  in
BASICA, no less.

At any rate,  it interests me.    If the programmer that originally
created the machine language program contained in "TALKER.BAS" is
still  around,    I'd like to get in touch with him/her.  WAO's use
for 8088 machine code is zero,    and so is my inclination to learn
it,  but this routine is limited and could be improved greatly by
some  of WAO's off-the-shelf magic,  if we knew where  the  hooks
were. We've been turning IBM's into real computers for years.....


The Freeware Concept:
---------------------

So  much  pompous  noise has been preached about the  concept  of
"FREEWARE"  (which,   ludicrously  enough  is  rumored  to  be  a
registered  trade-mark- people    continue to amaze me  with  their
stupidity) that I won't add to the hot air here.

Inasmuch  as  I didn't create the entire  program  from  scratch,
morally  I  can't charge anything for it.  (Morals I believe  in-
laws  I  consider trivia.) Those few that know me will attest  to
the fact that I am not motivated by any altruistic tendencies, as
well.  I wrote this program because it interested me- and I spent
a grand total of about 1 hour on its design.

So:

I included a number to reach me in the database contained herein.
If  somehow this program  outlives the RBBS in Durham,    I can  be
contacted  at the number for Bancorp.  I would prefer that  I  be
contacted  by  E-mail  on  the BBS,  but I do want  to    hear  any
suggestions,  ideas  for special configurations,  and  especially
from  the  original  programmer of the    8088  code  contained  in
TQuery.  It's  a nice piece of work- in an age of mediocrity,  no
less.

TQUERY is copyright 1986 Michael B. Garrett/WAO Labs
All rights reserved.

This is done to prevent some clown from marketing TQUERY.  If you
don't think that an "OK" idea and quick and dirty implementation,
completely  shot through with bugs and simply lousy code  can  be
turned     into  'product'  and  sold  to  the  unsuspecting  idiot
consumers, I suggest you take a look at Mind Prober.

TQuery was written as free software and it shall remain as such.

If, somehow, this program finds its way into the hands of someone
who can benefit from it, that is payment enough- although I would
appreciate  it    if users would contact me- if only to  track  the
freeware net in action.

Thus proclaimed from the Realm of Darkshot, Sunday Jan 19, 1986.

Michael B. Garrett
Terylea Patton
James Kirby
Patrick Jones