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TQUERY.DOC
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1980-01-01
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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