TalkingKeys is a (shareware) "real time" talking Desk Accessory. It uses Macintalk to speak to you and tell you when any key on the keyboard is pressed even if TalkingKeys is not the front window! This version adds "Talk Selected Letters", the menu title of "Talk Selection" has been changed to "Talk Selected Words".
TalkingKeys will speak each key and show you the letter (or number) plus a picture of an object that begins with that letter. (If you have the 2 Toyland fonts in your System). This is a very good way to teach small children the alphabet.
TalkingKeys has other uses too! It can be used to speak a word processing document or any other text that can be copied to the clipboard (good for proof reading). With the addition of "Talk Events" TalkingKeys is a Talking Event Tutor which might help you learn how to program on the Mac.
Note; TalkingKeys automatically sets the speaker volume to maximum and returns it to where it had been when TalkingKeys is closed.
Press down the Option & Command keys at the same time (while NOT pressing the Mouse button) and TalkingKeys will tell you the Local coordinates of the Mouse (Local for the Front window).
With the Caps Lock key down - press down the Option & Command keys at the same time (while NOT pressing the Mouse button) and TalkingKeys will tell you the Global coordinates of the Mouse (distance from the top left corner of the screen).\
Menu items;
Say Letters - Put a check mark here and TalkingKeys will speak each letter when as it is typed on the keyboard.
Say Words - When "Say Words" is checked, TalkingKeys will wait until the end of a word before speaking the whole word (it will not speak each individual letter.)
Shut Up - A check mark here will indicate that TalkingKeys will not speak any letters or words (Talk Selection will still work.)
Note: Either "Say Letters" or "Say Words" must be checked for any "Talking" to occur except for "Talk Selection".
TalkingTerminal - A check mark here and you will hear words come from your modem! When used with a Terminal program, TalkingKeys will speak the words that come over your modem. If your modem is attached to the Mac's modem port simply pick "Talking Terminal" from the menu and listen. If your modem is attached to the Printer port, just hold down the Option key as you pick "Talking Terminal" from the menu and TalkingKeys will speak everything that comes through the modem.
Talk Selected Words
Talk Selected Letters
First - Hilite the text you wish TalkingKeys to speak.
Second - make sure that TalkingKeys' window is behind the window containing the text to be spoken.
Third - choose Talk Selected Words or Talk Selected Letters from the menu.
These commands will "page" through your selected text and speak the words or letters that were hilited. If you wish to stop either of these commands before they are done, just hold down the mouse button as one "page" ends and before the next begins.
Note: If you have any problems using these commands - copy the selection to the clipboard then choose Talk Selected Words or Talk Selected Letters (with TalkingKeys behind your text window).
Talk Events (When checked) Tells you the Macintosh events as they occur except for application events and network and ioDrvr events. Added to Talk Events is the mouse location in general and within a window (except for System Windows like DA's). Example: "Mouse down, in Content" For a good example, try this with MacWrite and click the mouse in various parts of the MacWrite window.
Talk Menus (When checked) Talks menu items that are picked. (Will not talk Desk Accessory menu items).
Say Shift/Say Command/Say Option
A check mark on any of these items means that TalkingKeys will tell you when they are pressed to modify the meaning of another key. Such as Shift-a will be an uppercase "A" or Command-c would mean Copy (in most programs.)
Slow/Medium/Fast - These three items control the rate of speech. A check mark shows which is the current speed.
Toys 1/Toys 2 - You can select one of two different Toyland fonts by choosing either Toys 1 or Toy 2. Note; Toyland1 should have a font number of 197 and Toyland2 should have a font number of 198 for TalkingKeys to use them properly. They both have a font size of 36 point.
Instructions - This command will speak to you a shortened version of these instructions.
Send Behind will put TalkingKeys behind another window (useful in HyperCard).
The command keys may be changed (or added) by using a file editing program.
You may also use an exception file if you change the HEX value $237F to $1C4B and name the file "TalkingKeysFile" and place it in the System Folder.
If you like this program and use it, please send $15.00 to;
