tlh@pbhyf.UUCP (Lee Hounshell) (09/30/87)
Thanks, everybody for the info you sent me in response to my search for a digitized voice box.. since I also received several requests for the replies I recieved, I'm gonna summarize them (so far) here for you. Several people (about 20 or so..) recommended that I look at Digital's DEC-Talk unit. As it happens, I've written several applications using a DEC-Talk in the past, and have been very happy with its reliability and programability. However, for the application I'm currently working on, it's synthesized speech capabilities sound too much like a "machine" and not enough like a *person*.. for that reason, I've ruled it out. I found out that the "6th annual Voice Input/Output Systems Applications Conference" is being held in Alexandria, Virginia on Oct. 6-8th, next week. I plan on attending, as representatives from most of the major voice manufacturers will be there.. Among the exhibitors/speakers will be: AICOM AT&T Conversant Systems American Express Berkeley Speech Technologies Cherry Electrical Products Dictaphone Corporation Digital Equipment Corporation Intel Corporation Interstate Coice Products Kurzweil AI, Inc. Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. NEC America Periphonics Corporation Shure Brothers, Inc. Speech Plus Speech Systems, Inc. Texas Instruments VCT Corporation Voice Control Systems Voice Industries Corp. Voice Response, Inc. Votan Westinghouse Electric If there's enough interest, I'll summarize my findings when I get back. Also, if any of you netters are going to this, drop me a line and maybe we can get together for a drink sometime during the conference. Other that the DEC-Talk unit, I haven't found out much valuable information about the other manufacturer's products/applications yet. If any of you have positive or negative experiences with any of the voice systems/companies I've listed above, I'd really appreciate hearing about them. Also, I've heard rumors that DEC is coming out with some kind of digital super-voice box sometime in the near future.. anyone else know anything about this? Thanks again for all your help.. long live the net! Lee Hounshell - Pacific Bell ptsfa!pbhyf!tlh 2600 Camino Ramon, #4E700 San Ramon, CA. 94583 (415) 823-2432