rhb@usl-pc.usl.edu (Bird Rendell H) (01/24/89)
Dear NeXT readers/users, Isn't it a shame that the Webster's dictionary is a "read" only file! Here are two things that I would do if I could: 1) Invent loads of strange words (i.e. qtes) so that the next time that I am playing Scrabble I will be able to cheat. If my opponent "calls" me own one of these little beauties, I will just say "Hey, let's look it up in my dictionary" and there it will be....:) :) :):) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) 2) I would scan in pictures of people I know and "link" them with specific definitions. So the next time I say something like : "She is so stubborn!, If you look up 'stubborn' in the dictionary, it will have her picture there!", I will mean it! Enough of my incoherent ramblings! Rendell Bird (killer dalsqnt)!usl!usl-pc!rhb -------------------------------------------------------------------
kenny@hpcuhc.HP.COM (Kenneth Lee) (01/25/89)
/ hpcuhc:comp.sys.next / rhb@usl-pc.usl.edu (Bird Rendell H) / 12:10 pm Jan 23, 1989 / Dear NeXT readers/users, Isn't it a shame that the Webster's dictionary is a "read" only file! Here are two things that I would do if I could: 1) Invent loads of strange words (i.e. qtes) so that the next time that I am playing Scrabble I will be able to cheat. If my opponent "calls" me own one of these little beauties, I will just say "Hey, let's look it up in my dictionary" and there it will be....:) :) :):) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) 2) I would scan in pictures of people I know and "link" them with specific definitions. So the next time I say something like : "She is so stubborn!, If you look up 'stubborn' in the dictionary, it will have her picture there!", I will mean it! Enough of my incoherent ramblings! Rendell Bird (killer dalsqnt)!usl!usl-pc!rhb ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------
izumi@violet.berkeley.edu (Izumi Ohzawa) (01/26/89)
In article <680007@hpcuhc.HP.COM> kenny@hpcuhc.HP.COM (Kenneth Lee) writes: >Dear NeXT readers/users, > > Isn't it a shame that the Webster's dictionary is a "read" only file! >2) I would scan in pictures of people I know and "link" them with >specific definitions. So the next time I say something like : "She is >so stubborn!, If you look up 'stubborn' in the dictionary, it >will have her picture there!", I will mean it! >Enough of my incoherent ramblings! As one who had to learn English as a foreign language, it would be really neat if NeXT's Webster's dictionary could SPEAK OUT words via its 16bit DACs. No, it doesn't have to be in stereo :-). But, it should be by someone's real voice, not by silly sounding text-to-speech synthesis. Perhaps, someone can make a lot of money compiling the voice data base. As to the speaker, I will let that be fought out by New Englanders, Texans, Mid-westerners, and Californians. Izumi Ohzawa
feldman@umd5.umd.edu (Mark Feldman) (01/26/89)
In article <19486@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> izumi@violet.berkeley.edu (Izumi Ohzawa) writes: > >As one who had to learn English as a foreign language, it would be >really neat if NeXT's Webster's dictionary could SPEAK OUT words >via its 16bit DACs. No, it doesn't have to be in stereo :-). >But, it should be by someone's real voice, not by silly sounding >text-to-speech synthesis. > >Perhaps, someone can make a lot of money compiling the voice data >base. > >As to the speaker, I will let that be fought out by New Englanders, >Texans, Mid-westerners, and Californians. > >Izumi Ohzawa Actually, pronouncing words from the dictionary would be a perfect application for text-to-speach conversion. The NeXT can output concatenated sounds (phonemes, in this application) in a smooth, seamless manner. The dictionary entries contain the pronunciation symbols necessary to produce the ``correct'' pronunciation. It seems to me that a good set of tools for phoneme generation, manipulation, and English to phoneme translation would do well in the NeXT environment. The possibilities -- linguistic studies, speach in programs without being forced to digitize megabytes, support for the disabled -- are endless. It's the kind of tool that should be a part of the base NeXT system. The NeXT philosophy of providing a powerful base system (68030, FP, DSP) allows applications to be written so that the availability of an optional floating point or DSP coprocessor is not a worry. If voice output facilities are provided, people will use them. If it is an option, something that NeXT leaves to third party developers, it may not be properly integrated and standerdized and it may not be used. Surely voice output is as important to most people as the music/MIDI support that NeXT is providing. Mark Feldman