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diff --git a/README.FIRST b/README.FIRST new file mode 100644 index 0000000..37403ab --- /dev/null +++ b/README.FIRST @@ -0,0 +1,65 @@ +SPO256-AL2 based Text-to-Speech Network Services Version 0.2 + +This package comprises a new stand-alone release of the standard 'text to +speech' interface service and tools as first covered in the SPO article +appearing in Linux Journal, January 1997. Generic support for using the +SPO256-AL2 based board, and potentially other alternate network accessible +text-to-speech resources, is now more cleanly supported in a portable manner +that should allow use under virtually any UNIX'oid OS. This release +supersedes the initial WorldVU based source release originally described +in Linux Journal. + +This new release includes a new and portable SPO256 text-to-speech server, +some glue scripts for init.d in Linux to use the SPO as a normal system +'service', and many of the standard utilities re-written in a more +generic form. The new server should do a better job of parsing textual +documents into natural sounding speech as new rules for handling common +abbreviations and to improve word pacing have been added. + +The source for the SPO256-AL2 server is now more modular and more fully +documented. The utilities now include standard man pages. The server +now supports alternate forms of operation for use in client scripts. + +If you do not have the Linux Journal article in question, the SPO256 is +essentially a serial based text-to-speech board of limited utility. The +SPO256-AL2 (Vocoder) chip was originally used in many products, including +the Matel speak-and-spell(tm) toy, and offers limited text-to-speech +translation services. The SPO256 server augments the limited translation +capabilities of the SPO256 chipset and offers a network accessible resource +for text-to-speech notifications, such as system alerts, user logins, etc. + +This new server assumes a standard TCP 'service' has been defined in +/etc/services. You should edit the /etc/services file to include an entry +like the following (though a different port number may be used): + +speak 800/tcp # SPO256 text-to-speech network resource + +You will also need to copy speak.conf to /etc and modify it as needed. + +While the SPO256-AL2 is the primary hardware interface supported in this +package, other alternate text-to-speech devices may be added later that +will also use the "speak" port service. In particular, a re-implementation +of rsynth is being considered. Since the utilities talk to a standard +tcp port interface, they remain unchanged regardless of the underlying +hardware used to produce text-to-speech output. + +To build the software package, first run ./config. Config will genorate +the Makefiles. Config will then start 'make'. The configuration system +will attempt to identify the OS it is running under, compiler options, etc. +This may work under most UNIX operating systems, so the SPO package should +not be assumed to be a Linux-only utility. Once make completes successfully, +perform a 'make install'. This will update the /etc/services file and install +the application binaries. If you have difficulty with the new source +configuration tool, please review build/config.doc. + +Please examine the speak.conf and speak.init files, and relocate them as +needed. Further documentation may be found within the supplied man pages. +Comments may be addressed to David Sugar <dyfet@tycho.com>. The SPO256- +AL2 Text-to-Speech board ("Computalker") may be ordered through B&G Micro, +P.O. Box 280298, Dallas, TX 75228 (214) 271-5546. Linux Journal may be +found http://www.ssc.com/lj. + + + + + |