Python Gutenberg E-text Project

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7. Speech Output

PyGERS provides text-to-speech output functionality when it detects that supported speech synthesis software is installed on a system. The View->Speech menu command is only enabled when detection of supported speech components is successful.

7.1. Supported Speech Components

Additional information about speech components supported by PyGERS can be found at http://pyge.sourceforge.net/notes.html#speech, while information about acquiring these components can be found at http://pyge.sourceforge.net/index.html#synth-sources.

7.2. Speech Controls

Invoking the View->Speech menu command brings up a dialog box which provides controls for speech functions in PyGERS. An example view of a Speech Controls dialog box is shown in the figure below.

7.2.1. Voice selection

Within the "Options" control group is a selector for choosing which voice to use for speech synthesis operations. Each installed synthesis module will have its own selection of voices. Users should try each one with a sample of text to gauge which one works best for them. All of the synthesized voices will sound artificial to some degree, and personal preferences will be the overriding determinant of which sounds better to any one individual.

7.2.2. Adjustable parameters

Also within the "Options" group are a variable number of controls for adjusting speech parameters. Different voice synthesizers will have different sets of available parameters that can be modified. Examples of parameter controls which may appear are: Duration, Speed, Pitch, and Volume. The user should experiment with each available control to determine if any can be used to improve the perceived quality of speech output. Parameter controls should be set before a Start command is issued, and will have no effect while speech is active.

7.2.3. Text source

Users can select one of three sources for text to be spoken using controls in the "Read from" group.

  Selected text

Text beginning with selected text that is highlighted within the main text display area.

  Current page

Text beginning at the top of the currently displayed page.

  Bookmark

Text beginning at the location of a named bookmark, which is chosen with the pulldown list control.

Users may also optionally choose to have speech synthesis automatically stop at the end of a page by checking the checkbox labeled "Stop at page end". If the box is unchecked, reading will continue until a command to pause or stop is issued.

7.2.4. Commands

The following command buttons provide user control of speech functions.

  Start

Starts speech operation to speak designated text.

  Pause

Toggles between pausing and restarting speech operation.

  Stop

Stops speech operation.

  Cancel

Closes Speech Controls dialog box.