On Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 08:08:15AM -0700, Butch Bussen wrote: > I just downloaded the latest terabyte programs, and I remember > reading some where a while back that they have a way to make their > Linux version speak. Was that on this list? This is one of the mailing lists for a screen reader called Speakup, which pretty-much gives you text console access to linux from startup to shutdown, if you have a hardware speech synthesizer, or from login prompt to shutdown if not. Until configuration files are manually updated to include SpeakUP, it can be started from the boot loader with a simple text command: speakup.synth=<synthesizer driver> Usually the synthesizer driver is a 4 character name like "ltlk" or "soft", which loads in support for the LiteTalk hardware synthesizer, or the software synthesizer, respectively. The linux CD will usually have instructions for booting Linux with SpeakUP support in the documentation directory, which may be viewed with any working computer system. Booting the software synthesizer is a little bit more involved. Not only do you have to load the driver, you also have to start a software synthesis engine after logging in. This can all be automated for the future, though. Some distributions (distros) contain SpeakUP support, and some do not. Some of the more popular linux flavors include GRML vinux, Debian, and Ubuntu to name a few. Their CD images can be downloaded from their websites and burned to CD. Once that's accomplished, you can put the CD in the drive, read the usual slew of help textfiles on how to boot and or install the system, and go from there. HTH, Michael
