Published on Jul 7, 2015 Amanda Alfaro
I spotted an auction for a Touch Talker TT-DB below. I was curious what it sounded like so I did a quick search on YouTube and found the above. It's $299 on iTunes: LAMP Words For Life - Prentke Romich Company! The original hardware version below utilized Smoothtalker or DECTalk speech synthesis, and was built to interface with the Apple IIe, II+, and IBM PC. Not sure what the iOS version uses - new samples, samples of the original, or the actual synth engine of the original. Another interesting bit of synthesis history...
via this auction
"Touch Talker, models TT-DB, is a portable electronic communication aid offering synthesized speech output and optional printer or keyboard emulating output. Selections are made directly by pushing one of the keys on the membrane keyboard. Messages can be displayed on an LCD before being spoken. The Touch Talker can be used with Minspeak and Expanded Minspeak firmware, which allows vocabulary to be stored and recalled by semantic compaction and overlays to be created and reassigned. The Touch Talker can also be used to operate an environmental control system and a computer. Options for the Touch Talker include Smoothtalker or DECTalk speech synthesis, external printer, carrying case, keyboard emulating interface for the Apple IIe or II+ and the IBM-PC, the Memory Transfer Interface (which allows vocabulary sets to be stored on Apple diskette), and "Words Strategy" vocabulary software. Kits are also available to convert the keyboard to 8 or 32 positions. Contact manufacturer for option specifications and pricing. COMPATIBILITY: For use on Apple II+, Apple IIe, and IBM PC or compatible computers.
DIMENSIONS: 13 x 8.8 x 2.75 inches.
WEIGHT: 5.25 pounds.
Maker:
Prentke Romich Company"
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