Larry, Quick note. If you already bought TextAloud, get in touch with Nextup. Let them know your email address, used when purchasing. They should be able to look you up, and send you your license key again. OK, so TextAloud will have been upgraded meanwhile, and you may have lost the original installation file. Yet, with the license key at hand, you will only neede to pay the upgrade price, which might be some dollars saved for your next milkshake. You find their contact info on the homepage.
________________________________ From: Talk <talk-bounces+trailerdavid=hotmail....@lists.window-eyes.com> on behalf of Larry Higgins via Talk <talk@lists.window-eyes.com> Sent: Monday, June 21, 2021 6:48 PM To: David Pedersen via Talk <talk@lists.window-eyes.com> Cc: Larry Higgins <larryhiggin...@comcast.net> Subject: Re: JAWS and read-all David and all, Sorry about the delayed response to this renewed thread concerning my issue with Say all and JFW. Father's Day and other family matters. Like you David, I can't recommend TextAloud highly enough. Although I do not use it at present, my previous version was lost a couple of hard drive crashes ago, It really can come in handy for putting .mp3 readings on another device, and being able to manipulate the speed of the text presentation. Not to mention, not having to put up with the irritating reading rhythm issues we are talking about. Like now with any screen reader I might use, I always chose to use Eloquence as my preferred synthesizer with TextAloud. I think I will definitely consider purchasing it again in the near future. It is definitely a good and useful product. Let me just say what I need to say about the previous suggestions in this post. But before I do, I really wish to thank you all for your moral support as well as technical advice on the matter. I may go to the trouble of trying these tricks with text and punctuation and the dictionary, although I must say that seems to me to be a whole lot of trouble to have to go too for trying to restore what should be the normal reading rhythm, not to mention, unintended consequences. But thanks nevertheless for these suggestions. What really has me befuddled is how JAWS users can be apparently so contented with such a manner and style of reading. I've heard one JFW list member speak of it as preferring it as a way of speeding up his reading just that much more, especially since he prefers to read at a faster clip as a rule. I like being able to speed read when both practical and necessary, but I much prefer to read at what one might consider a middle or moderate speed when I set out to read especially nonfiction works, where I wish to think right along with my reading. I prefer to keep both processes as much in sync as at all possible, not to read as if I were hurrying to a fire <smile>. Hope that makes sense. But people's various comfort levels are strictly their business. I just don't like reading with a sense of involuntary impatience, which is what this rhythm sounds like to me. Oh well, I think I'd better cease my ramblings before I end up confusing everybody. I would be grateful for any further ideas and discussion concerning this issue. Thanks again all of you for your kind patients and suggestions, Larry On 6/19/2021 12:50 AM, David Pedersen via Talk wrote: > Richard, TextAloud is a standalone software, for converting a text > file or > document into spoken audio. It was devoped for sighted users, > like students or others who has to read lengthy multitudes of texts. > The idea is that by use of audio, the reading can be performed even > on the go - when you are not near any computer. It further may prove > helpful with people who are dyslectics, as they can read by audio, > without struggling with their reading capacities. > > As such, and as a reply to your question, no TextAloud will not > enterfere with the reading performed by the screen reader. In its > basic nature, TextAloud can - and is supposed to - be operated all > without any screen reader installed. That is, for a sighted person. > True, I did mention the software in connection with the screen > reader, namely due to the extra length the developers have gone, so > as to ensure the software - and all its menus and settings, are all > accessible to the blind. Meaning, they clearly are quite aware our > needs. Not too often you come across teams that are such willing. > > You will still be using the screen reader for all your computer > activity. TextAloud you will load when you want to read a text > document, either it be a word document, a PDF, or a plain text file. > And yes, it holds a build-in text editor, so you might as well let > it replace your current editor, for many tasks. > > Since it is offered as a shareware, you could download and install > it, and do your playing. I do think it is something like amonth you > get, before you have to pay. And I wonder if I paid something like > 30 dollars for a full version. That gave me all minor upgrades > included, like 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 an so forth. > > As for the screen reader issues here discussed, I do not have any > further solutions, but the advice given to use the speech dictionary, > replacing commas and periods with other punctuation mark > combinations. Test out how your synths behaves when meeting up with > single dashes, colons, or semicolons - since there might be something > to bring to town there, when comes to good replacements. Before > messing with your dictionary though, do some playing in things like > Notepad. > > Load a document of mixed Text, one or two pages in length. Set up > your screen reader as best you can, and then try replacing some of > the commas and periods with different combinations of punctuations. > The benefit of using several alternatives throughout the document, is > that as you perform a say-it-all operation, you will see how well > this or that one works. Once you have narrowed down a couple of > alternatives, try them out in the complete document. Use the > Find/Replace feature, to quickly implement a given combination, in > all cases. > > Whenever you are satisfied, it is a breeze to enter the correct info > in the dictionary, and enjoy the experience. Might not be a total > fix, but even some enhancement will do your ears well. > > Last solution would be, to get in touch with the manufacturer of your > synth (if possible), letting them know your issue. Hope for an > upgrade to the synth, and who knows if you happened to solve an issue > for the many. > > > ________________________________ From: Richard Petty > <richard.pe...@earthlink.net> Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2021 6:22 AM > To: 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' <talk@lists.window-eyes.com> Cc: > 'David Pedersen' <trailerda...@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: JAWS and > read-all > > I used Eloquence with Window-Eyes for years and it paused as it > should for punctuation. It read expressively. Eloquence operating > with JAWS does not pause. I've tried multiple settings without > success. > > Please help with a question about TextAloud. Can TextAloud operate > with a screen reader such as JAWS to enhance the reading experience > while using the screen reader? From your message, David, I fear you > are indicating the answer is no. Still, I thought I would at least > check. > > Thank you. > > Richard Petty > > > -----Original Message----- From: Talk > <talk-bounces+richard.petty=earthlink....@lists.window-eyes.com> On > Behalf Of David Pedersen via Talk Sent: Friday, June 18, 2021 4:57 > PM To: Larry Higgins via Talk <talk@lists.window-eyes.com> Cc: David > Pedersen <trailerda...@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: JAWS and read-all > > Larry, I know what you are talking, and among other things, it's one > of the reasons why I don't use Jaws much. As one of the others > pointed out, it might to a certain degree depend on the synthesizer. > But like you stated, you have tested several synths, and the many > settings. Have to admit, that even under WinEyes I have seen the > behavior with certain, less known synths. One of my synths here, has > the breaks you would expect to have at the period, ehenever it comes > to a comma. And likewise, when it comes to a comma, it will only have > the pausing that you normally would have at the end of a phrase. > This all causes the narrating to make long pauses in the middle of > the phrase, and almost no pausing between the sentences - meaning > tthat you many times loose the mainpoint in thhhhhhhhhhhe text. > > Afraid I do not have much other comfort here, but letting you know > you are not alone. And it is most likely the result of sluggish > handling, in the synth, just as much as in the screen reader. By the > way, I do see it even under the TalkBack with Android, combined with > some synths. > > Agreed, with Jaws it seems to be the case with all synthesizers, > leading me to conclude that the screen reader does not communicate > well enough with the synths - or, could it be that I just have not > tested the right synths. Smiles. > > If you want to read books, and you really want to put a bit of > resources into the project, I would suggest you check out the > shareware named TextAloud, manufactured by Nextup.com. It will leave > you numerous ways of tayloring your reading experience. You have many > adjustments for speed, and pausing. You can, if you want the extra > job, have given parts of a text read out with an alternative voice, > like whatever is enclosed in parenthesis, or quotations. All you need > is the TextAloud software, and one or more SAPI voices. Nextup sells > you what you need, and offers you high-end voices, like the Ivona and > Vocalizer ones - all to affordable prices. The software developing > team is well aware of screen reader users, hence the software has > setups for you and me. Smiles. And, they are quick and friendly in > helping you out, should you send them a message. Best of all, you > even get the chance of converting your text files into MP3s, that you > can actually generate your personalized audiobook of t he the file, > and replay it on your portable player wherever you want. Even if you > want to split a long text into individual smaller files, like if you > want each chapter of your book to be in its own file, it has helpful > features to perform such automatically, in a rather short and > intuitive manner. > > OK, so it does not solve your issue, when browsing the net, or > sorting your mailbox. But it would greatly help you out, when you > invest a bit of setup, for your next book or long document. > Personally I have read several books by the use of it, and got such > used to the electronic voice, that I even started to put the human > modulation into it, in my mind. > > Hope this gave you something, even if it hardly was any real answer > to your initial query. > > > > ________________________________ From: Talk > <talk-bounces+trailerdavid=hotmail....@lists.window-eyes.com> on > behalf of Larry Higgins via Talk <talk@lists.window-eyes.com> Sent: > Thursday, June 17, 2021 12:17 PM To: WindowEyes List > <talk@lists.window-eyes.com> Cc: Larry Higgins > <larryhiggin...@comcast.net> Subject: JAWS and read-all > > To whomever might be left to read this, I hope that you might have > some suggestions, or at least observations on what I consider to be > almost a deal-breaking issue when it comes to re-upping my annual > subscription to JAWS. BTW, I have brought this to the attention to > JFW list members, but have received no satisfactory answers. This > issue is the way that JAWS and its say-all feature paces its reading > of any document, no matter what synthesizer might be being used. I > like to call it "reading rhythm." > > > When reading, the phrasing is rushed in my opinion, meaning that the > ends and beginnings of sentences are so close together that it is > hard for me to process what went before before I've had a chance to > mentally prepare myself for the next phrase, or sentence, whichever > might present itself while reading. > > > I do not have this issue with WE. WE has a pleasant reading > pace-rhythm. > > I have tried all of the settings provided in the say-all options, > but none of them restore that kind of rhythm, not to my liking. > > > On another list, when I occasionally have to make mention of > Window-Eyes, I get the old song and dance about giving up Window-Eyes > (an end of life product) in favor of the latest screen reading > product, and I would do just that if I could find a way around this > kind of unpleasant style of reading. This really does take away from > my enjoyment of reading with my PC. > > > If anybody who might be left is of the same opinion, or has any ideas > as to how to get around this rather vexing issue, please respond ASAP > <smile>. Your solidarity, not to mention wisdom will be gratefully > appreciated. > > > Sincerely, > > > Larry > > > PS. I will observe, that NOAA Weather stations do not use the JFW > style when presenting weather info, so why should I have to put up > with this as a blind computer user and voracious PC book reader? > > > _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions > presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not > necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/trailerdavid%4 > > 0hotmail.com. > For subscription options, visit > > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List > archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions > presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not > necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/richard.petty% > > 40earthlink.net. > For subscription options, visit > > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List > archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions > presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not > necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/larryhiggins22%40comcast.net. > > For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/trailerdavid%40hotmail.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
