SpeakOn overview

Latest version available: 2.3.4, 20 October 2009

New features in this release include:

• Downloads on demand for both audio and text media; media is selected and downloaded with a single keystroke. This download facility works for podcasts in the Media Centre, Radio Time and VI Services applications. It is also implemented with the Seeing Ear library books and TNAUK publications audio and eText.
• TNAUK eText publications can be automatically converted to HTML format for use with an external player or mobile telephone.
• Variable audio speed while maintaining constant pitch.
• From version 2.3.4 - minor features, updates and bug fixes. See the New features in this version page below.

New features in this version

Links are available further down the page to the manual, download page, mailing list and contact email address.

SpeakOn is a free media suite program that runs on your PC and is a speech-enabled environment containing applications for finding, retrieving and listening to various media. SpeakOn has been developed for people who are comfortable using computers. It does not require a screenreader or magnifier; it does not have a visual interface and in fact does not require a screen at all. You communicate with SpeakOn using a numerical keypad or the standard keyboard and SpeakOn responds with speech. With a low cost external USB slimline numerical keypad, you can operate SpeakOn with one hand from the comfort of your armchair.

All SpeakOn's applications operate in exactly the same way. Once the interface is mastered, it offers quick and easy access to all its features.

SpeakOn contains four media applications:

• Media Centre
• Radio Time
• Last FM
• VI Services

Media Centre application

• CD media - Play DAISY books, MP3 books and CD audio music.
• Music - Play your own music; quickly and easily create playlists and edit them.
• Podcasts - Stream or download on demand literally thousands of podcast files available through subject directories on the internet. Play podcast files downloaded by an external application to your computer. Links are provided to favourites such as the BBC and public radio podcasts.

Radio Time application

The Radio Time application provides a 'Live' and 'On demand' player which is seamlessly integrated with the vast and powerful Radio Time directory. Browse and search over 100,000 stations and shows. Play all common formats and preset your favourites.

Thanks to Radio Time for their excellent co-operation and providing their directory free of charge with SpeakOn. The Radio Time website can be found at www.radiotime.com

Last FM application

This application is an accessible player for the Last.FM website. Last.FM is a service that tracks your musical taste, finds similar users, and provides musical recommendations and personalized radio. Last.FM provides a specialized player program which you can download and install on your PC. Unfortunately, this player is not easily accessible (if at all) to screen readers. The SpeakOn Last FM application provides a player which can be operated using the usual SpeakOn interface and hence it is fully accessible. Streaming Last.FM music is available for a modest monthly subscription fee.

Imagine that you have a radio with 40 or so stations, each of which plays a different genre of music. Imagine that you can skip a track you don't like and influence the frequency that tracks you like are played. You can also ban a track you don't like, forever. Last.FM enables you to listen to your personalized radio station which plays the tracks you like and plays the tracks that people with similar tastes to you like.

The Last.FM website can be found at www.last.fm.

VI Services application

• Podcast - Stream or download on demand podcast files provided for the blind community such as 'In touch', 'Blind Cool Tech' and 'Info Sound'.
• Radio - Listen to internet radio available for the blind community; ACB and Insight radio
• TNAUK (Talking Newspaper Association of the UK)
• eText publications - Browse, find and download automatically and then read text-based newspapers, magazines and network guides. Convert TNAUK eText publications to HTML for use with external players and mobile phones.
• Audio publications - Browse, find and listen to streamed narrated newspapers, magazines and network guides. Download on demand audio publications for use with external players.
You must be a subscriber of TNAUK to use this service which is available to the blind community for a modest annual fee.
The TNAUK website can be found at: www.tnauk.org.uk.

• Seeing Ear library - Browse, find and download automatically and then read books from the Seeing Ear library. You must be a subscriber to the Seeing Ear library to use this service which is available free of charge to the blind community under certain conditions.
  You can visit their website at www.seeingear.org.

You can customize many of the services above. For example, you can create and organize your music in directories of your choice. Also, you can add your favourite radio stations and organize the links to your favourite podcast resources. Similarly you can organize your magazines and books.

Other applications for SpeakOn will be available in the future and will integrate seamlessly with SpeakOn using exactly the same user interface.

A comprehensive manual including a step-by-step tutorial is available. Read the first few pages of the Introduction section for more background information. http://www.a-technic.net/SpeakOn/docs/SpeakOn/ht/SpeakOn.htm

SpeakOn and its applications are available to download free as a single installer. The system requirements, download and installation instructions are here:
http://www.a-technic.net/SpeakOn/docs/SpeakOn/ht/SpeakOn-r-0016.htm.

There is a self-help speakon Yahoo group with a low traffic mailing list for discussions on all matters relating to SpeakOn use at:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/speakon
If you already have a Yahoo ID you can join the group by sending an email to:
speakon-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

For further information and constructive suggestions you are welcome to send us an email to: speakon@a-technic.net

SpeakOn was conceived, developed and is maintained by Isaac Porat.

a-technic are also working on a complete speaking solution for the technologically frail, code name Pipistrelle and based on custom hardware. More information on Pipistrelle can be found here. Pipistrelle may use some of the SpeakOn software.