Summary

Our project goal was to build a system which is able to read scanned textes without a PC. Our idea was to take a handy scanner to scan the text and a "Text-to-Speech" solution for the output. After an evaluation period, we took a Pocketreader from Simens as scanner. As there was only one „Text to Speech"-system on the market, we decides to take the Oki MSM7630. This system is very easy to use because there are very little components. First there is the RISC-CPU MSM7630, second there is a ROM which contains the program as well as the voice samples and third there is the RAM which is used during playback. The " Text-to-Speech"-System can easily be supplied with more than one language, by changing the ROM. Following languages are provided: American, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

For the interface between the Oki and the Pocketreader we took a 80517a micro controller. Further more we added a small LCD and a PC keyboard. For changements we implemented a text editor, because the scanned text could contain reading errors. On the other Hand it is also possible to enter texts by keyboard.

The standard procedure is:

•       Scan text with the Pocketreader.

•       Plug the Pocketreader to the system.

•       Download the text from the Pocketreader to the micro controller.

•       The text will appear on the LCD, that can be edited, if necessary.

•       Press the F3 button and the "Text-to-Speech"-system will read the text.

Where can a "Text-to-Speech"-System be used? There are several applications where this system could be used very efficiently. One of the most useful situations is to use the system in a stressed visual enviroment eg. In a train cockpit or in a car. Almost everywhere where it is necessary to provide information without disturbing the users attention or the sense of sight. The advantages of an „Text to Speech"-system is there is no need to know the words. The System combines the syllables to a word. The system only nedds to know the passages between the syllables. The amount of these syllables ranges from 30 to 50, depending on the language. That makes the System very small and cheep.

Picture 1: Basic scheme