A low-cost speech-synthesis system for translation of ASCII text to oral language as a vision impaired aid

Abstract

Presents a simple and low-cost PC-based system to convert and ASCII file into oral language (Spanish) as a vision impaired aid. Three major parts can be distinguished: a database with a set of the most used syllables, which was constructed after research on the Spanish language, an extension board connected to the expansion slot of the PC, and the software required to perform the manipulation of the signals in both parts, speech acquisition and synthesis. The system is currently under testing with good results. General performance and conclusions are discussed.<>