Category Archives: Just Rambling

Text to Speech

Just Rambling

Richard Sprague wonders why Text To Speech does not get more attention. I thought I would share a valuable use of this technology.

I had to implement a TTS solution years ago in a VB6 app and it solved a huge problem for my client. I used Chant’s fantastic SpeechKit package to accomplish this.

The problem was that we create a daily schedule for technicians out in the field. At that time we were not yet publishing the schedule to the web (of course, we are now). So, in order for techs not to have to come into the office just to get their info, each one of them had a special extension on the phone system. At the end of the day, the scheduler would have to dial each person’s extension and leave them a voice mail detailing everythign they would need to know about the next days’ work. In the summertime, there are about 70 field technicians. This solution was great for the techs but not so for the person who had that horrible chore.

I figured out how to take the data that was getting pushed onto the big schedule report and use Ms. Microsoft Mary (this was before the huge revision of the MS Speech tools) to “read” the information into individual WAV files. The tricky part was finding a DOS utility to convert the wave files into the format used by their voice mail system. Because of the many hurdles I was told by many, including the company that owned the voice mail system, that this project couldn’t be done. But my client had faith in my pit bull like qualities when I am told “can’t be done”, and I persevered. Although still Mary has to “read” the info in real time, we run multiple instances of my app and she can do the whole process in about 20 – 30 minutes while the scheduler is able to do other tasks.

This has saved my client about 2 hours a day, 5 days a week for the past 4 years or more years. It was well worth the effort.



http://www.AcehAid.org

DevConnections Spring – Pre-Conference Workshops: WSE2 1/2 day

Just Rambling

Not sure if I mentioned that I am doing a 1/2 day pre-con workshop at ASP.NET Connections on March 20th (Orlando).

I am taking my WSE2 Security for Dummies talk and doing it for THREE hours, rather than trying to smoosh what is actually two presentations into one 75 minute session.  This is the way I prefer to do this talk because the point is to try to share what I know about WSE2 (and the security basics you need to grok in advance). I just can’t do it to my heart’s content in 75 minutes.

It’s from 1-4 pm on Sunday March 20th.  There are 3 morning sessions also if you want to make a full day of it. Here are the details of the pre and post con sessions.

http://www.AcehAid.org

Cert Tests

Just Rambling

Darn – I just realized my test voucher for taking a cert test expires today. I figured I might as well go take that Web Services test cold. If I don’t pass, well, no different than throwing the cert away and if I do pass, I have an MCAD. Unfortunately, I think both of the local ctechs where I can take the test are closed. Oh well.

http://www.redcross.org

Microsoft and DVD P*rn?

Just Rambling

This story was on NPR (MarketPlace) last night.

Pushing buttons in the DVD wars We all know who won the 1980s home video war between Sony’s Beta format and VHS. Well, it’s deja vu all over again in the battle over super clear high definition DVDs. Once again, the future of the video technology we use at home will be greatly influenced by shadowy forces outside mainstream Hollywood — namely, the p*rn industry. Claude Brodesser has the story.
 
I have no problem with this, just thought it was funny that during the course of the story, they said that a certain software giant in Seattle helped him with some of the technology issues he was having. The audio requires Real to be on my computer and I refuse to install that pestilent virus on my machine, so I can’t confirm exactly how they said it. But it sure sounded like they were inferring it was Microsoft with a little chuckle.

Posted from BLInk!