Getting Started with NextUp Talker

 

Overview

 

NextUp Talker is a Text-To-Speech application specifically designed for those that have lost the ability to speak.  Like TextAloud and other NextUp speech applications, NextUp Talker synthesizes speech from text.  The difference is that while these other applications synthesize speech from various kinds of text content, the sole purpose of NextUp Talker is to carry on conversation.  NextUp Talker will synthesize spoken audio from the text you type, allowing you to use your computer as a tool for speaking with others.

 

Options available in NextUp Talker fall into two general categories

1.      Control over when the text you type is spoken

2.      Reducing the amount of typing required to carry on conversation.

 

 

The NextUp Talker Main Window

 

Rounded Rectangular Callout: This is the Predefined Phrases Area. Click in this area to create a hierarchy of commonly used phrases.Rounded Rectangular Callout: This is the Log Area. This area keeps a log of your most recent speech requests.Rounded Rectangular Callout: This is the Input Area. Type the text you want to speak here. The "Speak Text" dropdown list determines when the words are spoken.

 

 

 

Speaking the first time

When you first install NextUp Talker, the first thing to do is get it to speak a few words just to make sure installation went well and everything is working.

Type a few words in the “Input Area” (see the illustration above for the location of the input area), and press the “Speak Input” button on the toolbar.  Any problems at this point are probably installation related; contact us at support@talkforme.com so we can take a look.

 

Four Ways to Speak Text

Use the “Speak Text” dropdown list to control when text in the input area is spoken.  Options are available on the NextUp Talker Options panel to control whether or not the input area is automatically cleared as speaking begins and/or ends.

 

·         On Demand – Enter a block of text into the input area, then press the “Speak Input” button on the toolbar.

 

·         By Word – As you type text into the input area, NextUp Talker will automatically speak each word you type.

 

·         By Sentence – As you type text into the input area, the current sentence will be spoken each time you enter ‘end of sentence’ punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point).

 

·         By Carriage Return / Line Feed – This option allows you to type multiple sentences into the input area, and initiate speaking by pressing the Enter key.

 

 

Pre-Defined Phrases

The panel on the left side of the GUI is for defining phrases you may use often.  Right click in this area to define folders and phrases within the folders.  Folders may contain other folders, and you can define whatever hierarchy of phrases that is convenient for you.

 

When defining phrases, you can use the ‘%’ character to define substitutable parameters.  If you define a phrase like “Hi %name%”, you will be prompted for “%name% anytime you use the phrase.  A phrase can have any number of these parameters.

 

Phrase definition allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts to phrases you use frequently.

 

The phrase hierarchy is also automatically maintained under the NextUp Talker Insert menu, along with the most recently used phrases.

 

 

Inserting Sounds

NextUp Talker can also mix in actual sound files into speech.  You can insert a link to a sound file using the insert menu.  For some users who have warning before losing their voice, such as is the case often with surgery, you can use your computer to record various sound files saying things like "I love you", or answering the phone.  These recordings can then be intermixed with text to speech.  Another neat use is inserting sound effects.  There are a huge number of free sound files on the internet.  A common use for these might be to include some funny sound effects with your speech.  This is especially helpful when speaking with children.  The funny sounds often help children become more comfortable when talking with someone who has to use a computer.

 

Keyboard Shortcuts

Most of the features available in NextUp Talker are available either on the main menu or the Predefined Phrases popup menu.   If you look under Options (on the main menu), you’ll see a “Shortcut Setup” dialog which can be used for assigning keyboard shortcuts   The dialog allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts for commonly used NextUp Talker actions.

 

When creating predefined phrases, you have the option of assigning a keyboard shortcut to the phrase as you create it.  You may also use Shortcut Setup to create / modify shortcuts for your phrases after they’ve been created.

 

 

Need Help ?

If you run into any problems at all please contact support@talkforme.com, we’ll answer you right away.