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Converted to text by: Michael J. Mahon
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Conversational Tic-Tac-Toe for your Apple // (24K)
Software Speech Recognition and Voice Response

	 	   CASSETTE
TIC-TAC-TALKER 	   TTT-978	

TIC-TAC-TALKER	/SPECTRUM ANALYSIS

	TIC-TAC-TALKER IS A CONVERSATIONAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE WHICH PITS
	YOU AGAINST THE COMPUTER IN A "VERBAL" GAME OF TIC-TAC-TOE. AUDIO
	INFORMATION IS ENTERED INTO THE APPLE II* THROUGH THE CASSETTE
	INPUT PORT USING YOUR CASSETTE TAPE RECORDER OR OTHER SUITABLE
	AMPLIFIER. YOUR CASSETTE RECORDER SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE RECORD
	MODE WITHOUT A CASSETTE TAPE IN PLACE. THE USE OF AN EXTERNAL
	MICROPHONE IS RECOMMENDED.

	YOU BEGIN BY TRAINING THE PROGRAM TO UNDERSTAND YOUR VOICE. JUST
	FOLLOW THE COMPUTER'S "VERBAL" PROMPTS AND REPEAT THE WORDS
	CLEARLY AND CONSISTENTLY. SOON THE COMPUTER WILL DRAW THE FULL
	COLOR GAME BOARD AND YOU ARE READY TO PLAY. BUT DO NOT TOUCH THE
	KEYBOARD!! JUST "TELL" THE COMPUTER WHICH NUMBERED SQUARE YOU
	WISH TO OCCUPY. IT WILL LISTEN TO YOU, CONFIRM YOUR MOVE IN ITS
	OWN VOICE, AND THEN MAKE A MOVE OF ITS OWN. DON'T BE DISTRACTED
	BY THE COMPUTER'S VOICE OR IT JUST MIGHT BEAT YOU!

	THE SPECTRUM ANALYSIS PROGRAM GRAPHICALLY REPRESENTS THE PRINCIPLES
	INVOLVED IN SPEECH RECOGNITION. AFTER THE COMPUTER PROMPTS YOU
	TO SPEAK, IT WILL ACCEPT AUDIO INFORMATION THROUGH THE CASSETTE
	PORT. IT THEN DISPLAYS ITS FREQUENCY AND DURATION IN COLOR ON
	THE LOW-RES SCREEN.



SOFTAPE? 	

CONVERSATIONAL SOFTWARE

All of SOFTAPE'S Conversational SoftwareTM uses the cassette input port
of your Apple II Computer to enable it to recognize your voice and respond
to it with a voice of its own!! Some amplification of the input signal is
required. This is generally accomplished by using the amplifier contained
in your cassette tape recorder. The recorder is connected to the Apple in
the normal manner. Make sure the cable connects between the cassette input
jack of the Apple and either the earphone or output jack on your recorder.

In order to enter the amplifying mode on your recorder you must
press both the "PLAY" button and the "RECORD" button down at the same
time. (NOTE: Some machines may require only pressing a single "RECORD"
button down). This can only be done if there is no cassette in the recorder
and if the "WRITE PROTECT FEELER" is pressed in at the same time. This
"FEELER" is located directly opposite and to the left of the recording
heads as you look down on the machine. Set your volume control at a fairly
low level and the tone at about mid-range.

You are now ready to run the program. In order for the program to
understand you, it must be "trained" to your voice. This is done by
saying each word to be recognized into the external microphone during the
"training period". The program may be set up to train on each word or
phrase one time or many times. Redundancy gives you a greater probability
of recognition. The Apple-lis'ner routines allow for up to 31 words.

When you train the program as prompted, it is desirable to be in as quiet
an environment as possible. Any extraneous noise will confuse the program
and cause false input. This makes consistent recognition impossible. For
this reason, the use of built-in condenser microphones found on most
cassette players is not recommended. Optimum results can be obtained by
using an external, noise-canceling microphone (SOFTAPE #NCM-179). Using
this type of microphone you can be sure that only those sounds you desire
will reach the computer.

If you find that the program is prompting you for input for the next word
too soon, it is possible that the spinning cassette motor is causing
excessive noise. You will notice this during the training portion of
the program. Some tape recorders have a pause control which will stop
the motor from turning. Turning your volume control down all the way may
also help. The auto-leveling feature on some recorders may also prove to
be a problem. It will amplify background noise when you are not speaking
into the microphone. If these problems exist it may be necessary for you
to use a compatible preamplifier instead of a tape recorder to amplify
your input. When you are not talking to the computer, it should just sit
there and be quiet!

When you train and run the program, try to use a normal speaking voice
and consistent vocal inflections. Each word or phrase should be entered
with the same duration for best recognition. The program responds to
the beginning and ending sounds of a phrase when placing it into a
table. Therefore, you must "blend together" multi-syllable words so
they are placed together in the same table. When the program asks for
words to be trained more than once it is possible to have more than one
person train the program and achieve recognition. If the words used in
the program are unique in sound, recognition may be possible even if
the person speaking them did not train originally. Avoid training with
words which sound similar but are different in meaning. Remember, also,
the Apple is multi-lingual and will understand foreign languages!!

When the program Prompts you for voice input, use only those words you
trained it with. These are the only words it understands. Using other
words may produce inaccurate, but humorous, results!! Also, wait until
the computer has stopped talking before you speak and don't get excited if
it doesn't understand you the first time. It will have even more trouble
understanding your excited voice which it has never heard before! If you
get consistently wrong responses try training the program again.

The machine language subroutines found in all Conversational Software are
copyrighted by the author and SOFTAPE. Any use of these routines for any
commercial use is strictly prohibited. It is intended strictly for the
private use and entertainment of the purchaser. However, if you wish to
have a Conversational Software product of your own creation distributed,
please contact us.