Simply Talker 2000 Screen Reader for Windows
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/09/25 - Updated: 2014/12/15
Topic: Electronics and Software - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Simply Talker 2000 is a screen reader for Windows 2000, XP, NT4, ME, 98 and Windows 95.
Introduction
Simply Talker 98/2000 is a fairly inexpensive screen reader that provides support for Windows.
Main Item
Simply Talker 2000 is a screen reader for Windows 2000, XP, NT4, ME, 98 and Windows 95.
The software is not free, with a cost of $100.
The family of products includes Simply Talker 98 at a cost of $50, and Simply Web 2000, which is free.
Simply Web 2000 is a Talking Web Browser for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, and Windows 2000.
All three are presented by EconoNet International through their Speech Series.
The program works with applications that comply with the Active Accessibility standard and has a built-in, software-based, text-to-speech engine.
Users also have the option to use their own existing synthesizer if it supports the SSIL, SAM, or SAPI interfaces.
Simply Talker works with the following programs:
- Winzip 7.0
- Eudora
- Startup Menu
- OmniPage Lite
- Microsoft Fax
- Dial-up Network
- Windows Desktop
- Windows Explorer
- Notepad, Wordpad
- Simply Web 98/2000
- Simply Web 98/2000
- Microsoft NetMeeting
- Microsoft Access 2000
- Microsoft Word 97, 2000
- Internet Explorer 3.02, 4.01, 5.0, 5.5
Applications that are not presented on this list may still work with Simply Talker. Programs that are known not to work with Simply Talker include Microsoft Word 95 or 6.0, as well as any version of Netscape.
People who use Simply Talker do not need a speech synthesizer in order to access Windows. Simply Talker includes an SAPI-compliant U.S. English software-based synthesizer. All a person will require is a 16-bit sound card of any brand. Simply Talker may also be used with any synthesizer which supports the SSIL, SAM, or SAPI interface standard.
Simply Talker 2000 provides additional support for devices that use the SAM interface for speech synthesis.
The software speech engine is 100% compliant and may be used by additional applications that support the interface. Core components of Simply Talker 2000 use Active Accessibility 1.2.3, providing more stability and extended application support. The Simply Talker 2000 version supports every foreign language in which Windows 98 has been released.
Simply Talker 2000 works in conjunction with the freeware talking web browser, Simply Web 98/2000, providing better Internet access for people using Internet Explorer versions 4.01 or above. The software presents automatic reading of both message and dialog boxes, enhanced functionality of the, 'Read Window Contents,' function, as well as correctly reading the entire contents of the window that has the focus. There is full support for online forms as well. Simply Web allows people to fill-in things such as login forms, registration forms, order forms and so forth. Simply Talker is available in an international version that, in addition to the U.S. English software synthesizer, also includes an additional software synthesizer such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, German Italian or others - www.econointl.com/econointl/sw/
Author Credentials: Ian was born and grew up in Australia. Since then, he has traveled and lived in numerous locations and currently resides in Montreal, Canada. Ian is the founder, a writer, and editor in chief for Disabled World. Ian believes in the Social Model of Disability, a belief developed by disabled people in the 1970s. The social model changes the focus away from people's impairments and towards removing barriers that disabled people face daily. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and achievements, check out his bio.