Frequently Asked Questions
What is Talks
Talks converts the display text of a cellular handset into highly intelligible speech, making the device completely accessible for blind and visually impaired people. SpeechPAK TALKS runs on Symbian-powered mobile phones to speech-enable contact names, callerID, text messages, help files and other screen content.
Key Features.
- Spelling speed setting. Allows the user to define different speech rates for normal read-out and spelling text.
- Various options for reading numbers
- Numbers longer than four digits can now be read as single digits, double digits, or whole numbers.
- Echo mode An independent setting allows the user to turn on a special key echo mode for those who like to use the T9 dictionary when entering text.
- Echo Passwords mode Allows the user to hear the letters entered into a password field.
- TALKS Key Timeout and TALKS Mode Timeout Allows the user to set a timeout for cases where the TALKS key is pressed accidentally, and allow to repeat a command or even execute different commands without Pressing the TALKS key again.
- Adds speech output to the original user interface of the cell phone (no redesign is necessary)
- Installs easily on a cell phone running Symbian Series 60 or Series 80 operating systems
- Multiple languages available: English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Brasilian Portugese and Spanish
- Software only - no additional hardware is needed
- Uses ETI-Eloquence text-to-speech (widely used in desktop screen reading applications)
- Control over volume and speaking rate
- Detailed and accessible user instructions in text and audio formats
- Supports Braille I/O devices using a cable [S80] or Bluetooth [S60] connection
- Integrates with the single-hand operation design strategy on Series 60 devices
- Supports many third-party applications, like IM+ (Instant Messenger) [S60], the Wayfinder GPS application [S60], and the Slovoed dictionary [S60 and S80]
Benefits.
- Hear caller ID information ("Call from Pat Jones.")
- Manage contact information and dial phone numbers from the directory
- Check logs of incoming and outgoing calls
- Write and hear emails, text messages and notes
- Use the appointment calendar
- Edit and add contacts, settings and profiles according to their personal preferences
- Use the calculator, unit converter, alarm clock and other tools
- Receive audible information about the battery level, network and signal strength
Keystrokes for Talks
Phone Keypad
- *06# to display the IMEI number of a phone.
- *0000 to show the firmware version.
- Key 1
This key is often used to open an Options menu, or to select a value or menu item. When the Phone application has focus, it is used as a short-cut key to start one important application. When a press of [Key 1] is immediately followed by [*], the keypad is locked, which is also announced by TALKS. The same key sequence unlocks the keypad again. - Key 2
This key is often used to cancel an action, or close an application or settings window. When the Phone application has focus, it acts as a shortcut for a second application, and [Long Key 2] can be used to call a number for which you have created a voice tag in the Contacts application. Press key 2 to stop phone ringing, and caller id will be spoken. - Call
This key calls a phone number you have entered in the Phone application. If no number has been entered, it opens a list of your recently called numbers, so you can re-dial one of them. When entering an SMS, MMS or e-mail, this key sends the actual message. - End
This key terminates a running phone call. It is also a short-cut key that takes you straight to the Phone application. - Edit
Since this key is not used much, we have decided that it is the right [TALKS] key. Its original function is to open the Edit menu in a text field, and it is also used to mark blocks of text with the cursor keys. - Clear
This key is used as Backspace in any text field. When a list of messages or files is displayed, it can be used to delete the currently selected object.
9. 129] -These keys are used to enter a phone number in the Phone application. When pressed long they activate a short-dial number. In other applications, they allow to enter letters, digits, and punctuation characters. - 0
This key enters a "0" inside the Phone application. When held down long, it activates the WAP browser. In other applications, it can be used to enter a space or terminates the actual paragraph. - Select
This key can often be used as a quick way to select a menu item, open a message, etc., instead of selecting the same action from the Options menu of an application. Inside the Phone application, it is a shortcut for starting the Contacts program, so there is no need to assign it to one of the two softkeys. - *
This key is used to enter a star in the Phone application, for instance, to enter commands like "*#06#" to display the IMEI number of a given phone. Pressing this key twice in rapid sequence causes a "+" (Plus) to be entered into the text field of the Phone application. In text fields, it is used for entering punctuation and selecting between alternative matches from the dictionary. - #
This key is used to enter special commands inside the Phone application, for instance, "*#0000#" to get the firmware version. When inside a text field, it can be used to switch between upper and lower case, or turn the dictionary on or off. - [Up], [Down], [Left], [Right]
The cursor keys can be used to move a cursor in a text field, list, menu, etc. When pressed with [Edit] held down, the cursor keys select a block of text or some entries in a list of files. - Menu
The Menu key calls up the phone's main menu, from which you can start applications, and organize which applications come first in the menu, or are kept in separate folders. When this key is pressed long, it opens the list of active tasks, and allows you to switch to one of them. - Power
Pressing this key shortly allows you to select another profile, lock the keypad, lock the phone itself against unauthorized access, or shut down the device. Holding down this key is a shortcut for shutting down the device.
Keypad when writing text messages.
1-Punctuation characters
2-a, b, c, digit 2, language-specific variants of a and b (e.g. accents)
3-d, e, f, digit 3, variants of d and e
4-g, h, i, digit 4, variants of i
5-j, k, l, digit 5, pound sign
6-m, n, o, digit 6, variants of n and o
7-p, q, r, s, digit 7, German "sz", dollar sign
8-t, u, v, digit 8, variants of u
9-w, x, y, z, digit 9, accented y, Icelandic Thorn
0-Space, digit 0, New line
Note, if you wait for more than about a second, the cursor advances to the next letter (important if you want to type two letters that correspond to the same digit). Holding a number key down for about a second also types the digit itself.
The # key has multiple functions, depending upon how exactly it is used: Press it once and shortly, to change case for the following Character. Note that some automatism is applied, that guesses if the following character should be in lower or upper case. When pressed long, it toggles between alphanumeric and letter mode. And when pressed twice in a rapid sequence, it toggles the use of the T9 dictionary on and off. Please note that you can use [TALKS], [Long Key 2] to read these status indicators for edit fields.
- Using talks
The following table lists all key sequences that are assigned to TALKS functions. All such key sequences begin by pressing [TALKS], which is the [Edit] key of your Series 60 phone. "Long" means holding down a key for about a second before releasing it.
Keys-Description
- TALKS 0 Toggle keyboard training mode on and off
- TALKS Select# Repeat the last phrase
- TALKS CallSelect Read the current window, same as after a focus change
TALKS Key 1]-Read soft key assignments
TALKS Key 2]-Read battery state, network state, and other status indicators
TALKS Long Key 2 Read status indicators related to entering text
TALKS 1Change key echo
TALKS 2 Toggle speaking of upper case letters
TALKS3]-Toggle usage of a spelling alphabet
TALKS 4]-Change level of punctuation reading
TALKS 5Decrease speech volume
TALKS 6 Increase speech volume
TALKS 7 Decrease speech rate
TALKS 8 Increase speech rate
TALKS 9 Read time and date
TALKS Long 1 Open TALKS-specific help
TALKS Long 4 Toggles graphics mode on and off
TALKS Up Read selected object or current line of text
TALKS Left]-Read character under the cursor
TALKS Right Read word under the cursor
TALKS Down Read text starting from the cursor position.
TALKS Long Up Spell selected object or current text line
TALKS Long Right Spell current word
TALKS Long Down Read selected text
TALKS * Open the TALKS Settings dialog
TALKS Clear Toggle speech off or on. This is useful for playing ring tones, and for the Recorder application.
TALKS Long Clear This unloads the text-to-speech engine from memory, and also reloads it when pressed again.
Long TALKS Stop current speech output
[TALKS], [TALKS]-[Edit]
Note, there are two versions of the screen reader Talks. The Standard edition and the Premium Edition.
The Premium Edition includes:
. TALKS Version 2.5 Standard Edition
. TALKS screen reader, same installer and binaries for the Standard and Premium Editions
. A TTS engine (current release for ETI-Eloquence is version 6.1.115.)
. Five bonus applications with six corresponding installers
Series 60 only: All Premium Edition customers receive free registration for five commercial applications from
http://www.psiloc.com
. MiniGPS
. Extended Recorder
. Extended Profiles
. Multimedia Player
. World Clock
What Phones Will It Work On?
Nokia,
3230, 3650, 3660, 6260, 6600, 6620, 6630, 6670, 6680, 7610, Engage, Engage QD, 7650, N70 and N90.
- How to install the application
Please contact Stuart Lawler in NCBI for technical support with the instillation as this process differs depending on the phone model you choose.
Email: stuart.lawler@ncbi.ie
Phone: 1850334353
- Where can you get talks from?