FORCE TO SUPPORT LINUX ON DECtalk(r) TTS FOR STRONGARM AND INTEL
Linux Support Extends DECtalk Text-To-Speech Technology into PDAs and Laptop Computers, Optimal for Wireless Web and Other Hands-Free, Eyes-Free Uses
SAN JOSE, Calif., (Oct. 26, 2000)-Force Computers, a Solectron company (NYSE:SLR) and a leader in embedded computing, today announced it will support the Linux(tm) operating system on its DECtalk(r) Text-To-Speech (TTS) speech synthesis technology for StrongARM and Intel(r) processor-based wireless devices. By supporting DECtalk on StrongARM and Intel architecture-based platforms running Linux, Force makes the robust functionality of TTS technology available to an entirely new category of portable computing and communications applications, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, wireless phones and car navigation systems.
"DECtalk TTS technology offers users natural-sounding, highly intelligible speech, which transforms ordinary text into the highest quality level of speech," said Dr. Corine Bickley, Force senior speech technologist. "Linux support on DECtalk for StrongARM and Intel processors will extend TTS deeper into the wireless market for roaming Internet use, e-mail reading and other hands-free, eyes-free text-to-speech applications. Currently, DECtalk supports U.S. English, U.K. English, Latin American Spanish, Castillian Spanish and German. Going forward, Force intends to offer speech synthesis for additional European languages, as well as Asian languages."
DECtalk Text-To-Speech technology
DECtalk TTS technology enables computers to speak via third-party applications. It takes plain computer text from existing or new applications and outputs natural-sounding, highly intelligible speech. DECtalk technology can provide the correct pronunciation of single characters, words, phrases and proper names. DECtalk supports:
- Multi-language synthesis
- Nine defined voice personalities (four female, four male and one child)
- Speech controls and variable speaking rates
- Large internal (fixed) and OEM/VAR defined dictionaries
- Ability to say ethnicity-specific proper names
- Generation of DTMF tones for dialing or tones of a specified frequency/duration
SpeechTEK 2000 Exposition and Conference
Force's DECtalk team-including Dr. Corine Bickley, noted speech synthesis expert and Ph.D. in speech acoustics-will be at SpeechTEK 2000, Nov. 2-3, at the New York Hilton & Towers in New York City. See and hear DECtalk TTS in Booth 2004.
Worldwide design capability, around-the-clock operation
DECtalk TTS is supported out of Force's Westborough, Mass.-based design center. In addition, Force has six other design centers with broad design capabilities: Fremont, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; Munich, Germany; Plaisir, France; Bangalore, India; and Irvine, Scotland. These facilities produce high-performance single board computers, telecom controllers, clustered and redundant High Availability systems and active and passive backplanes, as well as enclosures and other system components. Force design centers not only have broad design capabilities in strategic locations around the world, but the company can also hand off design projects from center to center so designs are worked on around the clock, minimizing time-to-market.
Intel Applied Computing Platform Provider Program
Force is a charter member of Intel's Applied Computing Platform Provider program. Intel Applied Computing Platform Providers is a licensed program consisting of third-party board vendors that meet Intel's strict criteria for quality assurance, manufacturing capacity, design capability, tools and support.
About Force Computers
Force Computers (www.forcecomputers.com) was founded in 1981 and is a leading designer and worldwide supplier of standard and custom systems and board-level computer platforms and services for the embedded market. The processor-independent company helps its customers develop embedded applications based on Alpha, MIPS, Pentium(r), PowerPC(tm), PowerQUICC(tm), SPARC(r), StrongARM and 68K(tm) technologies, for embedded UNIX(r), Linux(tm), Windows NT(r) and real-time applications. Force supports VME, CompactPCI(r), PCI, PCI/ISA and PMC bus architectures, as well as custom form factors. An ISO 9001 certified company, Force Computers practices Total Quality Management principles in all phases of the company's global operations. The company, along with its parent company, Solectron Corporation, is the 1997 winner of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Manufacturing. Force's corporate headquarters and Asia Pacific headquarters is located in San Jose, California. Force's European headquarters is located in Munich, Germany.
Force Computers, a Solectron Company, 5799 Fontanoso Way, San Jose, CA 95138. Tel: 408-369-6231; Fax: 408-371-3992.