Vaneeshree Speech Synthesizer

This talking device is basically for the vocally handicapped and /or spastics. They may communicate with others through this portable, battery-operated device having the size of a multimeter. Within it, more than hundred sentences of daily use are kept in coded form with the compression ration of fifty (approximately). Each sentence is given a number. There are two switches to fix these sentence-numbers in unique way that will not rwquire to count-up, or count-down the entire range.

After fixing the required number, just press the 'talk' button and the audio output will be heard. Sentences are divided into different sections. There are separate sections for school, shopping,      guests at home, conversation with the doctors when unwell etc. The overall size is so small that school children may carry it in their school bags. 

People in the hospitals and nursing homes, as well as very old people at home may also use it for communication. 

At the centre of the device, there is a DSP which synthesizes the sentences from the codes (reflection coefficients, pitch and gain for each frame). There are novel intra-frame and inter-frame smoothing techniques which produces near normal speech and not a robotic voice. The device is available at present in Hindi, Bengali and English. 

Areas of Applications: 

• By vocally handicapped, spastics, hearing handicapped, patients in hospitals and nursing homes
  
• particularly after specific surgical operations which prohibit normal speech for some days, very old
  
• people at home where they find communication problem. The device 'talks' on their behalf and the
  
• programming for talk is easy enough even for the partial mentally retarded. 

Advantages: 

This is one of the smallest 'speech synthesizer' with so many sentences. The batteries need recharging 2-3 times per week. Once charged, it can deliver 5 hours talk. It can be hooked up with additional audio amplifier (provided with the device) if the handicapped is in a big house and he wants to be heard from first, second and third floor. No robotic voice, each sentence retains normal human emotion. 

Stage of Development: Fully developed and available commercially. 

Inputs required: 

All electronic chips, ICs, DSPs, CPLDs etc are freely available in Indian market. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) may be manufactured or got it done through subcontracts. The outer cage may be made from metal sheets or plastics. 

Economic Data: 

About Rs. 20 Lakhs including the manufacturing of PCBs. If the latter is done through sub-contract, Rs. 10 Lakhs will be enough. 

Transfer forms: Technology transfer through Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. 

Source: 
Dr. G.C. Ray 
Professor of Electrical Engineering 
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.