Endless Fun (For Now)

Tamara, I promise I'm going to do the post you tagged me in soon. But I couldn't resist talking about this.

One of the production assistants here at the station clued me in to a function/program/tool that Microsoft offers in Windows. It's called "Text to Speech." Basically, you type text into a box and you can hear the computer read it back to you. But it's not just any voice- it's something like a mix between the "Speak and Spell" voice and the talking computers from 80s movies. And it's awesome! You can manipulate how fast or slow it reads, and it always incites a smile.

Or it did for me, anyway. But I am easily amused. But try it. Maybe you'll like it.

Here's how to get to is (for Windows XP):

UPDATE: Sorry the pictures aren't bigger and the words are small. Hopefully it'll suffice as a visual guide.

1: Go to the Start Menu

2: Click on "Control Panel"

3: Click on "Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices."

4: Click on the "Speech" icon, under the heading "or pick a Control Panel icon."

5: When the box pops up, click on the second tab, called "Text to Speech."

From there, it's simple. You can select one of two male voices, or a female voice. Then there's the box where you type the text (I haven't tested possible length of text entered). Finally there's the speed control. This basically shortens/lengthens the space between words- it doesn't make the voice sound like Jabba the Hutt or a chipmunk (maybe next time, Windows).

There you go. It was fun for me, maybe it will be fun for you. Just don't forget to turn your speakers on.