Adding voice output to gfsage

Description

OS X has voice output buit-in, usable from the shell by way of the say command. You can use several voices in English or download more for other languages.

Usage

  1. You must build the system on mgl/sage as described previously.
  2. Check that you have at least one voice for your prefered languages: Go to System Preferences > Speech and click on System Voice
  3. See that you have the right ones. If not, click Customize on the pop-up
  4. Select the ones for you and click Ok. When downloading terminates, you may run the tool.
  5. You can call gfsage in 3 different ways, but for voiced output you must use the one with OPTIONS:
     gfsage Use english
     gfsage LANGUAGE Use this language   
     gfsage [OPTIONS] where OPTIONS are:
     -h --help print this page
     -i INPUT --input-lang=INPUT Make queries in LANGUAGE
     -o OUTPUT --output-lang=OUTPUT Give answers in LANGUAGE
     -v[VOICE] --voice[=VOICE] use voice output. To list voices use ? as VOICE.
     -F --with-feedback Restate the query when answering.

The options relevant here are -v and -F. Use the first to select voice output. With no argument it will pick the first available voice for the OUTPUT voice selected:

./gfsage -i english -v
Voiced by Agnes

... It will use Agnes as English voice. Notice that if you do not give a -o option, the OUTPUT language is assume to be the same as the INPUT language.

To list the available voices use:

./gfsage -i english -v?
Agnes, Albert, Alex, Bahh, Bells, Boing, Bruce, Bubbles, Cellos, Daniel, Deranged, Fred, Hysterical, Junior, Kathy, Princess, Ralph, Trinoids, Vicki, Victoria, Whisper, Zarvox

It will list the English voices. To use a specific voice write:

./gfsage -i german -vYannick
Voiced by Yannick

The option -F is to make the system paraphrase your query on answering. First, get a simple answer:

./gfsage -i english
Login into localhost at port 9000
Session ID is df7ad7c769f2faac68b6bb9489bb97e2
waiting... EmptyBlock 3
sage> compute the factorial of 5.
(4) 120
answer: it is 120 .

... and now the same with paraphrasing:

./gfsage -i english -F
Login into localhost at port 9000
Session ID is 88549994a28940fe0657eb9e506a5e84
waiting... EmptyBlock 3
sage> compute the factorial of 5.
(4) 120
answer: the factorial of 5 is 120 .

So, to experience voice output in its full glory you have to use both -v and -F.

Comments

wow!

Submitted by olga.caprotti on 14 November, 2011 - 19:44.

I look forward to seeing your demo of this one. I will not install it because I hold a bit of a grudge with the Sage group for disregarding the work done in OpenMath and MathML. If I had to choose, I would have used the work of RIACA, with whom we have worked in WebALT and for which we already have an exercise engine with lots of features. In terms of EU policy, that would be desirable since it builds on previous work you have done.

RIACA products

Submitted by jordi.saludes on 15 November, 2011 - 13:47.

You mean to the products listed under Shells here: http://dam02.win.tue.nl/new-web/products.html ?

--Jordi Saludes

and WebALT

Submitted by olga.caprotti on 15 November, 2011 - 14:31.

yes Jordi, I think you could get in touch to see what is currently being developed, even in the framework of other EU projects. You know the group well I think.

What links here

No backlinks found.