where should i start with text to speech in PHP?

torreattack

hi, i plan to add some text to speech function in my project. When the user type some words in the text box and press button "read". The page will read the text in the textbox. I know it has something to do with text to speech. But i don't know where to start. Can anybody show me the ways or articles that might help me?

currently, i try to develop my system with xampp (php + apache +mysql) in my Xp Home edition. I plan to move the system to Linux Webserver when everything is done. As a result, the code with visual basic won't work. Please show me the ways.

thanks for reading.

torre

sneakyimp

If you expect to set up an XAMPP situation that does something elaborate like generate audio files of spoken text, I would expect it would be difficult to migrate that to LAMP (linux/apache/mysql/php). You should probably start with linux immediately or you're just making more work for yourself.

As for text-to-speech, i'm not really sure at all. I believe that certain tools for handicapped users can do that sort of thing but I'm not really sure what you mean by 'adding it to your project'.

torreattack

hi sneakyimp:

thanks for fast reply.

i mean i want to build a page in my webpage that the user can check how to "read" a word that they do not know how to "read" especially for a user like me who english is not their mother tongue. The user just key in the word that they don't know how to read in the textbox provided and press button "read", the page will generate the actual "sound" of the word. I hope this makes my question more clear now.

it is too bad i do not have any knowledge with linux. My lecturer told me that after we complete our project (website), he will moves it to linux webserver. However, both info on windows XP Home and Linux Redhat are welcomed. As least i know where to start.

thanks
torre

sneakyimp

If this is part of a class, I would imagine that your lecturer should have provided the server-side program that will turn text into audio. That is the hard part and I have no clue how to do it. Perhaps you should check your class materials?

torreattack

actually it is not a part of class. We learnt PHP and database last semester. I am learning about Human Computer Interface this semester. Our lecturer want us to design a website that apply the knowledge we learn about HCI. But the some marks is given to the website that has the functions that are more useful and special. That's why i think of prepare text to speech function in my web page. I hope i can score well with this function in my website. Otherwise, not much different between my friends website and mine.

ruap

As far as I know, sitpal.com can be embeded into web pages that can speak.
and the freeware at www.panopreter.com can do such speak too, but it doesn't speak on the web pages, it's an executable.

leatherback

However -being a lecturer myself- I am pretty sure that your lecturer would not appreciate you getting your special features from forums. I think he would appreciate it more if you actually did it yourself..
No handouts in life kiddo

Horizon88

This would be better executed with something like Flash or Java, as with PHP you're most likely going to have to shell out to a speech program, generate an MP3, then load the MP3 into the page. There are, however, a number of text-to-speech programs for Linux that are command-line based and scriptable, so if you do want to pursue the PHP route, it would be possible, but it's most likely not the best solution.