The WebbotLib speech synthesiser

[David Hoskins]

Hello. The WebbotLib  speech synthesiser sounds exactly like the one used on Roger Waters' 'Radio Kaos.'
Does it use the same samples or something?

http://webbot.org.uk/iPoint/45.page
Radio Kaos...
https://youtu.be/qWVVwd6qVGY?t=1m21s

[mklrobo]

  Hello!
I could not check out the WEbbot website, but was able to view the video on youtube.
If the speech synthesizer sounds like that, that, is terrible! The Hero Robots of old sounded better
that that.    I can get ahold of the code, but I am still not able to load the software onto the Axon. 
Good Luck!   

[David Hoskins]

I'm the author of that speech software, way back in 1985.
It all fitted into 7K of ram. And it was quite well known back in the BBC Micro days.
And it appears that the webbotlib synth has been lifted directly from it. It sounds the same and the English to phoneme dictionary is the same.
I own the copyright of this data.

[cyberjeff]

I'm the author of that speech software, way back in 1985.
It all fitted into 7K of ram. And it was quite well known back in the BBC Micro days.
And it appears that the webbotlib synth has been lifted directly from it. It sounds the same and the English to phoneme dictionary is the same.
I own the copyright of this data.

For 30 year old technology it is remarkable. To fit the phonemes and programming in less than 7K is even more remarkable.

What you should do about it now, I do not know. I can only thank you for your contribution that kick started speech synthesis.

[David Hoskins]

Thanks,
My main issue here is that it's being potentially sold on as someone else's work. Which is not right at all.

[mklrobo]

I'm the author of that speech software, way back in 1985.
It all fitted into 7K of ram. And it was quite well known back in the BBC Micro days.
And it appears that the webbotlib synth has been lifted directly from it. It sounds the same and the English to phoneme dictionary is the same.
I own the copyright of this data.

Wow! I was not aware, at the time that stuff was done! You did a great Job! I appreciate the work you have done. I am curious, how did you start to create it? Do you sell any books on how you started it?

[David Hoskins]

I noticed that I could turn the frequency of the speakers up above human hearing. Then I could change volume in a 4 bit range, which enabled a waveform to be produced with the high pitched speaker movement. Crude but it worked.
Here's a bit of an artical I wrote in 1986:- I was 18 at the time.
http://rk.nvg.ntnu.no/bbc/doc/Speech.html

[Gertlex]

Thanks,
My main issue here is that it's being potentially sold on as someone else's work. Which is not right at all.

Webbotlib is free software.  That of course might not be what you meant by "sold" but if that's so, a more precise wording should be used.

[David Hoskins]

I was told he was going to sell the speech part. They might be wrong.
Either way...
It's still copyright theft in every sense of the meaning.

[cyberjeff]

I was told he was going to sell the speech part. They might be wrong.
Either way...
It's still copyright theft in every sense of the meaning.

You have my sympathy. You need some legal help, something here on the law:

http://digital-law-online.info/misc/ogilvie.htm

http://digital-law-online.info/

An appropriately written threat may do you some good. Dunno... Good luck.

[mklrobo]

I was told he was going to sell the speech part. They might be wrong.
Either way...
It's still copyright theft in every sense of the meaning.

I agree with CyberJeff, and I am sorry that this is happening.
I have a friend that came up with an invention, was doing very well with it, and a big company came
along with more legal power and money, and basically "took" their invention. I, myself, respect other
people's ideas and property, software, intellectual, or otherwise. I would not appreciate someone
stealing from me. The true producers of technology that make pivotal inventions in mankind's history,
 are not getting paid for their inventions.    BUT, people can somehow manage to pay A football player $5 million a game.    I know some people would like to invent things which would solve a lot of problems, but because of theft, they do not try. The steep price of theft, as this example, hurts us all,
destroys integrity and respect, and, undoubtedly, sets the human race back from reaching full potential.
I am sorry.

[David Hoskins]

Thanks for you comments. I'm currently considering a copyright lawyer. But a good start would be to stop web sites promoting webbotlib.
[I understand the irony of bumping this thread, but hey  ]

[cyberjeff]

Thanks for you comments. I'm currently considering a copyright lawyer. But a good start would be to stop web sites promoting webbotlib.
[I understand the irony of bumping this thread, but hey  ]

I've had some time now to look at eSpeak, which is current technology. I don't believe that it is better than what you did so long ago.

Lawyer up, I'm afraid you must.