Early computerized voices in movies and TV shows were often faked by having actors read lines in reverse, which were then re-arranged and manipulated to create an artificial sound. In reality, speech synthesizers did exist but were not commonly used until later.
Early talking devices like the See N Say toy and talking cars of the 1980s used miniature phonographs to play pre-recorded sounds. The Speak and Spell was one of the first consumer devices to use speech synthesis, but it was limited to pre-recorded words and phrases.
The first true speech synthesizers, like the Currah Speech 64 cartridge and the Speech Sound Program Pack for the Tandy Color Computer, could create words from fundamental sounds like vowels and consonants. These devices were often limited by their technical capabilities and could struggle with certain words or pronunciations.
Speech synthesis has since improved and found numerous uses, such as in automated telephone services, virtual assistants like Siri, and even as a means of communication for individuals with disabilities.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The movie WarGames (1983) used a technique where an actor read words in reverse to create the illusion of a computerized voice.
2. The See N Say toy used a miniature phonograph to play back pre-recorded sounds.
3. The original model of the See N Say toy used a type of internal phonograph.
4. The Currah speech 64 cartridge for the Commodore 64 was a true speech synthesizer that could create words out of allophones.
5. The speech sound program pack for the Tandy color computer was a true speech synthesizer that could say anything typed.
6. SAM (Software Automatic Mouth) was a software-only speech program that could run on the Commodore 64, Atari, and Apple 2 computers.
7. The VODER was one of the first analog speech synthesizers, developed in the 1930s.
8. The VODER required a human to play the different sounds, similar to playing a piano.
9. Speech synthesis has found numerous uses over the years, including being the voice of Stephen Hawking and automated telephone services.
10. The first movie to feature a computerized voice was 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).
11. The Speak and Spell was one of the first consumer devices to use speech synthesis, released in 1978.
12. The Speak and Math was an updated version of the Speak and Spell that could pronounce any number imaginable.
13. The Commodore Magic Voice speech cartridge was not a true speech synthesizer, but rather a digital equivalent of a See N Say.
14. The Intellivoice was a speech synthesizer cartridge released by Mattel for the Intellivision gaming console.
15. The Tel Star answering system used a speech synthesizer to play back pre-recorded messages.
16. The Radio Shack VoxClock used a speech synthesizer to play back the time.