
          

                     PC Talking Typing Tutor

                           User Manual
          


                                

                           Version 1.5

          

                     PC Talking Typing Tutor

                           User Manual
          


                                

                           Version 1.5

                                

                   Copyright 1992, 1993, 1994

                                

                        Jon R. Gunderson

               Rehabilitation Technology Services
                       2305 Carlisle Drive
                   Champaign, Illinois  61821

                         (217) 398-4543

                               OR

                         (217) 244-5870

                                

                                

                  SN __ __ - __ __ __ __ __ __





















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PC Talking Typing Tutor           ii


                      .c.License Agreement


                   Copyright 1992, 1993, 1994
                       All rights reserved

Copy and Use Restrictions
     Personal Version
The personal version of PC Talking Typing Tutor is licensed to an
individual person.  No person other than the licensed individual
is authorized to use the tutorial program.  The licensed
individual can use the program on any computer they wish as long
as their the only person using it.  The licensee cannot transfer
their rights to the PC Talking Typing Tutor program to any other
individual, group or organization by sale, exchange or gift of
the program.  New users of PC Talking Typing Tutor must purchase
their own personal license.

     Educational Site License I
The Site License Version I of PC Talking Typing Tutor provides a
means for training centers to economically and efficiently teach
computer typing skills.  A training center holding the site
license for PC Talking Typing Tutor may freely use the program
with any student participating in computer training.  Copies of
PC Talking Typing Tutor may be copied to more than one computer
as long as all the computers are in the same room.  If copies are
need in more than one room or at another location, additional
copies need to be purchased for those rooms and locations.
Participation is defined as a person who is receiving on site
computer training by a staff person at the training center.
Copies of PC Talking Typing Tutor cannot be transferred to a
students personal computer at the completion of their on site
training.  The student can purchase a discounted version of the
software for $34.00+6.00 for S&H.  The student is then under the
jurisdiction of the Personal Version license.  There are no
annual fees for continued use.

     Educational Site License II
The Educational Site License II is the same as Educational Site
License I except copies of the Personal Version of PC Talking
Typing Tutor can be made to students personal computers at the
end of site training.  The educational site is responsible for
technical support to the student with their personal version.  A
annual renewal fee is required for the site to continue to
distribute the personal version to students.


Disk Warranty
Rehabilitation Technology Services (RTS) warrantees the original
disk is free from defects in material and workmanship. assuming
normal use, for a period of 90 days from date of purchase.  If
defect occurs during this period, you may return faulty disk to
RTS, along with a dated proof of purchase; RTS will replace disk



PC Talking Typing Tutor          iii

free of charge.  After 90 days, you may obtain a replacement by
sending your defective disk and a check for 15.00 to RTS.























































PC Talking Typing Tutor           iv


                         Acknowlegements


 I would like to thank all of the people who helped develop this
 program through their comments, feedback and reporting of bugs.
 I would especially like to thank: Noel Runyon of Personal data
 Systems, Doris Adams and Linda Cochran of C-CAD, and Kelly Ford
                      of the Trace Center.

                                














































PC Talking Typing Tutor           v


            PC Talking Typing Tutor Table of Contents


.Begin Table C.

License Agreement........................................iii
Introduction...............................................1
Synthesizers Supported.....................................1
How To make PC Talking Typing Tutor talk...................3
  Screen Review Programs...................................3
  External Speech Synthesizers.............................3
  Internal Speech Synthesizers Cards.......................4
  Sound Blaster by Creative Labs...........................4
Installing Talking Typing Tutor Program to a Hard Disk.....5
  Internal Synthesizers....................................5
  External Synthesizers....................................6
  Talking through a Screen Review Program..................6
Starting PC Talking Typing Tutor...........................6
Changing the Synthesizer After Installation................7
  Command line option......................................7
  Speech Output Menu.......................................7
Selecting Options from the Menus...........................8
  Summary of Menu Key Functions............................8
Getting Help When You Need It..............................9
  SPACE bar................................................9
  F1 Function Key Help Screen..............................9
  Summary of F1 Help Screen Keys...........................9
Exploring the Location of Keys............................10
Learning How to Touch Type................................11
  Learning Key Location...................................11
  Practicing Typing Individual Keys.......................11
  Practicing Typing Words.................................12
  Practicing Typing Sentences.............................12
Improving Typing Performance..............................13
  Improving Individual Key Performance....................13
  Improving Word Typing Performance.......................13
  Improving Sentence Typing Performance...................14
Record of User Training Sessions..........................15
Viewing Typing Performance................................16
  Summary Performance.....................................16
  Reset All Option (Personal Version Only)................16
  Individual Key Performance (Site Version only)..........16
  Saving Performance to a File (Site Version Only)........17
Advanced Performance Options (Site Version Only)..........18
  Resetting Current Performance Information...............18
  Resetting Previous Performance Information..............18
  Changing Number of Keys used for Performance Information18
  Resetting Log Information...............................19








PC Talking Typing Tutor           vi

Adjusting the Speech Output...............................20
  Adjusting the Speech Rate...............................20
  Adjusting the Volume....................................20
  Changing the type of Speech Synthesizer.................20
  Adjusting Automatic Speech Rate.........................20
  Summary of Function Keys For Adjusting Voice............21
Other Adjustments of Talking Typing Tutor.................22
  Changing the type of Keyboard...........................22
  Adjusting Practice Trial Completion.....................22
  Adjusting Practice Minimum Trial Length.................22
  Turning Key to Type Highlight On and Off................23
Using TTT with More than one Typist (Site Version Only)...24
  Adding a new Student....................................24
  Deleting a Student......................................24
  Log File................................................24
Summary of Keyboard Functions.............................25
Summary of Command Line Options...........................26
.End Table C.







































PC Talking Typing Tutor          vii


                         .c.Introduction


PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT) is designed for people with
blindness and severe visual impairments to learn and improve
their computer typing skills.  TTT is designed from the ground up
to be used with speech synthesizers for speech output.  TTT can
be used by novice typists to learn and practice basic computer
typing skills and TTT can be used by more experienced typists to
improve their current typing performance.  The use of menus in
TTT allow users to easily view lesson options and select the type
of lesson they want to work on.  User typing performance is
continuously monitored during each keystroke.  Users can view
both a summary of their typing performance and the performance
for a specific key.


                    .c.Synthesizers Supported


The following speech synthesizers are supported by PC Talking
Typing Tutor for the direct speech option:

     Accent PC and AccentSA
AICOM Corp
1590 Oakland Rd. - Suite B112
San Jose, CA  95131
(408) 453-8251

     Audapter
Personal Data Systems
100 W. Rincon Ave. - Suite 103
Campbell, CA  95003
(408) 866-1126

     Braille N' Speak
Blazie Engineering
3660 Mill Green Rd.
Street, MD  21154
(301) 879-4944

     Original DECTalk, DECTalk PC, DECTalk Express
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC)
Terminals Business Unit
146 Main Street
Maynard, MA 01754-2571
(800) 832-6277

     Double Talk
RC Systems
121 West Winesap Road
Bothell, WA  98012
(206) 672-6909



PC Talking Typing Tutor           1

     ECHO GP
Street Electronics Corporation
6420 Via Real
Carpinteria, CA   93013
(805) 684-4593

     SoundBlaster
Creative Labs, Inc.
1901 McCarthy Boulevard
Milpitas, CA  95035
(800) 998-4227
(408) 428-6600

     Sounding Board
GW Micro
310 Racquet Drive
Fort Wayne, IN  46825
(219) 483-3625

     Synphonix
Artic Technologies
55 Park Street
Troy, MI  48083
(313) 588-7370

     Screen Review Programs
In addition to the synthesizers listed above you can use PC
Talking Typing Tutor with screen review programs like: VocalEyes,
SoftVert, Flipper, JAWS, Artic Vision, IBM Screen reader, Tiny
Talk, ASAP or any other screen review system for IBM compatible
computers.


























PC Talking Typing Tutor           2


           .c.How To make PC Talking Typing Tutor talk


To use PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT) with a speech synthesizer
you must first tell TTT what type of speech synthesizer you are
using.  There are several different companies which make
electronic speech synthesizers which are listed in previous
section.  If your system is already speaking with a screen review
program, instead or selecting a speech synthesizer select the
screen review program (SRP) option.  If you select a synthesizer
and are using a SRP you will hear everything spoken twice.

While there are many different brands of synthesizers, there are
two basic ways that synthesizers are connected to IBM compatible
computers.  The two ways require slightly different installation
commands to tell TTT how to "electronically connect" to the
speech synthesizer.  One type of speech synthesizer is called an
external speech synthesizer and the other type is an internal
speech synthesizer.  External synthesizers connect to the
computer through a cable and internal speech synthesizers fit
into an expansion slot inside the computer.


.c.:Screen Review Programs
The screen review option is for people already using a screen
review program like Vocal Eyes, JAWS, ArticVision, ASAP,
SoftVert, etc....  Use this option if your computer is already
talking with a screen review program.  If you select a
synthesizer and you already have a screen review program
installed you will hear every thing TTT pronounces twice, because
both TTT program and the screen review program are sending the
information to the speech synthesizer.  So if you hear everything
being spoken twice, select the Screen Review Program option for
speech output.

The screen review program (SRP) option is also useful if you do
not see your synthesizer in the list of currently supported
synthesizers for TTT, but you do have a screen review program
that works with the speech synthesizer you have.  The screen
review program monitors information being sent to the computer
screen and speaks the information automatically.  TTT indirectly
sends information to the speech synthesizer by writing
information to the screen in a special way that is read by the
SRP.  The screen review option effectively makes TTT usable by
any speech synthesizer supported by a screen review program.


.c.:External Speech Synthesizers
External synthesizers are connected with a cable to a serial port
on a computer.  Before you can use TTT program with an external
synthesizer you must connect a cable from your synthesizer to a
serial port on your computer system.  Consult the manual you




PC Talking Typing Tutor           3

received with your speech synthesizer for proper connection to
the computer.























































PC Talking Typing Tutor           4

.c.:Internal Speech Synthesizers Cards
Internal speech synthesizers are different from external
synthesizers.  Internal synthesizers consist of a circuit card
that is placed inside your computer system.  After you install
the circuit card into the computer you will need to install
software called a "device driver" to allow the TTT program to
"electronically talk" to the internal speech synthesizer.  A
"Device Driver" is a software program that is placed in either
the CONFIG.SYS file and/or the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to allow
programs like TTT to access the speech output functions of the
speech synthesizer.  The software device driver is found on the
disk that comes with the speech synthesizer.  Follow the
installation instructions that came with your specific speech
synthesizer to install the Device Driver.  Be sure the device
driver is loaded before starting TTT.  You can see the list of
supported internal synthesizers in the previous section on
Synthesizers Supported.  You can select the type of speech
synthesizer when you install the TTT program or any time after
you install TTT from the TTT Configuration menu option.  But in
either case the device driver must be loaded before starting TTT
for the system to talk.


.c.:Sound Blaster by Creative Labs
The Sound Blaster sound card requires the use of the SBTALKER
program to be loaded.  SBTALKER is included in your Sound Blaster
program disks.  Follow the instructions in the Sound Blaster
manual for loading SBTALKER program and drivers.  You must load
the SBTALKER (typically with the batch file SBTALK.BAT) before
you start PC Talking Typing Tutor.



























PC Talking Typing Tutor           5


    .c.Installing Talking Typing Tutor Program to a Hard Disk


PC Talking Typing Tutor comes with an installation program to
copy the all the program files to a hard disk.  The installation
program will ask you several questions

1.   To install PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT) place the
     Program Disk in Drive A or B of your computer.

2.   Make the drive containing the Program Disk the default
     drive by typing either:

     A:<Enter>

     or

     B:<Enter>.

3a.  Type INSTALL SRP<Enter> to install without speech
     output or use with a screen review program.

     or

3b.  Type in INSTALL [synthesizer]<Enter> for synthesizers.


.c.:Internal Synthesizers
For internal speech synthesizers make sure you install the Device
Driver software included with your synthesizer before trying to
install TTT with speech output.

     Accent PC
          INSTALL ACCENTPC<Enter>

     DECTalk PC
          INSTALL DECTALKPC

     Double Talk
          INSTALL DOUBLE<Enter>

     Sound Blaster
          INSTALL SOUNDBLASTER<Enter>

     Sounding Board
          INSTALL SOUNDING<Enter>

     Synphonix
          INSTALL SONIXTTS<Enter>







PC Talking Typing Tutor           6

.c.:External Synthesizers
External speech synthesizers are connected to the computer
through a cable.  Before running the installation program make
sure the external speech synthesizer is properly connected to the
computer system.  You need to know which serial port (COM1 or
COM2) that the synthesizer is connected to, and the baud rate,
parity and the stop bits required by the synthesizer.

Type:          INSTALL [synthesizer] [com] [data] [stop]
     [parity]

     Accent SA
          INSTALL ACCENTSA COM1 8 N 2<Enter>

     Audapter
          INSTALL AUDAPTER COM1 8 N 2<Enter>

     Braille N' Speak
          INSTALL BRAILLENSPEAK COM1 8 N 2<enter>

     Original DECTalk
          INSTALL DECTALKORG COM1 8 N 2<Enter>

     DECTalk Express
     Need to install DECTalk Expressdevice driver before
     installation

          INSTALL DECTALKEXP

     ECHO GP
          INSTALL ECHO COM1 8 N 2<Enter>


.c.:Talking through a Screen Review Program
The screen review mode allows you to use TTT in conjunction with
any screen review program like JAWS, Vocal Eyes, Business Vision,
Flipper, ASAP, IBM Screen Reader or any other screen review
program for MS-DOS.  The screen review program's configuration
file for use with MS-DOS will be adequate for using TTT.  The
configuration file for MS-DOS is typically the configuration used
when you first start the screen review program.  You need to
start the screen review program before you start TTT for TTT to
talk.

TYPE:     INSTALL SRP<Enter>


               .c.Starting PC Talking Typing Tutor


To start PC Talking Typing Tutor just type in the letter keys TTT
and the ENTER key at the MS-DOS prompt.

EXAMPLE: c:\TYPE\TTT<Enter> or TTT<Enter>



PC Talking Typing Tutor           7


         .c.Changing the Synthesizer After Installation


The type of speech synthesizer can be changed at any time.  There
are two ways to change the type of synthesizer.  The synthesizer
can be changed when TTT is started using command line options or
after you start TTT is started by selecting the synthesizer from
the Configuration menu in the Main menu of TTT.  Before changing
the synthesizer make sure you have properly connected the
synthesizer and installed any device driver software (internal
synthesizers only).  Refer to the installation manual supplied
with the synthesizer for connection and device driver
information.


.c.:Command line option
Synthesizer              Command

Screen Review Program    TTT SRP<Enter>

Accent PC                TTT ACCENTPC<Enter>

Accent Stand Alone       TTT ACCENTSA COM1 8 1 N<Enter>

Audapter                 TTT AUDAPTER COM1 8 1 N<Enter>

Braille N Speak          TTT BRAILENSPEAK COM1 8 1 N<Enter>

Original DECTalk         TTT DECTALKORG COM1 8 1 N<Enter>

DECTalk PC               TTT DECTALKPC

DECTalk Express          TTT DECTALKEXP

DoubleTalk               TTT DOUBLETALK<Enter>

ECHO GP or PC            TTT ECHO COM1 8 1 N<Enter>

Sounding Board           TTT SOUNDING<Enter>

SoundBlaster             TTT SOUNDBLASTER

Synphonix                TTT SYNPHONIXTTS<Enter>


.c.:Speech Output Menu
Select the Configuration option from the Main menu of TTT.  The
Main menu is the first menu after you start TTT in the personal
version or after you select a student in the site license
version.  To select the Configuration menu option use the letter
key or arrow keys to move to the Configuration menu option, then
type the ENTER key.  The first option in the Configuration menu
is the Change speech output device option.  Select the Change



PC Talking Typing Tutor           8

speech output device option by typing the ENTER key.  To select a
new synthesizer move to the desired synthesizer as before and
then type the ENTER key.  If an external speech synthesizer is
selected you will be asked additional questions on baud rate,
parity and stop bits.  Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to review
options and the ENTER key to select an option from the Baud Rate,
Parity and Stop Bit menus.  To return to the Main menu after
selecting a speech synthesizer, press the ESCape key once.

















































PC Talking Typing Tutor           9


               .c.Selecting Options from the Menus


Menus are used to present lesson, performance and configuration
options available in PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT).  There are
two ways to select menu options.  One way is with the use of the
UP and DOWN ARROW keys and a second is using the letter label
associated with each menu item.  The UP and DOWN ARROW keys move
you to the previous and next menu items respectively.  Before
each menu item is a letter associated with the menu item.  The
"X" is always used to select the exit option from a menu.  To
select a menu item move to the desired item using either the
arrow keys or the letter keys and then type the ENTER key.  Use
the arrow keys to explore menus and the letter keys for a short
cut to move directly to the item you want to select.

The first menu when you start the personal version of TTT is the
Main menu (in the site license version it is the menu after
selecting a student).  The first item in the Main menu is Explore
the location of keys on the keyboard, the second option is Learn
and practice how to touch type, the third option is the Improving
your typing performance, the fourth option reviewing typing
Performance summary, the fifth menu option is changing the
Configuration, and the last option is Exit Talking Typing Tutor.

The SPACE bar allows you to repeat the current menu option.  If
you press the SPACE bar more than once you will receive
additional help on the other command options available in the
menu.  As you continue to press the SPACE bar you will cycle
through hearing the current menu item and additional information
on the keyboard options available to you.  Use the SPACE bar to
get additional help.


.c.:Summary of Menu Key Functions
UP ARROW                 Previous menu item

DOWN ARROW               Next menu item

ENTER                    Selection menu item

SPACE Bar                Help

F2                       Repeat menu title.

ESCape                   Exit current menu.










PC Talking Typing Tutor           10


                .c.Getting Help When You Need It


There are two ways to get help in PC Talking Typing Tutor; the
SPACE bar and the F1 help key.  The help keys are used to repeat
the current context in the program, and provide information on
the range of commands and options available in a particular part
of the program.


.c.:SPACE bar
The SPACE bar can be used to repeat the last spoken menu item and
to get information on the current commands.  In the lessons you
can use the space bar to repeat the current key that needs to be
typed next, and to spell the current word if can't understand the
pronunciation of the speech synthesizer or if you are unsure of
the spelling of a word.

  Use the space bar to repeat last item you heard and to get
  additional command information.


.c.:F1 Function Key Help Screen
Help can also be found using the F1 key.  The F1 key uses the
whole computer screen and places on the computer screen a
detailed description of where you are in the program and the key
options available to you.  To read the help message, just use the
UP and DOWN ARROW keys to read each line of the help screen, and
use the LEFT and RIGHT ARROW keys to read characters and words.

  Use the help key when you need more information about what
  you can do in TTT and the command options available.


.c.:Summary of F1 Help Screen Keys
UP Arrow                 Read previous line

DOWN Arrow               Read next line

LEFT Arrow               Read previous character

RIGHT Arrow              Read next character

Control-LEFT Arrow       Read previous word

Control-RIGHT Arrow      Read next word

SPACE                    Read current line

ESCape                   Return to program






PC Talking Typing Tutor           11


                .c.Exploring the Location of Keys


The Explore the location of keys option from the Main menu allows
you to find and explore the location of keys on your keyboard.
When you select the explore option you will be able to type any
key on the keyboard and have the name of the key read to you.
You can identify the location of all the keys on the keyboard
just by pressing keys.  The explore option is good to familiarize
yourself with the location of keys on the keyboard, especially
101 key keyboards which have both cursor and numeric keypads.
Each brand of computer also has sightly different locations for
special character keys so this provides an easy way to
familiarize yourself with the locations of special character key
locations.  To exit the explore mode just type the same key 4
times in a row, and then the key once more when prompted.  You
will then return to the Main menu.

You may also select this option from the command line:

TYPE:  TTT explore<Enter>

The command line option puts you directly into the explore mode
of TTT.  You exit from the option the same way as before by
typing the same key 4 times in a row and then one more time when
prompted to exit the explore mode.   When you exit the explore
option you return to MS-DOS rather than the Main menu of TTT.
This option is good when all you want to use TTT for is to find
keys on the keyboard.



























PC Talking Typing Tutor           12


                  .c.Learning How to Touch Type


PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT) helps you learn new keys several
ways.  Keys are learned in lessons of 3 to 4 keys at a time,
until all the keys on the keyboard are learned.  The first option
in each lesson is to teach which finger to use when typing a key
and the finger movements from the home row keys to the new key.
The next option in the lesson provides practice in typing each of
the new keys individually and the following lesson option
provides practice of typing keys individually for all the keys
learned up to the current lesson.  The individual key typing
lessons also include options for practicing the capitalized
version of letters, which requires simultaneously holding down
the shift key with the opposite hand.  In addition the program
provides practice typing words and sentences with the letters
learned up until the current lesson.

To learn new keys select the Learn and practice how to touch type
option from the Main menu.  The first lesson will teach the
location of some of the keys used by TTT.  The second lesson the
home row keys.  The remaining lessons teach the rest of the keys
on the standard IBM keyboard.  Each lesson contains one drill to
learn the location of the new keys, and then several drills to
practice the keys learned individually, in words and in
sentences.  The number of drill options available in a particular
lesson is dependent on the current number of keys learned.

The number of keys, words or sentences presented in each trial
can be adjusted in the Configuration menu option from the Main
menu.


.c.:Learning Key Location
The Learn option is the first menu item in each lesson.  The
lesson instructs you on the location of each new key in
relationship to the home row keys and which finger to use to
type.  Select the Learn option to learn the location of each new
key.  You will be told where each key is and be asked to type
each key three times correctly from the home row keys.


.c.:Practicing Typing Individual Keys
There are up to four practice options for practicing typing keys
individually.  The number of practice options is dependent on the
number of keys learned up to the current lesson.  Each lesson
will have one option for typing the lowercase letter keys and
another option for typing the capitalized version of the letter
keys.  The capitalized versions of the letter keys are generated
with the use of the left or right shift key.  The remaining two
options provide for practicing typing individual keys learned in
both the previous lessons and in the current lesson.  A letter,
number or punctuation letter will be presented randomly one



PC Talking Typing Tutor           13

character at a time.  As each letter is presented computer waits
for the corresponding key to be typed.

RESPONSE: letter





















































PC Talking Typing Tutor           14

.c.:Practicing Typing Words
Words can be practiced in all lowercase letters or with the
capitalization of the first letter.  The lesson provides more
realistic typing practice and skill development than just typing
individual letters.  There is one menu option for typing
lowercase words and one menu option for typing capitalized words.
One word will be presented at a time.  To respond to a word
presented type a SPACE, followed by the letters for the word
presented and then another SPACE.  The first space is used to
indicated that you heard the word and are starting to type.  In
this way the time measured for typing the first letter of the
word is not biased by the time you took to hear the word from the
speech synthesizer and the time to figure out how to spell the
word.  The space at the end indicates that you have completed
typing the word and is also good practice for typing in general,
since most words are followed by a space.  Use the space bar to
repeat or spell the word presented if you don't understand the
word or know how to spell it.  Use the Practice word options to
learn to type words.

RESPONSE: <Space>word<Space>


.c.:Practicing Typing Sentences
When enough letters are learned the typist can begin to practice
typing full sentences.  Each sentence will be presented one at a
time.  To respond to each sentence presented type a SPACE,
followed by the letters in the sentence. Remember to capitalize
the first word of each sentence and end the sentence with a
PERIOD and a SPACE.  The SPACE bar help function can be very
helpful when typing sentences.  The first time you press the
space bar TTT will say the current word in the sentence TTT is
waiting for you to type.  The second time TTT will spell the
current word for you, and the third time spell the word using
military call words.   Use the Practice sentence option when you
really want to practice typing using a real life situation.

RESPONSE: <Space>Sentence<Period><Space>



















PC Talking Typing Tutor           15


                 .c.Improving Typing Performance


People with at least some touch typing skills can use PC Talking
Typing Tutor (TTT) to improve their typing performance.  Select
the performance enhancement option from the main menu.  The
performance enhancement menu has options for practicing
individual keys, words and sentences.  TTT automatically tracks
performance and presents letters and words more often that you
type slower and less accurately.  By presenting letters and words
that a person has a harder time typing the person gets more
practice on the letters and words that need the most improvement.
The Improving typing performance option is on the Main menu of
TTT.


.c.:Improving Individual Key Performance
You can practice typing either individual alphabetic letters or
any character on the keyboard.  To select the individual key
performance options first move to the Main menu.  Select the
Improving typing performance option, it is the third menu item in
the Main menu.  The first two menu items in the Improving your
typing performance menu are for improving typing performance of
individual keys.  The first menu option includes only the
alphabet and number keys.  The second menu option includes all
ASCII characters found on the keyboard.  The keys to be typed in
each lesson are randomly presented to the typist, so every lesson
is different.  One letter at a time is presented.  As each letter
is spoken the typist is required to type the corresponding key.
If the user makes a mistake information will be presented on the
location of the correct key.  If you don't understand a letter or
need some help remember you can get help using the SPACE bar or
F1 help key.

RESPONSE: letter


.c.:Improving Word Typing Performance
The typing of words is important for building accuracy in typing
common sequences of letters.  The Improving your performance menu
has two options for typing words: typing words in all lower case
and typing capitalized words.  After selecting either option for
typing words the typist will be presented with one word at a
time.  Type a SPACE, followed by the word and than another SPACE.
If you make a mistake you will need to type the entire word over
again, including the initial SPACE.  When using the capitalize
option you need to capitalize the first letter of the word.  If
you don't understand a word or need the spelling of the word you
can use the SPACE bar to hear the word again and type the SPACE
bar twice to get the spelling.

RESPONSE: <Space>word<Space>




PC Talking Typing Tutor           16

.c.:Improving Sentence Typing Performance
The typing of sentences provides a realistic practice for typing
into wordprocessors.  When typing sentences the typist must first
type the SPACE bar, then the sentence.  The first word of the
sentence must be capitalized.  After typing the words in the
sentence end the sentence with a PERIOD and a SPACE.  If you make
a mistake you must retype the entire sentence, including the
initial SPACE.  Each sentence is 3 to 8 words in length.  Use the
space bar if you forget the next word in the sentence or need
help in the spelling of a word.  The words in the sentence will
contain words that the current typist has more difficulty in
typing.

RESPONSE: <Space>sentence<Period><Space>











































PC Talking Typing Tutor           17


               .c.Record of User Training Sessions


A record of your lessons is kept in a log file for you to keep
track of which lessons you have completed.  The log file cannot
currently be viewed while using PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT),
but can be viewed using any text editing program (like EDIT for
DOS 4.0 and greater) or wordprocessor like WordPerfect or
Microsoft Word.  The file name for the log file is "TTT.LOG" and
is the "C:\TYPE" or "D:\type" sub-directory depending on the
drive TTT was installed.  The file is a read only file, so if you
try to save it using an editor or wordprocessor you will get an
error.  You can save the information to a different file name
using the "SAVE AS" feature of the editor or wordprocessor.  This
restriction allows the original file to keep the proper format
for TTT.

The name of the log file in the Site License version of TTT is
shown in the Change student menu.  Each student has their own
personal log file to keep a record of the lessons they have
completed.  The name of the log file is in the last column of the
screen and is based on their last name and first name initial.

You can print the log file directly by using standard DOS
commands like "PRINT filename.LOG" or "COPY filename.LOG PRN".
See your DOS manual for details on the print commands or type
"PRINT /?" or "COPY /?" at the DOS prompt.  The file name for the
Personal Version of TTT is "TTT.LOG".

PRINTING EXAMPLES:  COPY c:\type\ttt.log PRN<Enter>

                    PRINT c:\type\ttt.log<Enter>

The contents of the log file can be reset in the configuration
menu.  You can reset the contents of the log file in the
Performance summary menu in the personal version and in the
Advanced performance options menu in the site license versions of
TTT.


















PC Talking Typing Tutor           18


                  .c.Viewing Typing Performance


The program continuously records typing performance for each key
stroke during the learning and the performance improvement
lessons.  The personal version of the software only allows you to
view the summary information.  The Educational Site License
version allows you to view detailed performance information on
each key.  The detailed key information can be viewed
alphabetically, by typing speed, or by typing accuracy.  To view
typing performance select the Performance summary menu option
from the Main menu.  The Performance summary menu has several
options for viewing typing performance.  The options are
described in the following sections.  Individual key performance
options are only available on the Site License version of the
software.


.c.:Summary Performance
The summary information allows you to view your typing rate and
errors for only letter keys (A-Z,a-z) or for all keys on the
keyboard (letters, numbers, punctuation, special characters).  To
view your performance select the Performance summary menu option
from the Main menu.  In the personal version there are two
options one for a summary of only letter keys and the other for
all keys.


.c.:Reset All Option (Personal Version Only)
The reset all option will reset the performance statistics for
the current and previous typing statistics.  Resetting the
performance information in the Site License version use the
Advanced performance options menu in the Performance summary
menu.


.c.:Individual Key Performance (Site Version only)
In the Site License version of TTT you can view the performance
of individual keys.  There are five ways to view the list of
individual keys:

1. ASCII character order

2. Typing rate from fastest to slowest

3. Typing accuracy from most accurate to least accurate

4. Typing rate improvement from previous typing session

5. Typing accuracy improvement from previous typing session

These options appear in the Performance summary option in the
Main menu.  The individual keys are listed and you can move to



PC Talking Typing Tutor           19

each key by using the UP and DOWN ARROW keys or you can directly
move to any key by typing the key you want on the keyboard.  Use
the ESCape key to exit the key list.






















































PC Talking Typing Tutor           20

.c.:Saving Performance to a File (Site Version Only)
You can save individual key performance to file on your disk.
The file can be sent to a printer for a permanent record or
imported into a document as part of report on typing progress for
a student.  There are four options for saving the information to
a file.

1. Letter keys only in letter order.

2. Letter keys only in speed order.

3. Letter keys only in accuracy order.

4. All keys in ASCII order.

These options appear on the Save Performance to a file option in
the Performance summary menu.  Select the Save performance to a
file option and select one of the four options for saving the
performance information.  After selecting a format option you
will be asked for a file name.  A default file name will be
presented to you.  If you don't want to use the default file name
you can edit the name to what ever you want using the BACKSPACE
and letter keys.  To select the file name type the ENTER key.  If
the file already exits you will be asked whether you want to
replace the current file or append the current performance
information with the information already in the file.  The
replace option erases the information previously stored in the
file and replaces it with the current key performance
information.  Appending to the file adds the current typing
performance information to the performance information previously
saved, and the new information appears at the end of the file.
The replace file option is good choice when you don't want the
old typing information and the append option is good if you want
to keep a detailed history of the typing performance for a
particular client.  The default file extension for the
performance files is ".REC".  The file is read only so that if
you edit the file with a text editor or a wordprocessor you will
need to save the file to a different file name.  The read only
precaution is added so that if you try to append to the file the
TTT program will not try to update a file formatted for a
wordprocessor.

  Be sure to copy down the name of the performance file for
  you to use later for printing the file or importing the file
  into a wordprocessor.

  If you import the file to a wordprocessor save the file
  using a different name, since it will save the file in the
  wordprocessor format.  Save the file using a different name.








PC Talking Typing Tutor           21


       .c.Advanced Performance Options (Site Version Only)


In the Site License version you can change the number of keys
used for calculating the performance on each key.  The individual
key performance statistics are based on only the last 50 times
the student typed a particular key.  This allows the performance
statistic for a key to be a moving average of the users
performance and reflects their most recent performance history.
The summary statistics are based on the last 1500 keys typed.
The number of keys used to calculate the average is adjustable
for both the individual and summary statistics.  In addition to
changing the number of keys that will be used for averaging the
performance information can also be reset.  The Advanced
performance options option is selected from the Performance
summary menu.  The Performance summary option is selected from
the Main menu.


 .c.:Resetting Current Performance Information
The current performance session information can be reset.  This
affects only the typing performance in the current student
session.  To reset the current performance information select the
Performance summary option from the Main menu.  Then select the
Advanced performance options option from the Performance summary
menu.  From the Advanced performance options menu select the
Reset current session performance data option.  You will be asked
if you really want to reset the data.  If you do type a "Y" for
yes or if you don't type a "N" for no.


 .c.:Resetting Previous Performance Information
The previous performance session information can be reset.  This
affects only the typing performance information from the previous
typing session.  To reset the previous performance information
select the Performance summary option from the Main menu.  Then
select the Advanced performance options option from the
Performance summary menu.  From the Advanced performance options
menu select the Reset previous session performance data option.
You will be asked if you really want to reset the data.  If you
do type a "Y" for yes or if you don't type a "N" for no.


.c.:Changing Number of Keys used for Performance Information
The performance summary information (letters and all keys) and
individual key information is basically an average of typing
errors and speed over a specific number keys.  The number of keys
used for the average is adjustable in the site license version.
There are three options for changing the number of keys used to
average the performance.  One each for the summary key
performance for letter keys and all keys, and for each individual
key.




PC Talking Typing Tutor           22

     All keys Performance Information
To change the number of keys used to calculate the performance
summary statistics for all keys typed is in the Advanced
performance options menu.  From the Main menu select the
Performance summary option.  From the Performance summary menu
select Advanced performance options option.  From the Advanced
performance options menu select the All keys performance
calculations option.  Use the UP AND DOWN ARROW, PAGE UP and DOWN
keys to change the value for the number of keys used to calculate
the all keys performance statistics.  Use the ENTER key to
confirm the new value or the ESCape key to cancel any changes.

     Letter keys Performance Information
To change the number of keys used to calculate the performance
summary statistics for letter keys typed is in the Advanced
performance options menu.  From the Main menu select the
Performance summary option.  From the Performance summary menu
select Advanced performance options option.  From the Advanced
performance options menu select the Letter keys performance
calculations option.  Use the UP AND DOWN ARROW, PAGE UP and DOWN
keys to change the value for the number of keys used to calculate
the letter keys performance statistics.  Use the ENTER key to
confirm the new value or the ESCape key to cancel any changes.

     Individual Key Performance Information
To change the number of keys used to calculate the performance
summary statistics for individual keys typed is in the Advanced
performance options menu.  From the Main menu select the
Performance summary option.  From the Performance summary menu
select Advanced performance options option.  From the Advanced
performance options menu select the Individual key performance
calculations option.  Use the UP AND DOWN ARROW, PAGE UP and DOWN
keys to change the value for the number of keys used to calculate
the individual key performance statistics.  Use the ENTER key to
confirm the new value or the ESCape key to cancel any changes.


.c.:Resetting Log Information
The log file for the current student can be reset.  The log file
keeps a record of lessons a student has completed and the
performance for each session.  To reset the log file information
select the Performance summary option from the Main menu.  Then
select the Advanced performance options option from the
Performance summary menu.  From the Advanced performance options
menu select the Reset session log file option.  You will be asked
if you really want to reset the log file.  If you do type a "Y"
for yes or if you don't type a "N" for no.










PC Talking Typing Tutor           23


                 .c.Adjusting the Speech Output


If you are using PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT) without a screen
review program you can adjust the characteristics of the
synthesizers voice from the configuration menu or from the
function keys on the keyboard.


.c.:Adjusting the Speech Rate
The speech rate can only be adjusted when TTT is directly driving
the speech synthesizer(not screen review program mode).  To
adjust the speech rate use the function keys F5 and F6.  The keys
are typically found on the top row of keys or to the very left
hand side of the keyboard.  F5 decreases the speech rate and F6
increases the speech rate.


.c.:Adjusting the Volume
The volume of the synthesizer can only be adjusted when TTT is
directly driving the speech synthesizer(not screen review mode).
To adjust the volume you use the function keys F9 and F10.  The
keys are typically found on the top row of keys or to the very
left hand side of the keyboard.  F9 decreases the volume and F10
increases the volume.


.c.:Changing the type of Speech Synthesizer
In addition to changing the type of synthesizer from the command
line you can change the synthesizer from the configuration option
on the main menu.  Select the Configuration menu option from the
Main menu.  From the Configuration menu select the Change
synthesizer option.  The synthesizer menu will contain the
currently supported synthesizers.  Select the synthesizer you
have from the menu options or the Screen review program option if
you system is already talking.   If the synthesizer is an
external synthesizer it requires initialization of the serial
port.  You will be prompted for the serial port parameters after
making your selection.


.c.:Adjusting Automatic Speech Rate
The automatic speech rate option on the Configuration menu
changes the pause between spoken phrases, when multiple phrases
are being spoken by Talking Typing Tutor(like at the beginning of
lessons and the list of menu options).  The pause breaks up
important groups information to the listener.  To change the
pause time select the configuration option from the main menu and
the change automatic speak delay option from the configuration
menu.  The default value is about 2 seconds and can be increased
to 10 seconds using the UP and DOWN ARROW keys.   Use the ENTER
key to select the new value or the ESCape key to quit without
changing the current value.



PC Talking Typing Tutor           24

.c.:Summary of Function Keys For Adjusting Voice
The speech rate and speech volume can be adjusted directly from
the keyboard if you are not using a screen review program(if you
are using a screen review program see their manual for the
commands to adjust the speech).  The following is a summary of
the function keys used for adjusting speech.

F5                       Decrease speech rate.

F6                       Increase speech rate.

F9                       Decrease volume.

F10                      Increase volume.











































PC Talking Typing Tutor           25


           .c.Other Adjustments of Talking Typing Tutor


PC Talking Typing Tutor (TTT) program allows you adjust the type
of keyboard, the typing lesson lengths and the highlight of the
character to be typed.  The options can be changed in the
Configuration option on the Main menu.


.c.:Changing the type of Keyboard
Since not every computer has the same keyboard arrangement, TTT
comes with several keyboard layouts to select from.  It is
important to have the keyboard layout that most closely resembles
your keyboard during the typing lessons since finger directions
are dependent on the keyboard layout.  To view and select the
keyboard options select the Configuration option from the Main
menu.  From the Configuration menu select the Change keyboard
option.  Browse through the list of keyboard options in the
Change keyboard menu and select the keyboard description that
best fits your computer.  Differences in computer keyboards are
mostly in the locations of the function keys and special
character keys.  The letter keys and the number keys are always
in the same location on the standard QWERTY keyboard, just like
typewriter keys (remember typewriters?).


.c.:Adjusting Practice Trial Completion
You can adjust the number of consecutive letters or words that a
student needs to type correctly before completing a trial.  The
default value is 4 correctly typed letters or words in row.  To
change the value select the Configuration option from the Main
menu.  From the Configuration menu select the Change minimum
number of correct responses to be done option.  Use the UP and
DOWN ARROW keys to increase and decrease the minimum number of
correct responses in a row.  Use the ENTER key to select a new
value or the ESCape key to quit without changing the current
value.


.c.:Adjusting Practice Minimum Trial Length
You can adjust the minimum number of letters or words that a user
must try in each practice lesson.  The default value is 20
letters or words.  To change the value select the Configuration
option from the Main menu.  From the Configuration menu select
the Change minimum number of responses option.  Use the UP and
DOWN ARROW keys to increase and decrease the minimum number of
correct responses in a row.  Use the ENTER key to select a new
value or the ESCape key to quit without changing the current
value.







PC Talking Typing Tutor           26

.c.:Turning Key to Type Highlight On and Off
For people with some types of cognitive impairments it is
advantageous to highlight the character the user is supposed to
type next.  Yet for some people with low vision the highlight may
create a contrast problem.  This option lets you turn the
highlight feature on and off.  The function currently only
effects the next character to be typed in the lessons and not the
menu highlight bar.  To turn the highlight feature on or off
select the Configuration option from the Main menu.  From the
Configuration menu select the Inverse character to type in
lessons option.  To turn the highlight character on type an "N"
key to turn the highlight off type an "F" key.













































PC Talking Typing Tutor           27


   .c.Using TTT with More than one Typist (Site Version Only)


The Educational Site License Version of PC Talking Typing Tutor
(TTT) creates a database of student information.  When you enter
the Educational Site License version instead of entering the Main
menu you enter a menu of student names.  From the Select student
menu you can select a student name by using the UP and DOWN ARROW
keys or the letter keys associated with the last names of the
student.  To select a student, first move to the student name and
then type the ENTER key.  You will then move to the Main menu of
TTT using the performance and lesson information of the student
selected.  You can change the student from the Main menu by
selecting the Change student option.  You can then change the
student and return to the Main menu.


.c.:Adding a new Student
You can add a new student by moving to the beginning of the
student menu and selecting the New student option.  You will be
asked the students first name; type in the first name followed by
the ENTER key.  You will then be asked the students last name:
type in the last name followed by the Enter key.  You will then
find the name in the student menu.  You can also add a new
student by typing the Insert key while anywhere in the Select
Student menu.


.c.:Deleting a Student
You can delete a student from in the Select student menu by
moving to the student name (UP and DOWN ARROW keys or letter
keys) and then typing the DELETE key.  You will be asked if you
are sure.  If you are sure you want to delete the student type
the "Y" key for yes, or if you don't want to delete the person
type the "N" key for no.


.c.:Log File
PC Talking Typing Tutor creates a log file on your disk for each
student.  The log file records all of the lesson trials the
student completes and their performance for each session.
Currently you cannot view the log record in PC Talking Typing
Tutor, but you can access the file using a text editor (like the
text edit utility EDIT for MS-DOS version 4.0 and greater) or a
wordprocessor like WordPerfect or Microsoft Word.  The Select
student menu shows the file name used to save the log information
in the last column on the right of the menu.  All log files have
the file extension ".LOG".  You can print the file using standard
DOS commands like PRINT or COPY filename PRN.  See DOS manual for
details on these commands.






PC Talking Typing Tutor           28


                .c.Summary of Keyboard Functions


Key  Function

ESCape                   Exit menu or lesson.

ENTER                    Select menu option.

UP Arrow                 Previous menu item.

DOWN Arrow               Next menu option.

SPACE                    Repeat last message with help.

F1                       Help.

F2                       Repeat menu or lesson title.

F5                       Decrease speech rate.

F6                       Increase speech rate.

F9                       Decrease volume.

F10                      Increase volume.

ALT                      Stop speech.




























PC Talking Typing Tutor           29


               .c.Summary of Command Line Options


The following are start up options for PC Talking Typing Tutor
(TTT).  The start up options allow you to configure TTT to the
speech synthesizer and keyboard you are using.  The start up
parameters are optional and if no options are selected TTT will
start in screen review mode.  The screen review mode depends on a
screen review program to read the screen to the user.

     TTT [keyboard] [synthesizer] [port] [data] [parity] [stop]
[?] [explore]


Selecting Synthesizers
TTT SRP             Screen Review Program.  Use this option if
                    your computer is already talking with the use
                    of a screen review program like JAWS,
                    Flipper, ArticVision, Vocal Eyes, ASAP,
                    etc... The screen review option is the
                    default option.  You can use this option
                    without a speech synthesizer for
                    demonstration purposes.

TTT ACCENTPC        Accent PC Internal Speech Synthesizer.
                    (Remember to include SPKACNT.DVC device
                    driver in the CONFIG.SYS file)

TTT ACCENTSA COM1 9600 8 N 1  Accent SA Stand alone speech
                              synthesizer
                              (Example presented for connection
                              to com port 1 at 9600 baud, 8 data
                              bits, no parity and 1 stop bit)

TTT AUDAPTER COM1 9600 8 N 1  Audapter external speech
                              synthesizer.
                              (Example presented for connection
                              to com port 1 at 9600 baud, 8 data
                              bits, no parity and 1 stop bit)

TTT BRAILLENSPEAK COM1 9600 8 N 1  Braille N Speak external
                              speech synthesizer.
                              (Example presented for connection
                              to com port 1 at 9600 baud, 8 data
                              bits, no parity and 1 stop bit)

TTT DECTALKORG COM1 9600 8 N 1     Original DECTalk external
                              speech synthesizer.(Example
                              presented for connection to com
                              port 1 at 9600 baud, 8 data bits,
                              no parity and 1 stop bit)





PC Talking Typing Tutor           30

TTT DECTALKPC                 DECTalk PC internal speech card.
                              Be sure to install device driver
                              before starting TTT, typically
                              using the DT.BAT file included with
                              DECTalk PC.

TTT DECTALKEXP                DECTalk PC internal speech card.
                              Be sure to install device driver
                              before starting TTT, typically
                              using the DTEXP.BAT file included
                              with DECTalk Express.

TTT DOUBLETALK                DoubleTalk internal speech card.   
                              Be sure to install device driver
                              before starting TTT, typically
                              using the DTPRN.COM file included
                              with DoubleTalk.

TTT ECHO COM1 9600 8 N 1      Echo GP or PC synthesizers
                              (Example presented for connection
                              to com port 1 at 9600 baud, 8 data
                              bits, no parity and 1 stop bit)

TTT SOUNDING        Sounding Board internal speech synthesizer.
                    (Remember to run SBLOAD.COM and SB.COM with
                    the /!L3 option to initialize the sounding
                    board)

TTT SOUNDBLASTER    Soundblaster speech with the use of SBTALKER
                    speech utility.  SBTALKER is a TSR program
                    that must be loaded before starting TTT.  See
                    soundblaster reference for details on
                    loading).

TTT SYNPHONIXTTS    Synphonix Speech Synthesizer with TTS
                    software.(Remember to run SONIXTTS.COM and
                    PORTTALK.COM with the /L3 option to
                    initialize the Synphonix speech synthesizer)


Serial Port Options for External Speech Synthesizers
COM1 Serial communications port 1 for communication to
     external speech synthesizers

COM2 Serial communications port 2 for communication to
     external speech synthesizers

COM3 Serial communications port 3 for communication to
     external speech synthesizers

COM4 Serial communications port 4 for communication to
     external speech synthesizers

7    7 Data bits.



PC Talking Typing Tutor           31

8    8 Data bits.

N    No parity.

E    Even parity.

O    Odd parity

1    1 stop bit.

2    2 stop bits














































PC Talking Typing Tutor           32

Keyboards
TTT PS2             Standard IBM keyboard layout for IBM PS/2
                    computers and compatibles with function keys
                    (F1-F12) on top row.

TTT ALT101A         101 key keyboard with \ key next to the
                    BACKSPACE key with function keys (F1-F12) on
                    top row.

TTT ALT101B         101 key keyboard with \ next to the RIGHT
                    SHIFT key with function keys (F1-F12) on top
                    row.

TTT TOSHIBA1200     Toshiba 1200 laptop keyboard.

TTT PC82            Original 82 key IBM keyboard layout with
                    function keys (F1-F10) on the left.

TTT AT84            84 key IBM AT keyboard layout with function
                    keys (F1-F10) on the left.


EXploring the Keys on the Keyboard
If you just want to type around on the keyboard to find the
location of keys, use this option.  You return to DOS by typing
the same key 4 times in a row.

     TTT explore<Enter>


Remembering Start Up Options
If you forget start up options you can see them by typing:

     TTT ?<Enter>























PC Talking Typing Tutor           33
