Posts by donkamillo

  • eSpeak-NG for Blind People

    Hi!

    I'm beginning to lose track of all my forum accounts... :)

    I'm using LibreElec for a while now. The 9.2.6 has the eSpeak still in the images. So, if the size of the package was no problem then, what makes it so problematic for 10.0.1?

    I ask because a separate addon brings added complexity for the installation for blind users. I now have to install the screen reader addon and have to find the eSpeak-Addon. For me, with my limited vision, this is already a big problem. I can du this, but this would take about a half hour or so. But how does a completely blind person do this?

    I memorized the keypresses for the installation of the screen reader from a ZIP-file. Fortunately I have a running LibreElec 9.2.6, so it is much easyer to memorize the keypresses for restoring a backup. :) Downgrading from 10.0.1 back to 9.2.6 and restoring the backup was dificult, but my 9.2.6 is running and speaking to me again! :)

    So, again the question, if size didn't matter for 9.2.6, why should it for 10.0.1? Sorry, couldn't resist... :) The eSpeak is an artificial voice, and those are normally very small. And for Kodi, the speech does not have to be as naturally sounding as possible. I just want to browse my library or select a TV recording. The naturally sounding voices are normally a few hundred megabytes. That would make the machine running LibreElec very unresponsive. And I have to say, I have no idea why peaple like those voices. They litterally hurt my ears! The pronounciation may be good, but the speech melody, the up and down of the voice because of punctuation, that is just as unnatural as possible.

    I know this is not a pressing matter for you. But I would like to ask you if you could put the eSpeak back in the image or release an addon as soon as possible? Sooner or later addons for Kodi 18 will stop working. Scrapers, players whatever. At least then I would like to be able to upgrade.

    I have to say, english is not my native language, its german. So if my message sounds unfriendly, angry or so, this is definitivley not my intention. After reading it myself I am still unsure, if I should send it. But my english is not that good to find words to describe the situation better.

    Regards!

    PS: This is really funny! :-= Had to edit this around because there were words, that were not accepted. OK, that makes writing even more difficult... :)