TSI Speech+ & other speaking calculators
Speech+ speaking calculator with instructions on cassette. The knob at top right is pulled to turn the calculator on and then acts as a volume control. Pressing the button with the loudspeaker symbol (below the "=" button) makes the calculator speak the number on the display. The switch below this button can be used to switch off the speech system.
Telesensory Systems Inc. Speech+
Display is 8 digits, red LED. Also speaks the keys pressed and the result.
4-function, %, memory, square root.
Calculator integrated circuit Texas Instruments TMC1007NL, based on the TMS1000 4-bit microcontroller. "TSI has custom-programmed a microcomputer in the SPEECH PLUS calculator and is a pioneer in the use of this device. This
microcomputer contains the calculating capability. It was used instead of more-conventional, commercially available parts so that we could dictate the way the calculator works and design the keyboard. ..."
Speech
processing integrated circuits Telesensory Systems Inc S14001A, General Instruments S14007. "The speech circuit for the 24 word vocabulary involves patent pending technology. The speaker is the only moving part and there are
two large scale integrated circuits. One is a custom, special purpose microprocessor TSI developed to replace 50 separate integrated circuit packages. The other is a TSI-programmed Read Only Memory (ROM) which has a copyrighted
output."
4.8v (4x AA rechargeable).
180 x 115 x 35 mm. (7.1" x 4.5" x 1.4").
1976.
Made in USA by Telesensory Systems Inc., Palo Alto, California.
Designed for use by the blind. The top photograph shows the instructions on cassette tape.
This was the first speaking calculator and a very early use of speech synthesis in a consumer product.
