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TSI Speech+ & other speaking calculators |
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Telesensory Systems Inc. Speech+ Distinctive features: The first speaking electronic calculator. Technical details: 4-function, %, memory, square root. Calculator integrated circuit: Texas Instruments TMC1007NL (here date coded mid-1976), based on the TMS1000 4-bit micro-controller. "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 (here both date coded early 1977). "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. |
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This was the first speaking calculator and a very early use of speech synthesis in a consumer product. The TSI S14001A was developed by TeleSensory, Inc. in 1975 as a single-IC speech chip for the Speech+ portable talking calculator for the blind. The speech technology was licensed from Forrest S. Mozer, a professor of atomic physics (speech was a spare time thing for him) at University of California, Berkeley[1]. |
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Child's Teaching Speaking Calculator |
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Child's Teaching calculator Distinctive features: Speaking electronic calculator. Technical details:Display is 6 digits, red LED, and speaks. 4-functions and maths test mode. Integrated circuits - Texas Instruments TMS 1000NLL 4-bit micro-controller (here date coded to early 1978) and SN99857. The micro-controller here is another version of the device used in the Speech+ above. 185 x 150 x 29 mm / 7.25 x 5.9 x 1.1". Manufacturer unknown, made in Hong Kong. |
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Reference
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Vintage Calculators |
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© Text & photographs copyright Nigel Tout 2000-2012 except where noted otherwise. |
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