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Keystrokes Pronouncer User Reviews (5 posts)Write A Review
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Nov 18 2009
****.

FHAMPEL  I found myself using KP so much that I did buy it without waiting for a sale. I use it frequently to copy text into tables, and it has saved me from many errors. The only feature lacking is the pronunciation of keys like -tab-, -caps lock-, and -return-. (I omit -shift-, because KP recognizes it as a modifier key for pronouncing symbols like "question mark.").

It's difficult to rate a unique niche app, but it is a solid 4.5 to me.  
(Version 4.0)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
Oct 19 2009

FHAMPEL  I've searched far and wide for a similar app. Short of an expensive program intended for sight-impaired people, I haven't found anything like it on the Mac. (The program from the 2004 comment is long gone). I probably won't purchase this unless it turns up in a Bundle or Promo someplace. It's over-priced for those like me who would use it only infrequently. I don't know how it works in Snow Leopard, but it's fine in 10.5.8

Why would you want to use it? It's perfect for entering bank account or other long numbers when cut and paste is not available. It's also OK for light data entry--it is a substitute for 100% read back or double-entry verification. And, for sight-impaired people, it can aid touch typing, without having to look at the screen as much. However, it can be tiring to use for along time. One looks at the source material and listens to it at the same time--result: sensory overload.

If you type too fast, you hear gibberish, so slow down or set the Speaking Rate to "Fast" in the "Text to Speech" pane of the Speech Preferences Pane. Some voices work better than others, so experiment.

What's annoying is having to turn the app on and off when you want to pause it temporarily. But it was easy to write a script to this and assign it a hot key (with FastScripts or iKey). Here's a script below to do it. Be sure to zap gremlins in a text editor before using.

(*

Toggle Keystrokes Pronouncer

*)

tell application "System Events"

if exists application process "Keystrokes Pronouncer" then

tell application "Keystrokes Pronouncer" to quit

else

tell application "Keystrokes Pronouncer" to activate

end if

end tell

  
(Version 3.2)

praisebury
0
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Oct 19 2009

FHAMPEL  I should have included the most obvious use--for people who have to do a lot of touch typing into the computer from another source.  
(Version 3.2)

praisebury
0

Jul 7 2004

PATRICKDANIELLE  All it will read is basic alphabet, numbers and punctuation marks requiring no modifier key. It CANNOT take any modifier key into account. For example, if you press the / key, you hear "Slash'.. Now press Shift+/ and you still hear "Slash" instead of "Question Mark".. You will never hear the name of characters as !,   
(Version 1.4)

praisebury
+1
[ 1 Reply - Reply ]
Replies:
Nov 7 2004

ANONYMOUS  These problems are solved in version 1.5.  
(Version 1.5)

praisebury
0

Jul 7 2004

SUCKERSBEWARE  A nice guy wrote a similar program which will do the same for free with ONE line of RealBasic. Download it at http://www.project-ecap.de/ochi/KeyThing.sit  
(Version 1.4)

praisebury
+1
[ Reply ]
Jan 6 2004

ANONYMOUS  cool  
(Version 1.0)

praisebury
0
[ Reply ]
 

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