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[WriteLog] Voice-keying of automated serial numbers

To: writelog@contesting.com
Subject: [WriteLog] Voice-keying of automated serial numbers
From: Eric Hilding <eric@hilding.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 14:56:58 -0800
List-post: <mailto:writelog@contesting.com>
I'm firmly convinced there are potential improved options for dealing with the matter of voice-keying for automating "Serial Numbers". For those of your interested in such matters, I'm sharing some additional thoughts I sent to a similarly interested party on one of the logger forums who I'm corresponding with directly...as well two other logger authors.

At 05:57 PM 12/20/03 +0000, The K6VVA wrote:
>I hear what you are saying, but have you heard some of the more
>recent improvements in some of these 'robots'?  I find the progress
>encouraging.

Yes, but it still lacks the internal redundancies and intonation links that
make human-voiced numbers more understandable.  Try "one-three-one" through
QRM compared to "one hundred thirty-one."

(K6VVA's Reply)


Yup...understand. But that's where some "innovation" and a special config/menu system could be very interesting methinks.

Computer software can be incredible...like assessing that a serial number of "131" (given that such an option would be put into the logger) would select TWO .wav files to send instead of one ("one hundred thirty-on") or three ("one" PLUS "three" PLUS "one"). So, the result *would* be: TWO files yielding the desired "one hundred thirty-one" ouput). A ditto approach for dealing with 1,131 would then use THREE files instead of ONE or FOUR.

If I were an adept programmer, I would do this myself. Along with, of course, the "smoother/tweak/massager" fine-tuning mechanism(s) :-)

Can you see how this *could* work???

(Below) - Additional K6VVA thoughts...


RE: "131" serial number example

Three options to approach with configuration panel...

A. Logger selects & chains
1. onehundred.wav (100 through 900 ... NINE .wav files)
2. thirtyone.wav  (1 through 99 ... 99 .wav files)

B. Logger selects & chains
1. onehundred.wav
2. thirty.wav  (10 through 90 ... NINE .wav files)
3. one.wav  (1 through 9 ... NINE .wav files)

C. Logger selects & chains "number.wav" plus:
1. one.wav
2. three.wav
3. one.wav

========
Regarding 1,131...umh, more reflection upon this yields some options...

A. Logger Selects & chains  "number.wav" plus:
1. onethousand.wav
2. onehundred.wav
3. thirtyone.wav

B. Logger Selects & Chains "number.wav" plus: (Probably the most desirable presentation???)
1. eleven.wav (realistically, 1 through 20 .wav files should do it, unless someone does 21,000+ QSO's per contest :-)
2. thirtyone.wav


C: Logger Selects & Chains "number.wav" plus:
1. one-thousand
2. one-hundred
3. thirty.wav
4. one.wav
(The LEAST desirable method methinks)
=======
I think you see the incredible possibilities of options to make this happen, and a "Master Configuration Menu" would NOT be that difficult to understand and use if it's done correctly. The design always has to be with assuming the end-user is a borderline idiot. At least that's my philosophy about software design. Including mini-Help lines right-along-with-the-option-to-chose (like many Forum Board configuration panels use) is, IMHO, a highly functional design.


It's just a matter of considering ALL the possible serial number presentation options currently used by most contestors and then doing it.

Yes, a major initial recording adventure, but once again...amortized over 20 years of contesting and the potential benefits to the Automaphytes, well, I believe it can work.

======= end ======

73,


Rick, K6VVA
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