Text-To-Speech Component

IBM ViaVoice includes Text-To-Speech (TTS) component called VirtualVoices.
VirtualVoices packaged as an ActiveX control.
Wrapped into Smalltalk with OleApplicationFramework.
Application variable created as single access point.
Existing Smalltalk classes such as Time, Date, Integer, Fraction extended with method speakString. speakString answers a string which can be 'spoken' by VirtualVoices. Examples:
- Date today speakString -- 'Tuesday, April 14th 1998'
- Time now speakString -- '11:05 p m'
- (1/7) speakString -- '1 seventh'
TTS usage had to be coordinated with Voice Recognition and RealAudio since only one can use the sound card at a time.
Audio volume level temporarily reset to a 'standard' volume.