[3142] in comp.os.os2.announce archive
Voice Modem Issues
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Sacha Prins)
Tue Jul 8 04:07:24 1997
To: os2ann.DISCUSS@bloom-picayune.MIT.EDU
Date: 08 Jul 1997 01:01:00 -0400
From: sprins@businessnet.net (Sacha Prins)
Reply-To: sprins@businessnet.net
Reply-to: sprins@businessnet.net
[Followups directed to comp.os.os2.programmer.misc]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an official announcement made to: comp.os.os2.announce,
comp.os.os2.apps, comp.os.os2.comm and comp.os.os2.programmer.misc. This
posting is also mailed to several people that showed interest in the subject
of the posting.
VOICE MODEMS
------------
There are several brands of modems that support some sort of voice-API.
Unfortunately there are no real applications to my knowledge that take good
advantage of the features of these modems. I for one tried to make a program
that would work with modems based on Rockwell's modem chips with voice
extensions. This resulted in a small shareware program that worked only on
some Rockwell based modems. Since I had 2 modems (an Elsa QTV28.8, and a
Complete PC Communicator Gold) I could only test on these modems. I have found
it nearly impossible to get my program to work on all modems probably due to
subtle differences in these modems.
There was, and still is a demand for a good Voice Modem Application. A lot of
people nowadays have a voice modem, and DOS/windows applications tend to not
run under OS/2, probably due to the realtime nature of recording and playing
back voice data. Some programs (like mine and the faxworks from Warp 4) offer
some relief, but things could be much better.
JOINT EFFORT
------------
Hence my posting. I myself lack the resources (modems, time) to finish a good
application in this lifetime. However, a joint effort could result in a
useful program. Therefore I have set-up a mailing list, have reserved some
space on our corporate web-server, and am willing to invest time into a
project that may result in something beautiful. If you are interested in this
also, either to discuss, or participate or for another reason, subscribe to
the mailing list and visit the web-pages every now and then.
To subscribe to the mailing-list send a message to
"voicemodems-request@businessnet.net" with the following 2 lines in the body:
subscribe
end
If I have set up the mailing list correctly you will be subscribed from that
point on. Contributions to the mailing list should be sent to:
"voicemodems@businessnet.net". Any problems can be reported to me:
"sprins@businessnet.net". The www pages are going to be located at
http://www.businessnet.net/people/sacha/voicemodems
However, there is nothing there yet.
Keep in mind that the project will only succeed if enough people take part in
it. I for one will donate all my work so far (sources, information, etc.) to
the project.
MODEM CHIPSETS CONSIDERED
* Rockwell (http://www.nb.rockwell.com)
* USRobotics (http://ae.pcd.usr.com/techref/index.htm)
* UMC (Rockwell compat.)
* Cirrus (?)
POTENTIAL FEATURES OF AN APPLICATION
* Basic answering machine capabilities
* Voice-response system
* 'frontdoor' to a voice/fax/data system
* REXX API for easy scripting
* C(++) API for advanced programming
PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION AGENDA
0. Determine (discussion) agenda
1. Feasibility of the project.
2. A good name for the project.
3. How to get organized.
4. The compiler/language to be used for the project.
5. The functionality of the application.
6. Port a *nix/windows program, or write from scratch?
7. GNU license or not?
Sacha Prins
sprins@businessnet.net
http://www.businessnet.net/people/sacha/
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