Home Of The Incredible Biki Bird

Speech Trainer

You can download my speech training applet and use your web browser to teach your parrot to speak.

Requirements

  • Computer with speakers and sound card
  • Microphone (optional)
  • Digital Audio Editing software such as Goldwave (optional)
  • Sound files in .au format
  • Java 1.1 enabled web browser
    (If you are unsure of your browser level, see trouble shooting section below.)
  • A little knowledge about HTML
  • Ability to create and save text files
  • The Learn.class applet-- see below

What To Do

  1. Create a sub-directory where you will place the applet, sound files and HTML file that comprise your customized speech lesson.

  2. Download Learn.class into your new sub-directory. (See below.)

  3. Create the sound (.au) files that you want your bird to learn.

  4. Create and save (or cut and paste from this page) an HTML document similar to this one:

    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
    <TITLE> Speach Trainer </TITLE>
    </HEAD>
    <BODY>
    <applet code="Learn.class" width=200 height=100>
    <param name=Sound value="Hello.au">
    <param name=SoundDesc value="'Hello'">
    <param name=Reps value=5>
    <param name=Interval value=600000>
    <param name=StartTime value="11:00 AM">
    <param name=StopTime value="12:00 PM">
    <param name=Pause value=3000>
    <param name=SoundLength value=500>
    You need Java enabled to run this applet. Turn your speakers on!
    </applet>
    </BODY>
    </HTML>

  5. Load your HTML document on your web browser. The applet will repeat the sound the number of times indicated and at the interval indicated. See below for descriptions of the parameters.

Download Learn.class

Right click on the link above and choose save target as to download Learn.class.

Parameter Definitions

Parameter

Definition

Sound

File name of sound file.

SoundDesc

Description of the sound file.

Reps

Number of times to repeat the sound file in each interval.

Interval

How many milliseconds to wait before repeating the lesson.

StartTime

Time to start the lesson.

StopTime

Time to stop the lesson.

Pause

How long to wait between repititions of the phrase.

SoundLength

Approximate length of sound in milliseconds. Used to determine how long to display SoundDesc in highlighted mode.

Notes

  • You can place several applet tags on the same page so that different phrases play at different times of the day.

  • The Learn applet can keep your bird company while you are away.

  • Make sure you don't overwhelm your bird with long lessons. Birds need periods of quiet during the day to be happy.

Trouble Shooting

  • Double check your typing and make sure Learn.class is properly capitalized.

  • Depending on the time of year, the lessons start an hour earlier than expected. This seems to have something to do with daylight savings time. If this is happening to you, just adjust the times you are using in the applet tags. If you can figure out what to do to fix this, please write!

  • Check your Java version:

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