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# This Seussian speech synthesis machine was the ’80s alternative to Siri
- URL: https://www.killscreen.com/seussian-speech-synthesis-machine-was-80s-alternative-siri/
- Published: 2014-05-05T22:13:28.000Z
- Updated: 2015-11-17T16:35:46.000Z
- Description: Once upon a time in 1989, before app-whisperers like iPhone’s Siri and Windows’ Cortona fit conveniently in our jean pocket, people built rather large and strange-looking speech synthesis machines, like this one. The Talking Machine, a 230cm rack of pipes that looks like something out of Dr. Seuss,
- Author: Jason Johnson
- Tags: News, halo, iOS, voice input, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-26 09:39

Once upon a time in 1989, before app-whisperers like iPhone’s Siri and Windows’ Cortona fit conveniently in our jean pocket, people built rather large and strange-looking speech synthesis machines, like this one. The Talking Machine, a 230cm rack of pipes that looks like something out of Dr. Seuss, was built by Martin Riches, who controlled it via home computer and posited it as art. Here are a few technical details from Riches’ blog to help you process what you’re seeing and hearing: “The machine is arranged like an organ; a pipe for each speech sound. Each pipe consists of a noise-maker—a reed or whistle” and also has a filter piece that shapes the acoustic blast into speech. I would say it’s impressive how far we’ve come, but I’d much rather have this gizmo than my generic white phone.

Via [Prosthetic Knowledge](http://prostheticknowledge.tumblr.com/post/84624124376/the-talking-pipes-machine-1989-artwork-by-martin?ref=killscreen.com)