Correct.

January 30, 2007 3:34 AM

Now spell "angel"! A Texas Instruments "Speak n Spell" simulator.
posted by Jimbob (26 comments total)

See also: Virtual circuit-bent Speak n Spell.
posted by Smart Dalek at 4:10 AM on January 30, 2007 [3 favorites]

Abcess
posted by knave at 5:20 AM on January 30, 2007

E.T. phone home!
posted by zardoz at 5:20 AM on January 30, 2007

This is totally freaking me out. I had one of these as a kid, and I forgot what it sounded like -- but this thing is spot on. Too bad it's not complete (seems to only know a few a-words, and doesn't have the mode where you can just type a word and have it say it).

True story: Don't ask me why, but when I was six, I thought "fucket" was a word, because I heard adults saying it. So I typed it in, then walked up to my dad and proudly showed it to him and hit the "Enter" button. The device promptly said "Not found," and my dad yelled at me and sent me to my room.
posted by knave at 5:23 AM on January 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

I found my old Speak n Spell in my mom's attic a couple years ago and it still worked fine. Those were dam cool little devices.
posted by alizarin at 5:55 AM on January 30, 2007

kave — He was probably dissapointed you spelled it wrong.
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:59 AM on January 30, 2007

[knave. oh, the irony.]
posted by nebulawindphone at 5:59 AM on January 30, 2007

I can't get it to start, no matter how many times I unblock it in Firefox's pop up blocker.

Please, someone hope me relive this aspect of my childhood.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 6:20 AM on January 30, 2007

More like Speak With Satan. The voice on that thing still creeps me out.
posted by bra1n at 6:36 AM on January 30, 2007

Ancient angel above, answer anything: another abcess [sic] already?
posted by metaplectic at 6:52 AM on January 30, 2007

... abcess [sic] ...

*googles*

That's awesome, I didn't even know I was spelling it wrong. It told me, "correct."
posted by knave at 7:11 AM on January 30, 2007

It really, really likes to make me spell "abcess." We went over that one three times.
posted by koeselitz at 7:33 AM on January 30, 2007

The lack of a free-speak mode is criminal. And I assure you that I was hoping to spell all kinds of erudite and mature phrases. Yes sir.
posted by cortex at 7:53 AM on January 30, 2007

He was probably dissapointed you spelled it wrong.

SPELT it wrong. SPELT!
posted by three blind mice at 8:28 AM on January 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

I remember an American relative sent us one of these. I can still remember the frustration I had with it as a child.

S&S: "spell honor"

me: "h-o-n-o-u-r"

S&S: "that is incorrect, try again"

Repeat for colour, theatre, etc.
posted by spnx at 9:08 AM on January 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Previously on the green. Rhomboid decompiled the flash and provided some of the samples, which are now what I use for logon and logoff sounds.
posted by grouse at 9:16 AM on January 30, 2007

Mmmm, I love spelt bread.
posted by grouse at 9:16 AM on January 30, 2007

Oh man, I loved my Speak n Spell! I would always try to get it to say funny things by pressing certain letter combinations. I P N U is a good one. I don't think I thought of that when I was little, though.
posted by blendor at 9:28 AM on January 30, 2007

I loved my speak and spell. I still have mine but it smells like cat pee. I think maybe the cat peed on it.

Aha! Blendor! You stole my chosen moniker, all those years ago. I knew there would come a day when we would meet.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 9:47 AM on January 30, 2007

I'm an Angel-Saxon m'sel'.
posted by davy at 11:29 AM on January 30, 2007

I made the mistake of using this program and then trying to circuit bend my computer. Fortunately I had a spare.
posted by drezdn at 11:43 AM on January 30, 2007

This was a great trip down memory lane. I'm pretty sure the reason I got to be a good speller was the Speak N Spell. Anyone have the Math one? I loved to hear it say "Number Stumper" like a computer with a cold.

I think we had a reading one too, that came with a book. It started malfunctioning pretty early on and would make weird, unholy computer noises instead of letters.
posted by ontic at 11:46 AM on January 30, 2007

Thank you!!!!!!!! This is how I learned to speak AND spell English. Never thought I'd see those green letters or hear that comforting voice again. Wow.
posted by agent99 at 12:20 PM on January 30, 2007

Baby_Balrog - I'll fight you for it! (It's only the name of my web site, after all.)
posted by blendor at 3:27 PM on January 30, 2007

Oh boy! I loooooved my Speak & Spell. Always thought it pronounced "wolves" strangely, though. Ontic, I had the Speak & Math, too!!!
posted by skilletfish at 4:00 PM on January 30, 2007

I remember playing with one of these when I was a kid too.

"Spell... boobsher!" (It wanted "butcher.")

"Spell... carrotman!" (it wanted "caravan.")
posted by kindall at 5:03 PM on January 30, 2007