The computer can read to me?

[TED]

I was just exploring around on my windows XP control panel (I just formatted the drive and started from scratch, I do that sometimes). There was this speech properties section where "Micorsoft Sam" would read to me whatever I typed into this box. That was amusing for a minute or two, the real question is how can I use this? Can the computer read out loud what I have typed in microsoft word for example or might it be able to read my e-mail to me?

What can I do with this as it sits on my computer now, as I am not interested enought to spend any moeny on it?

TED

[modgun]

At my old office, I used a 3rd party voice thing all the time. Dont remember the name but is was simple and free (this was like 3 years ago). It was great for just what you mention, reding aloud all my emails, proposals, docs, basically anything that came in I let it read to me while I nicely worked away at my desk.

[Washington,D.C.]

http://www.bytecool.com/voices.htm

[Washington,D.C.]

http://aldostools.mysite4now.com/sapi51xp.msi and http://www.msagentring.org/setup.htm and http://www.microsoft.com/products/msagent/default.asp and http://files.invitation.ru/

[Washington,D.C.]

marymksm.exe from the last Russian site has verious voices of Mary.

[Washington,D.C.]

Your XP needs to be setup for Microsoft Agent for Sam to work.You need SAPI 4.

[Nyper]

The .NET development environment allows you to reference this 'engine' and incorporate it into new programs you develop. Kinda nifty, but I personally haven't seen any use for it.

[Washington,D.C.]

All of the links I provided include the needed software and instructions.