Babble/Chant
Microprocessor, embedded firmware, speech synthesizer.
March 2013
(10"x10")


Babble/Chant is based on a small embedding microprocessor and a chip called the "SpeakJet" which is able to synthesize the 72 allophones that make up the English language. The microprocessor randomly assembles sequences of roughly 2-7 of these allophones to create (nonsense) "words", and then strings together a random number of these words to create sentences. Each time the button is pressed, a new, random sentence is generated and spoken when in "Babble" mode. In "Chant" mode sentences are created which are a little heavier on vowel sounds and these are repeated slowly, multiple times to create nonsense "chants".