Getting Started

 

View the Quick Start Guide to Your First Few Minutes with PAL

 

What's Needed?

 

Personal Audio Link™ (PAL™) technology requires the following system components:
Local Access Options
Installation

 

Installation Configuration

Please refer to Operational Details to review the table of system checks performed by PAL.

 

Introducing PAL™

 

Talking to PAL

 

PAL software listens to what you say and then responds accordingly. To do this, PAL technology utilizes a combination of speech recognition, artificial intelligence, and text-to-speech programs.

 

Several factors enhance results with PAL: Names

 

You can personalize PAL by giving it a name other than "PAL."  You will use this name to interrupt PAL and to wake up PAL using a PC-based microphone (please refer to Security: Wake / Sleep for details). You can also set the name that PAL will use for you.

 

PAL's Name - to change PAL's name:
  1. Go to the Options / General Settings tab
  2. Change Name you will use for PAL to the name you desire (for best results, avoid names that sound like other PAL commands)
PAL will use this name for you - to change the name that PAL will use for you:
  1. Go to the Options / General Settings tab
  2. Change PAL will use this name for you to your desired setting
PAL's Voice

 

You can choose PAL's voice from among the voices available in the Windows Speech control panel, on the Text To Speech tab.

 

To change PAL's voice:
  1. Go to the Options / General Settings tab
  2. Choose your desired voice in Available Voices
  3. To hear a sample of the voice, click the Preview button
Voice Speed

 

The speed of PAL's voice is controlled by two settings: Basic Responses - on basic responses, PAL speaks at the default speed ( the Voice speed on the Text To Speech tab in the Windows Speech control panel ).

 

Longer Responses - on longer responses, such as when PAL reads email, web sites, and rss feeds, PAL speaks at the default speed plus or minus the incremental Recitation Speed on the Options / General Settings tab (e.g., if the default speed is set at Faster +1 and the Recitation Speed is set at Faster +2, then PAL will read e-mail at Faster +3).

 

To change PAL's default speed ( used for basic responses ):
  1. Go to the Windows Speech control panel, Text To Speech tab
  2. For Voice speed, set the slider to the desired speed
  3. Click OK
To change the incremental speed ( which when added to the default speed yields that speed at which PAL reads longer responses ):
  1. Go to the Options / General Settings tab
  2. Select the desired speed in Recitation Speed
Watch Screen

 

As you speak to PAL, the Watch Screen tab shows the words and phrases that PAL is considering as it attempts to understand what you are saying. When complete, it shows which phrase, among those that it is programmed to hear, that it determined you most likely said.

 

The numbers in brackets indicate the "score" ascribed to the recognition attempts on a scale of 0 to 100.  Values over 50 almost always result in successful recognition, although it is not uncommon to see recognition values as low as 20 or 30.  Values much below this suggest audio problems or speech recognition problems.  Note that some incorrect speech recognition hypothesis values always will be quite low.

 

Sometimes when you say a correct PAL command, the exact words you said are displayed on the watch screen, but PAL attributes a recognition score that is below the threshold.  In this case, PAL will ask you to try again, even though the Watch Screen is correctly displaying what you said.

 

The Microphone Volume Meter at bottom of the Watch Screen tab reflects the magnitude of the audio signal reaching PAL.  This indicator normally should fluctuate up to roughly 1/4 to 1/2 scale. If there is little or no movement in the scale when you speak to PAL using a PC-based microphone, then the gain needs to be increased in your microphone.  Likewise, if the indicator is peaking well beyond 1/2 scale, then the audio input gain needs to be turned down.

 

To adjust the audio gain for your PC-based microphone and local speech profile, go to the Options / General Settings tab, click the Auto-Tune button, and follow the brief Microphone Wizard process.

 

To show PAL's responses on the Watch Screen, check the Show PAL Responses box.

 

To clear the Watch Screen, click the Clear button.

 

To have PAL automatically clear the Watch Screen at the start of each attempt to recognize a new command, check the Auto-Clear box ( the default ).  To create a continuous stream of text showing the recognition attempt for each command, un-check the Auto-Clear box.

 

To save the text on the Watch Screen at any time, click the Save button. By default, a new .rtf file is saved to the C:\Program Files\Adondo PAL\Watch folder.

 

To save the text on the Watch Screen every time you shutdown PAL and when the watch screen reaches 2,000 lines, check the Auto-Save box. By default, a new .rtf file is saved to the C:\Program Files\Adondo PAL\Watch folder.

 

Speech Profiles

 

Overview

 

Speech profiles enhance recognition of PAL commands . Profiles that you create are unique to your voice. For best results, create separate remote and local speech profiles (i.e., a remote profile for use from any telephone and a local profile for use from a microphone connected to your PC).

 

Creating New Speech Profiles

 

To create a new remote profile:
  1. Go to the Options / Speech Profiles tab
  2. Click Create and train a new remote profile
  3. Enter a name for the profile (e.g., "John Remote").  Don't use a name that already appears in the Available Speech Recognition Profiles window
  4. Click Accept
  5. Follow the Speech Training Wizard instructions to train your new profile. After you click Finish, confirm that you are at the Options / Speech Profiles tab
  6. Select the new profile in Selected Remote Profile
To create a new local profile:
  1. Go to the Options / Speech Profiles tab
  2. Click Create and train a new local profile
  3. Enter a name for the profile (e.g., "John Local").  Don't use a name that already appears in the Available Speech Recognition Profiles window
  4. Click Accept
  5. Follow the Speech Training Wizard instructions to train your new profile. After you click Finish, confirm that you are at the Options / Speech Profiles tab
  6. Select the new profile in Selected Local Profile
Training Existing Speech Profiles

 

You can retrain or perform additional training on existing speech profiles to improve the speech recognition with PAL.

 

To train an existing remote profile:
  1. Go to the Options / Speech Profiles tab
  2. Make sure the profile you want to train is selected in Selected Remote Profile
  3. Click Train the remote profile selected above
  4. Follow the Speech Training Wizard instructions to train your existing remote profile
To train an existing local profile:
  1. Go to the Options / Speech Profiles tab
  2. Make sure the profile you want to train is selected in Selected Local Profile
  3. Click Train the local profile selected above
  4. Follow the Speech Training Wizard instructions to train your existing local profile
Speech Profile Settings and Maintenance

 

Speech profiles reside in the Windows Speech control panel. 

 

To delete a profile or change a profile's settings:

  1. Go to the Windows Speech control panel (accessible via Start / Control Panel / Speech)
  2. Select the profile you wish to delete / change in the Recognition Profiles box located on the Speech Recognition tab
  3. Click the appropriate button to perform the desired actions (e.g., "Delete..." to delete the profile, "Settings..." to change or confirm settings for the profile, "Train Profile..." to perform speech training for the profile
  4. Follow the instructions as necessary

Note: You can also delete a profile by going to the Options / Speech Profiles tab, selecting the profile in either the Selected Local Profile or the Selected Remote Profile box, and then clicking the delete icon ( ) for that box.

 

The default speech profile (labeled "default" or possibly, your name) is a basic profile that comes with Speech. Until you create and train new speech profiles for use with PAL, the default profile will be selected in the Speech Profiles tab as the Selected Remote Profile and the Selected Local Profile.

 

To confirm the appropriate Settings for PAL speech profiles (profiles created through the PAL installation wizard and from the Options / Speech Profiles tab will be set up with the appropriate settings - no changes should be necessary):
  1. Go to the Windows Speech control panel (accessible via Start / Control Panel / Speech)
  2. Select the profile in the Recognition Profiles box located on the Speech Recognition tab
  3. Click Settings
  4. Set the Accuracy vs. Recognition Response Time slider to the far right (High/Slow)
  5. Uncheck the Background Adaptation box
  6. Click OK
Commands (please refer to Nomenclature for the nomenclature on written commands)

 

The Speech Profiles commands are:
This last command will select <speech recognition profile name> as the Selected Local Profile (if you are using PAL locally) or the Selected Remote Profile (if you are using PAL remotely) in the PAL Options / Speech Profiles tab. This ability to select profiles using voice could be helpful if you have more than one remote profile or more than one local profile, because, for example, you speak to PAL remotely using two different phones and find that individual speech profiles for each phone improves the speech recognition you experience.
Security: Wake / Sleep

 

You can give PAL a new name and set security phrases so only you can access PAL.

 

Local wake-up security (e.g., microphone and speakers) - PAL launches in sleep mode and goes to sleep after a period of inactivity. To wake PAL locally, say: Remote call-in security - If you set call-in security, PAL asks, "Who is calling please?" after answering your call. To access PAL, say: If PAL does not understand your call-in security phrase, it will say "I was told never to speak to strangers".  Try to say the call-in security phrase again. 

 

PAL wakes up automatically when it answers your call and stays awake for as long as you have a remote connection.

 

PAL's Name - to change PAL's name:
  1. Go to the Options / General Settings tab
  2. Change Name you will use for PAL to the name you desire (for best results, avoid names that sound like other PAL commands)
Security Phrases - to set or change security phrases:

 

Wake-up security phrase

  1. Go to the Options / Security tab
  2. Check Use Local Wake-Up Security
  3. Enter your desired phrase

Call-in security phrase

  1. Go to the Options / Security tab
  2. Check Use Remote Call-In Security
  3. Enter your desired phrase
Sleep mode timer - to change the inactivity time for PAL to switch to sleep mode:
  1. Go to the Options / Security tab
  2. Change Time to "Sleep" Mode (secs) to your desired setting
Sleep - to put PAL to sleep manually, say: Applications

 

To hear the list of applications that PAL has available, say (please refer to Nomenclature for the nomenclature on written commands): Interrupting PAL

 

While PAL is speaking, you can make PAL pause by saying: Once PAL has paused you can make another request, or you can have PAL continue from the point at which it paused by saying: To make PAL skip back or skip forward in its response, and then continue ( this can be done while PAL is interrupted or while PAL is speaking ), say: Repeat

 

To have PAL repeat its last response, say: Mute / Shutdown

 

Background noise or conversation not intended for PAL can cause PAL to continuously say, "Please try again" and/or "I’m sorry?" through your local speakers. This is because PAL is listening, awake, and hearing words that are not PAL commands: Mute / Un-Mute - to stop PAL from listening through your local microphone without closing the PAL application: Shutdown - to exit the application entirely: Local Audio Devices

 

Local audio devices are the PC-based microphone and speakers that you can use to talk to and listen to PAL when you are at your PC (please refer to Local Access Options for a list of some access options). The devices must be plugged in and installed. After installing a new device, you should close and re-launch PAL.

 

To choose the local microphone and speakers you will use to talk to PAL:
  1. Go to the Options / General Settings tab
  2. Choose your desired PC-based microphone in Local Audio Input
  3. Choose your desired PC-based speakers in Local Audio Output
You do not need to choose local audio devices if you do not intend to talk to PAL locally. These settings have no bearing on calling PAL from a telephone.

 

Audio Help from PAL

 

While talking to PAL, you can get help on common PAL commands. To hear help messages, say (please refer to Nomenclature for the nomenclature on written commands):
PAL Phone

 

Phone Setup

 

To call PAL from any phone, the PAL Telephone must be set up with PALConnect service (Voice-over-IP service that is compatible with PAL).

 

To set up the PAL Telephone, enter your PAL serial number into the Registration screen when you first launch PAL.  The serial number unlocks the PAL capabilities for the Edition that you purchased and it sets up the PAL Telephone with the phone number you will use to call PAL (your PC).

 

To change your serial number, right click on the PAL icon in the system tray, click Change Serial Number, then Register, and enter the PAL serial number for the PAL edition and PALConnect service you would like to set up.

 

To clear and reset the phone setup, click the Refresh PALConnect button ( ) on the PAL Telephone tab.

 

Phone Status

 

To view the status of the PAL Telephone, go to the PAL Telephone tab. 

 

If your PAL Telephone is properly set up and ready to be called, the status line at the top of the PAL Telephone tab will read "Ready to Connect", and the phone number you call to talk to PAL (your PC) will appear in blue at the bottom of the screen.

 

Making Calls

 

You can use the PAL Telephone to make a phone call.  You speak and listen through the devices selected as Local Audio Input and Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab.

 

To place a call, go to the PAL Telephone tab, click the phone numbers on the keypad for the number you want to call (dial 1 + area  code + 7-digit number), and click Dial. Or, if you want to call an Outlook contact, select the contact and the phone number in the boxes to the right of the phone pad (the number will appear in the PAL Telephone number display), and click Dial. Click Clear to end the call.

 

When you bridge a call to an Outlook contact (please refer to Phone Bridging for details) the call to the contact is made with the PAL Telephone. After using PAL to place a call in local mode (i.e., with a microphone and speakers) you can hang up at any point after the phone call is initiated (such as after leaving a message on an answering machine) by clicking Clear on the PAL Telephone tab.

 

Commands and Responses

 

Commands are phrases that PAL is programmed to recognize.  A response is a phrase that PAL is programmed to say in response to a command. Please refer to the PAL Commands tab for a quick reference to PAL commands.

 

Nomenclature

 

In speaking commands, you sometimes have the option of using different words or phrases and of either speaking or not speaking particular words or phrases. The following nomenclature is used in depicting commands in written form in other sections of this document:

 

[ ... = ... ] Equals signs inside brackets designate alternative words or phrases that are equivalent (i.e., cause the same response from PAL). You must say one of these words / phrases in your command.
[ ... / ... ] Slashes inside brackets designate alternative words or phrases that are NOT equivalent (i.e.,  cause different responses from PAL). You must say one of these words / phrases in your command.
( words ) Parentheses designate optional words and phrases that may be said, but need not be said.
< ID > Angled brackets designate an identifier for a person, place, or item. You must say the identifier in your command.

 

For example, for the command that is written...

…PAL would recognize any of the following: All PAL commands are listed in the All PAL Commands section.

 

Note: In creating PAL Sheets, [ ... = ... ] is a tool you can use to create flexible commands. The [ ... / ... ], ( words ), and < ID > identifiers (other than for < record > and < element >, which have specific uses in PAL Sheets) are not programming tools (please refer to PAL Sheets for details).

 

Editing Commands

 

You can define certain PAL commands like PAL's Name and Security Phrases.

 

In addition, you can create personalized new PAL commands using three techniques:

In other uses of PAL, the commands and responses are programmed and cannot be changed.

 

PAL Web

 

PAL reads information from the internet, such as traffic, news, weather, and stock quotes. It also plays audio files, including podcasts, songs or playlists, and radio stations. You can have PAL read the content from web pages, RSS feeds, and documents. You can also easily add and configure additional audio files, web pages, RSS feeds, and documents for PAL to read, as you desire.

 

Podcasts

 

You can add podcasts for PAL to play at your command. The "friendly names" of the podcasts currently available for PAL to play ( including any podcasts that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the Play... ( podcast ) selection box.

 

To hear the list of podcasts currently available for PAL to play, say: To play a podcast, say:
For example, say, "Play NPR Health and Science" or "Play NPR Books."
To stop playing a podcast, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to play a podcast over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the Play... ( podcast ) selection box, choose your desired podcast
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected podcast
  4. To make PAL stop playing the podcast, click the stop button ( )
To add a podcast for PAL to play:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Podcasts
  3. Each podcast currently available for PAL to play appears as a row in the data grid. To add a podcast by entering the URL for the subscription site (if you'd prefer to navigate to the subscription site, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the podcast (the name you will say to play it)
    2. In the Podcast Subscription Site ( url ) column, enter the URL for your desired podcast
    3. Click Apply to add the podcast (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add a podcast by navigating to the subscription site:
    1. Click Add Podcast...
    2. In the Adondo - PAL Web Presets browser that opens, navigate to and select the subscription site for the podcast that you want to add
    3. If you like, modify the Friendly Name for the podcast
    4. Click Select
    5. Make sure that the new podcast appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove a podcast from the list of those currently available for PAL to play:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Podcasts
  3. Select the row for the podcast that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that podcast in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Songs and Playlists

 

You can add songs and playlists for PAL to play at your command. The "friendly names" of the songs and playlists currently available for PAL to play ( including any songs and playlists that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the Play... ( song or playlist ) selection box.

 

To hear the list of songs and playlists currently available for PAL to play, say: To play a song or playlist, say:
For example, say, "Play Hey Jude" or "Play Satisfaction."
To stop playing a song or playlist, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to play a song or playlist over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the Play... ( song or playlist ) selection box, choose your desired song or playlist
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected song or playlist
  4. To make PAL stop playing the song or playlist, click the stop button ( )
To add a song or playlist for PAL to play:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Playlists
  3. Each song and playlist currently available for PAL to play appears as a row in the data grid. To add a song or playlist by entering the location (path) of the media file (if you'd prefer to navigate to the media file, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the song or playlist (the name you will say to play it)
    2. In the Song or Playlist Location ( path ) column, enter the path for your desired song or playlist
    3. Click Apply to add the song or playlist (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add a song or playlist by navigating to the media file:
    1. Click Add Song or Podcast...
    2. In the window that appears, navigate to and select the song or playlist that you want to add
    3. Click Open
    4. Make sure that the new song or playlist appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove a song or playlist from the list of those currently available for PAL to play:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Playlists
  3. Select the row for the song or playlist that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that song or playlist in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Radio Stations

 

You can add radio stations for PAL to play at your command. The "friendly names" of the radio stations currently available for PAL to play ( including any stations that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the Play... ( radio station ) selection box.

 

To hear the list of radio stations currently available for PAL to play, say: To play a radio station, say:
For example, say, "Play KYW" or "Play WMMR."
To stop playing a radio station, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to play a radio station over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the Play... ( radio station ) selection box, choose your desired radio station
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected radio station 
  4. To make PAL stop playing the station, click the stop button ( )
To add a radio station for PAL to play:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Radio Stations
  3. Each radio station currently available for PAL to play appears as a row in the data grid. To add a radio station by entering the URL for the station feed (if you'd prefer to select a radio station from a pre-defined list, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the radio station (the name you will say to play it)
    2. In the Radio Station Web Address ( url ) column, enter the URL for your desired radio station
    3. Click Apply to add the radio station (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add a radio station from a pre-defined list:
    1. Click Add Radio Station...
    2. In the window that appears, check the ? box for the radio station(s) that you want to add
    3. Click Save
    4. Make sure that the new radio station appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove a radio station from the list of those currently available for PAL to play:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Radio Stations
  3. Select the row for the radio station that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that song or playlist in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
RSS Feeds

 

You can add RSS feeds for PAL to read at your command. The "friendly names" of the RSS feeds currently available for PAL to read ( including any feeds that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the Read... ( rss feed ) selection box.

 

To hear the list of RSS feeds currently available for PAL to play, say: To play an RSS feed, say:
For example, say, "Read CNN News" or "Read Wired News."
To stop reading an RSS feed, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to read an RSS feed over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the Read... ( rss feed ) selection box, choose your desired RSS feed
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected RSS feed
  4. To make PAL stop reading the feed, click the stop button ( )
To add an RSS feed for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose RSS Feeds
  3. Each RSS feed currently available for PAL to read appears as a row in the data grid. To add an RSS feed by entering the URL for the feed (if you'd prefer to navigate to the feed, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the RSS feed (the name you will say to play it)
    2. In the RSS Feed Web Address ( url ) column, enter the URL for your desired RSS feed
    3. Click Apply to add the RSS feed (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add the RSS feed by navigating to the feed:
    1. Click Add RSS Feed...
    2. In the Adondo - PAL Web Presets browser that opens, navigate to and select the RSS feed site for the feed that you want to add
    3. If you like, modify the Friendly Name for the RSS feed
    4. Click Select
    5. Make sure that the new RSS feed appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove an RSS feed from the list of those currently available for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose RSS Feeds
  3. Select the row for the RSS feed that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that feed in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Web Pages

 

You can add web pages for PAL to read at your command. The "friendly names" of the web pages currently available for PAL to read ( including any pages that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the Read... ( web site ) selection box.

 

To hear the list of web pages currently available for PAL to play, say: To read a web page, say:
For example, say, "Read The Wall Street Journal" or "Read The New York Times."
To stop reading a web page, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to read a web page over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the Read... ( web site ) selection box, choose your desired web page
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected web page
  4. To make PAL stop reading the page, click the stop button ( )
To add a web page for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Web Pages
  3. Each web page currently available for PAL to read appears as a row in the data grid. To add a web page by entering the URL for the page (if you'd prefer to navigate to the web page and use the wizard to set up the content to read, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the web page (the name you will say to play it)
    2. In the Column Ranges column, enter the column ranges for PAL to read
    3. In the Web Page Address ( url ) column, enter the URL for your desired web page
    4. In the X,Y Pos'n column, enter the X, Y coordinates of the point that you would like to have in the upper left corner of the PAL Browser window, on the PAL Web tab, when the web page opens.  Leave this column blank for 0,0 (the upper left point of the web page will appear in the upper left corner of the PAL Browser window on the PAL Web tab
    5. Click Apply to add the web page (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add the web page by navigating to the page:
    1. Click Add Web Page...
    2. In the Adondo - PAL Web Presets browser that opens, navigate to the web page that you want to add
    3. If you like, modify the Friendly Name for the web page
    4. Click Select
    5. In the PAL Web-Site Reader Configuration Tool, click Automatic to have PAL identify what to read in the web page each time you ask it to read the page, or click Manual, to identify the columns and rows that PAL will read
    6. Click Save
    7. Make sure that the new web page appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove a web page from the list of those currently available for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Web Pages
  3. Select the row for the web page that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that web page in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Documents

 

You can add documents for PAL to read at your command. The "friendly names" of the documents currently available for PAL to read ( including any documents that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the Read... ( document ) selection box.

 

To hear the list of documents currently available for PAL to read, say: To read a document, say:
For example, say, "Read Using PAL Web."
To stop reading a document, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to read a document over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the Read... ( document ) selection box, choose your desired document
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected document
  4. To make PAL stop reading the document, click the stop button ( )
To add a document for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Documents
  3. Each document currently available for PAL to read appears as a row in the data grid. To add a document by entering the location (path) of the document (if you'd prefer to navigate to the document, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the document (the name you will say to play it)
    2. In the Document or Spreadsheet Location ( path ) column, enter the path for your desired document
    3. Click Apply to add the document (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add a document by navigating to it:
    1. Click Add Document...
    2. In the window that appears, navigate to and select the document that you want to add
    3. Click Open
    4. Make sure that the new document appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove a document from the list of those currently available for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Documents
  3. Select the row for the document that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that document in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Traffic

 

PAL provides traffic reports for roads in major cities.

 

To hear the list of traffic routes currently available for PAL to report, say: To hear a traffic report, say:
For example, say, "What's the traffic on I-95 north?"
To stop a traffic report, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to hear a traffic report over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the What's the traffic on... ? selection box, choose your desired road
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected traffic route
  4. To make PAL stop reading the traffic report, click the stop button ( )
To add a traffic route for PAL to report on:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Traffic Roads
  3. Click Add Traffic Road...
  4. In the window that appears, check the ? box for the traffic road(s) that you want to add
  5. Click Save
  6. Make sure that the traffic road appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab (note: each friendly name for a road will occupy a unique row in the date grid)
To remove a traffic road from the list of those available for PAL to read:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Traffic Roads
  3. Select the row for the traffic road that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that road in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Weather

 

PAL provides a weather forecast for any US zip code.

 

To hear weather forecasts, the commands are (please refer to Nomenclature for the nomenclature on written commands):

To hear the list of weather cities currently available for PAL to report, say:

To add a weather city for PAL to report on:

  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Weather Sites
  3. Each city currently available for PAL to report on appears as a row in the data grid. To add a city by entering the URL for the zip code (if you'd prefer to select a city from a pre-defined list, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the city (the name you will say to hear the weather)
    2. In the Zip Code column, enter the zip code for the location
    3. In the Weather Site Web Address ( url ) column, enter the URL for your desired location. You can identify the URL for a zip code by going to http://weather.msn.com/, entering your desired zip code and clicking Go.  The URL for the zip code will appear in the browser address field. Enter this URL in the Weather Site Web Address ( url ) column
    4. In the X,Y Pos'n column, enter the X, Y coordinates of the point that you would like to have in the upper left corner of the PAL Browser window, on the PAL Web tab, when the weather page opens.  Leave this column blank for 0,0 (the upper left point of the web page will appear in the upper left corner of the PAL Browser window on the PAL Web tab
    5. Click Apply to add the web page (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To add a weather city from a pre-defined list:
    1. Click Add Weather Site...
    2. In the window that appears, check the ? box for the weather site(s) that you want to add
    3. Click Save
    4. Make sure that the new weather site appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab
To remove a city from the list of those that PAL will report:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Weather Sites
  3. Select the row for the weather site that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that city in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Stock Quotes

 

PAL retrieves 20 minute-delayed quotes on stocks that you set up for PAL to report on. The "friendly names" of the stocks currently available for PAL to read ( including any stocks that you add ) appear on the PAL Web tab in the What's ( stock ) trading at? selection box. PAL will also report on other types of securities (bonds, mutual funds, etc.) as long as the ticker symbol is one tracked by MSN Money.

 

To hear the list of stocks currently available for PAL to report on, say: To hear the report on a stock, say:
For example, say, "What's Microsoft trading at?" or "What's the Dow trading at?"
To stop a stock report, say an interrupt command (please refer to Interrupting PAL for a list of interrupt commands), such as: Alternatively, to hear a stock report over your speakers (the speaker device you have set in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab):
  1. Go to PAL Web
  2. In the What's ( stock ) trading at? selection box, choose your desired stock
  3. Click the play button ( ) next to your selected stock
  4. To make PAL stop the report, click the stop button ( )
To add a stock for PAL to report on:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Stock Quotes
  3. Each stock currently available for PAL to report on appears as a row in the data grid. To add a stock by entering the URL, including the ticker symbol for the stock (if you'd prefer to enter a list of ticker symbols in a wizard, go to step 4):
    1. Click to place your cursor in the Friendly Name column on the first blank row (the one with the asterisk to the left) and enter your desired Friendly Name for the stock (the name you will say to hear the report)
    2. In the Symbol column, enter the ticker symbol for the stock
    3. In the Stock Quote Web Address ( url ) column, enter the URL for the stock. The web address is "http://moneycentral.msn.com/detail/stock_quote?Symbol=" followed by the ticker symbol
    4. In the X,Y Pos'n column, enter the X, Y coordinates of the point that you would like to have in the upper left corner of the PAL Browser window, on the PAL Web tab, when the web page opens.  Leave this column blank for 0,0 (the upper left point of the web page will appear in the upper left corner of the PAL Browser window on the PAL Web tab
    5. Click Apply to add the web page (or Cancel to clear the new entry)
  4. To use a wizard to enter a single stock or a list of stocks:
    1. Click Add Stock Quote...
    2. In the Adondo - PAL Web Presets browser that opens, enter the ticker symbol(s) for the securities you would like to add
    3. Click Save
    4. Make sure that the new web stock appears in the data grid in the Options / Web Presets tab.  Note that the default friendly name is the official name for the security.  If appropriate, change it to a friendly name that you will remember and can easily say, so that PAL will recognize it
To delete a stock from the list of those that PAL will report on:
  1. Go to the Options / Web Presets tab
  2. In the View / Edit this Preset Group selection box, choose Stock Quotes
  3. Select the row for the stock that you want to delete by clicking in the left-most column for that stock in the data grid
  4. Click Delete Row
  5. Click Apply (or Cancel to undo the deletion)
Accessibility

 

Enabling Automatic Query Refresh

 

If you create a PAL Sheet that uses web queries to retrieve data, the Microsoft® Excel 2003 warning about Automatic Query Refresh will appear on your screen (possibly hidden behind the PAL interface) each time you load the sheet. You must click Enable automatic refresh to acknowledge the warning and access the sheet. Alternatively, you can permanently acknowledge the warning so you can access these sheets without being at your computer. To do so, you make a single new registry entry to your computer (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options "QuerySecurity" = dword: 00000002). To make this entry using an automated script, click on the underlined words below (then when prompted, click Run, then Yes, then OK; and finally permit the script if necessary):

 

Click these words to permanently acknowledge Excel's Automatic Query Refresh warning

 

If Excel is running when you permanently acknowledge the warning, you must exit and then re-launch Excel for it to take effect. If PAL is also running, you should re-boot your PC, as PAL may keep Excel running in the background.

 

If you permanently acknowledge the warning, it will be acknowledged for all query refreshes on your PC. You can undo the permanent acknowledgement by removing the registry entry.  To remove the registry entry:
  1. Click the PC Start button, then click Run
  2. In Open:, type: regedit
  3. Click OK
  4. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Excel\Options
  5. Click on QuerySecurity to highlight it, press the Delete key, then click Yes
Warning: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Adondo cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. For more information about modifying the registry, refer to the following article: 256986

Email Read Receipt

 

Emails that you receive that generate a request for a read receipt can cause PAL to stop responding until you acknowledge the request. To stop requests for read receipts, set Outlook to Never send a response:
  1. In Outlook, go to Tools / Options
  2. Click E-mail Options...
  3. Click Tracking Options...
  4. In the section on how to respond to requests for read receipts, choose Never send a response
PAL Outlook

 

PAL can tell you your appointments, access your contacts, read your email, and take dictation.

 

Contacts

 

Overview

 

PAL reads information from your Outlook Contacts database.

 

After adding a new Contact or changing Contact data, you must close and then re-launch PAL to enable access to that new information.

 

PAL will recite information for Contacts located in the Outlook Contacts folder, but not for Contacts located in sub-folders within the Contacts folder.

 

PAL only accesses the active Outlook profile. Only one profile can be active at a time. Profiles are managed in the Mail folder in the computer’s Control Panel.

 

Commands (please refer to Nomenclature for the nomenclature on written commands)

 

The Contacts command is:
where < Contact Friendly Name > is a PAL designation defined (based on Outlook Contacts fields) as follows:
  • < Nickname + Last Name >  ( if you've entered a nickname for the Contact )
  • < First Name + Last Name >  ( if you haven't entered a nickname, but have entered a first name for the Contact )
  • < Title + Last Name >  ( if you haven't entered a nickname or first name, but have entered a title for the Contact )
  • < Company + Last Name >  ( if you haven't entered a nickname, first name, or title, but have entered a company for the Contact )
  • < Last Name >  ( if you haven't entered a nickname, first name, title, or company for the Contact )
For example, say "What’s the home address for Joe Smith?"

 

If you create a new Contact by going to Contacts, clicking New, and then entering the name in the field to the right of the Full Name… button, Outlook automatically attempts to parse the name into its components: Title, First, Middle, Last, and Suffix.  If the Outlook name-parsing process is overridden, or it executes improperly, then some name components may be assigned the wrong fields. This can result in jumbled and/or unusable Friendly Names.

 

You can see the results of the parsing by clicking the Full Name… button. You can also enter the name directly into the component fields after clicking Full Name....
If you click on a field or name in the Options / Contacts tab, PAL will read the information for that name and field over the device selected in Local Audio Output on the Options / General Settings tab.

 

Fields

 

PAL can read any of a variety of fields associated with a Contact. You can see the available fields in the PAL Options / Contacts tab.

 

Available Fields

 

Calendar

 

Overview

 

PAL reads the appointments listed in your Outlook Calendar for the day, week, or weekend that you request. It will also tell you the date and the day of the week of a particular day and/or date that you specify.

 

PAL only accesses the active Outlook profile. Only one profile can be active at a time. Profiles are managed in the Mail folder in the computer’s Control Panel.

 

Commands (please refer to Nomenclature for the nomenclature on written commands)

 

The Calendar commands are:
where <specified date> includes…

 

day:     [ today / tomorrow / the day after tomorrow / yesterday / the day before yesterday ]

 

          ( next / last / this ) [ Monday / Tuesday / … / Sunday ]

 

          ( next / last / this ) [ June 1st, ( 2004 ) / etc. ]

 

relative date:   [ a = one / two / three / four ] [ day(s) / week(s) / month(s) / year(s) ] from < day >

 

week / weekend:   ( the ) [ week / weekend ] ( of ) [ June 1st, ( 2004 ) / etc. ]
Email

 

Overview

 

PAL reads unread email from Outlook. It does not read email that is marked as read. PAL marks an email as read when it finishes reading it (or when you say "Next message" after interrupting the reading). PAL also flags the email with a flag as it begins to read it. PAL can delete email messages or save them to a folder that you specify.

 

PAL announces when new email arrives by saying "Excuse me, you have new mail". If a junk email or other type of automatically filed email arrives in the Inbox PAL will announce its arrival, but the message already will be filed and PAL will not be able to read it.

 

PAL only accesses the active Outlook profile. Only one prof