NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY (NSA)
Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland
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HISTORY
NSA had a longstanding interest in speech communication, carrying
on intramural research and supporting extramural research. The
funding of the Glace-Holmes synthesizer ("JAWORD") was just one
rather minor part of the extramural program, which included at one
time or another support of work at Haskins Laboratories, MIT,
University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and the University
of Southern California. The synthesizer was modeled on the JSRU
parallel synthesizer [see SSSHP UK JSRU], with some minor engineering
improvements. The copies manufactured on contract by Electronic
Associates, Inc., were made available without charge to academic and
government researchers. Distribution to the academic recipients was
made through Office of Naval Research (ONR) equipment loans.
[from Dr. Ignatius G. Mattingly, 4/26/99]
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PROJECT: DESIGN OF A TERMINAL ANALOG SYNTHESIZER (19 - 19 )
1965 Mattingly, I.G. and D. Glace, "A Resonance Synthesizer for
Speech Research," a proposal circulated among prospective
users, December, 1965. **** need copy ****
A development system using a synthesizer obtained from JSRU.
(See SSSHP UK JSRU).
1966 Scott, R.S., D.A. Glace, and I.G. Mattingly, "A computer-
controlled on-line speech synthesizer system, Digest of
technical papers, 1966 IEEE International Communications
Conference, Paper TA 18.1, pp. 104-5, Philadelphia, IEEE.
Parallel resonance synthesizer connected via D/A converters
to Digital Equipment Corp. PDP-1, and controlling program,
AUTOMAT. User can construct synthesizer control data directly
or as breakpoints of straight-line segments. (I)
TAPE ?
Design of a manufacturable version of the Holmes and Shearme synthe-
sizer (see SSSHP UK JSRU).
1968 Glace, D.A. "Parallel resonance synthesizer for speech
research", J. Acoust Soc Amer, 44, 391 (A) (1968). (I)
Glace, D.A., "A parallel resonance synthesizer for speech
research," Electronic Associates Incorporated, undated
draft. Description of synthesizer as extension of Holmes
and Shearme synthesizer at JSRU. Formant tuning was
accomplished by pulse-ratio modulation of the loop gain of
the operational amplifier formant circuits. Computer control
was accomplished by nine D/A channels. Called the "Glace-
Holmes synthesizer", or "JAWORD synthesizer". Addition of
fricative resonators and mixed excitation. Block diagram and
range of synthesizer parameters.
Tape ? (Paper mentions comparison utterances for JAWORD and
Holmes/Shearme synthesizers.)
Additional records:
- Graph, "Pulse excitation of JAWORD speech synthesizer as a
function of F0 parameter input, 10/23/68"
- Blueprints: Fifteen 12"x18" prints of synthesizer circuit
diagrams
- Synthesizer block diagram
(above records in SSSHP USA NSA file)
1969 Thirty synthesizer models had been constructed (personal
communication from Douglas Hogan to H.D. Maxey, 5/16/69)
19 Establishment of SOUGHS (Society of Users, Glace-Holmes
Synthesizer). (See SOUGHS in SSSHP USA Air Force Cambridge
Research Laboratories for list of 24 synthesizer owners).
Tape ?
19 Carlson, Carl W.A.: On the establishment of a standard
format for exchange of data for the synthesizer among the
users, NSA document. (In SSSHP USA AFCRL file)
1969 Mattingly, Ignatius G., "Programming for the Glace-Holmes
Synthesizer", 77th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of
America, Philadelphia, April 8, 1969. Tutorial session on
the use of the Glace-Holmes speech synthesizer. (Copy in
SSSHP USA NSA file.)
Tape ?
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BIOGRAPHIES
DOUGLAS L. HOGAN
1954 S.M., MIT
1948 NSA Ft. Meade, MD.
1968 NSA Exceptional Civilian Award
1976 Retired from NSA
Senior Scientist, Sparta, Inc., McLean VA
1986 Deceased
ROBERT S. SCOTT
1966 NSA, Ft. Meade, MD
19 PhD, Univ. of Mich.
NSA, Senior Scientist, Ft. George G. Meade MD
1989 , Univ. of Maryland
DONALD A. GLACE
1966 NSA, Ft. Meade, MD
1986? Deceased
IGNATIUS G. MATTINGLY (see SSSHP USA Haskins Laboratories)
JAMES MURPHY (May have tape recordings)
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REVIEW AND CONTRIBUTION BY:
Dr. Ignatius G. Mattingly
Haskins Laboratories
270 Crown Street, New Haven, CT
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