A description of vaious methods of producing synthetic speech in use since the 18th century. Includes auditory illustrations.

Links to information about his life and his works (the chess automaton, the speaking machine, etc.) ...

VON KEMPELEN AND HIS DISCOVERY by Edgar Allan Poe 1850 AFTER THE very minute and elaborate paper by Arago, to say nothing of the summary in 'Silliman's Journal, ' with the detailed statement just published by Lieutenant Maury, it will not be supposed, of course, that in offering a few hurried remarks in reference to Von Kempelen's discovery, I have any design to look at the subject in a ...