speech output under a nix type OS? help

[Terry Klarich]

     My name is Terry Klarich.  I am a grad student at Oklahoma State
University.  I have a 80386 machine which I would like to get a nix like OS up
on.  However, my problem is that I am blind and have to use a voice synthesizer
to get speech output.  My question is how would one make this happen.  When I
use MS-DOS, I have a tsr that installs interrupt handlers on the keyboard and
screen.  When a character is typed or a character appears on the screen, a copy
is sent out one of the serial ports to my synthesizer.  Of corse, this program
is a little more complicated than this; but you get the general idea.  The
Program also has the means of freezing the screen so I can examine it if I need
too.  Here is a list of my questions.

1.  What would be envolved in writing a program like this to run under Unix?
2.  Would I be able to use vertual screens?
3.  Would I be able to freeze the screen to examine it?
4.  What serial ports would I be able to use under Unix?  Here is A list of my
ports and irq lines.
com1 0x3f8 on irq 4
com2 0x2f8 on irq 3
com3 0x3e8 on irq 4
com4 0x2e8 on irq 3
5.  Would this cause any problems with a cga card?
6.  ({["'WHAT IS THE PRICE????'"]})!
7.  Do you know anyone who has already done this?
8.  Would I be able to get a "FULL" set of man pages?  I can't read manuals.

   My voice synthesizer acts just like a printer using xon/xoff.  I would
appreciate any help anyone could offer me.  I would like to also here from
venders if they are man enough to get envolved.  The best way to answer this is
by email because I don't get time to read all the articles posted.  If anyone
else is interested, let me know and I'll summarize.
Thanks to one and all for the help.
-- 
Terry Klarich (klarich at a.cs.okstate.edu) n5hts
Remember: back up your disk so it won't crash
These opinions are mine