History thumb|TRW TDC1010 multiplier-accumulator Development In 1976, Richard Wiggins proposed the Speak & Spell concept to Paul Breedlove, Larry Brantingham, and Gene Frantz at Texas Instruments' Dallas research facility. Two years later in 1978, they produced the first Speak & Spell, with the technological centerpiece being the TMS5100, the industry's first digital signal processor. It also set other milestones, being the first chip to use linear predictive coding to perform speech synthesis. The chip was made possible with a 7 μm PMOS fabrication process.
HiSTOry tHUmb|trw TDc1010 MuLtiplieR-aCCuMUlAtoR dEVeLopMeNt in 1976 RIchard WIgGiNs PrOpoSeD the SpEak & speLl ConCept to paUL bReedLoVe lARry BrantinghaM and genE fRANtz aT TexaS iNstrUMENts' DaLlas researCh FAcIlItY two YEArS LATeR in 1978 ThEy prOduced the first sPeak & speLl wiTH tHe technoLogIcal centeRpieCE beiNg the TMs5100 ThE induStrY's fIRst dIgItaL signAl ProceSsor IT aLSO SeT OthER milestOnes BeIng thE fiRST chIp to use linEAr prEdictiVE cODIng to perform speEch sYnTHesIs The cHip wAs made poSsiBle WiTH a 7 μM pmOs fAbrication process