The SPO256 is a Speech Synthesizer chip used in many hardware Speech Synthesizers of the era.
With some clever programming it is possible to program a software Speech Synthesizer with good results.
Speech Synthesizer technology was also used in some games, with different quality.
Hardware Speech Synthesisers
Amstrad SSA-1 Speech Synthesizer (SPO256 based)
Dk'tronics Speech Synthesizer (SPO256 based)
Software Speech synthesisers
Speech (Symbos software)