Speech Applications
Speech applications are programs written to control the various components which
allow a computer to recognise speech and to respond in speech. From a users
point of view they may be viewed at a more abstract level, as a ticket booking system,
a library catalogue, an email agent and so on. Below we offer a little section on
a number of different types of application exploring what they can do.
An email agent
This type of application would normally allow a user to phone in, review their emails,
have them read to them and to reply. In some ways email agents are the easiest and the most
challenging of speech applications. While the basic data is easy to handle they bring
with them interesting 'long list' and 'large data item' problems and a number of
strategies have been developed to cope with these problems in the speech domain.
Government Services
Governments are faced with obligations to provide information. This applies at
central and local government levels. Most people do not have internet access and much
of the effort put into developing the World Wide Web as a channel for
information is, therefore, ineffective. In Australia phone penetration is almost
universal. Voice Portals can provide information access to all.
An information/booking system
These sorts of applications can handle all forms of booking in different domains - aircraft,
theater or sports events. A simpler version is only to provide information. Flight arrivals,
what's on, bus or ferry times are all candidates but one can move on and actually take the booking
and make the sale.
Business to Business
Retail outlets, tradesmen and other are continually needing to have product information.
Both availability and product features can be covered. A speech application
can be written which allows them to phone their suppliers and talk with a computer
which has direct access to the warehouse computer.
Banking, betting and securities
These may seem like strange bed fellows and a banking application is much simpler than a
bookmaking one. However, basically almost any service which can be provided over the phone can
be made into a speech application.
Advising customers
Normally, people only think of inwards applications but it is just a simple to
create applications which phone out and talk to your customers. This may be to
remind them that a payment has not been received or to make sure they hear about important
changes. In some cases, for example those who are sight impaired (and their are nearly
300,000 such persons in Australia) this may be the only way to ensure information get to them.