Talking computers nearing reality
Source: CNet News
Machines that listen and talk like humans are becoming a reality, researchers and tech executives say. The technical kinks, high costs and application misfires that have held back the acceptance of speech recognition and activation are being ironed out, they say. As a result, companies are coming out with a variety of products that will let consumers access databases using voice commands, for example, or transform e-mails into one- or two-way verbal exchanges.
Microsoft on Wednesday will release the first public beta of its Speech Server, which will let servers better handle oral commands. It will also release the third beta of its Speech Application software developer kit. A partner program has begun to encourage third-party developers to promote Speech Server, which will debut in the first half of 2004.
Speech Server, formerly .Net Speech Platform, will attempt to reduce the cost of creating automated phone response systems and coincides with other phone-computer efforts at Microsoft. Automated response systems such as those used by many airlines can cost as much as $1 million--too expensive for the bulk of the business market, said Kai-Fu Lee, vice president of Microsoft's speech technologies group.
