Abstract
VoiceXML is a language of the W3C to create voice-user interfaces, particularly for the telephone. It uses speech recognition and touchtone (DTMF keypad) for input, and pre-recorded audio and text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) for output. The text-to-speech synthesis feature of advanced VoiceXML tools like WebSphere opens new perspectives for e-commerce and e-learning. We are no longer restricted to pre-recorded audio but can bring any text to the ear of the user – a user that could be visually impaired and needs a voice channel to communicate – or a user who can read but who prefers to listen. VoiceXML-applications have been implemented by the authors to support e-commerce (selection of commodities from catalogues) and user guides for hardware (mobile phones, etc.) and software systems (MS project, etc.). New contributions to e-learning are offered.
Highlights
Voice-enabled applications Voice-enabled applications are available in several areas, for example: Information providers Voice response facilities are used for various kinds of information over the phone: time, weather, horoscopes, lottery results, sports events, news, exchange rates, and so on
The Voice Extensible Markup Language VoiceXML is an XML-based language of the W3C to create voice-user interfaces, the latest version is available at: http://www.w3.org/TR/voicexml20/
Any text with its index of contents can be transferred from the document file into forms and menus of VoiceXML files that can be read out by text-to-speech synthesis tools like WebSphere
Summary
Voice-enabled applications Voice-enabled applications are available in several areas, for example: Information providers Voice response facilities are used for various kinds of information over the phone: time, weather, horoscopes, lottery results, sports events, news, exchange rates, and so on. Financial institutions A bank can let its customers access their account balances, obtain information on interest rates and mortgages, calculate loan payments, or transfer funds, all using voice response applications. Using a voice response application, brokerage firms can make current stock prices, quotations, and portfolio balances available over the telephone. Educational institutions A voice response application can provide information about class schedules, availability, and course content. A voice response application can call students to inform them of schedule changes or openings in a class for which enrolment had been closed. New information models and speech-synthesis tools will boost the development of voice-enabled applications. This kind of transformation allows new voiceenabled applications and supports visually impaired users significantly for example by offering user guides – an application described below
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