Speech Technologies

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Speech technologies are technologies or devices that can understand and/or produce human-like speech. The speech generation is useful in applications such as text-to-speech, electrolarynges, speech prostheses or intelligent personal assistants. The former three technologies are used as a medical devices for people, who lost their voice. Speech synthesizers are also incorporated into devices which helped visually disabled people. Intelligent Personal Assistants allow the users to use their devices hands-free by merely saying required commands, mostly in plain, natural speech.

The speech technologies deals with voice, which is the dominant tool of interpersonal communication.[1] The importance of the voice was acknowledged also by the fact that 16th April was chosen as World Voice Day.[2]

http://archive.is/YU9D

http://www.speechatsri.com/products/eduspeak.shtml

http://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/Editorial/Cover-Story/The-2015-State-of-the-Speech-Technology-Industry-Speech-Engine-101922.aspx

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243060/speech_recognition_through_the_decades_how_we_ended_up_with_siri.html

Main characteristics

Speech technologies could be divided between technologies used in medicine and technologies for commercial use. While the former group is represented primarily by electrolarynges and speech prostheses, intelligent personal assistants belong to the latter category. Speech synthesis is used for both purposes. It is contained in intelligent personal assistants or GPS navigations, but also in systems for visually impaired and speech synthesizers for people who lost their voice.[3] These technologies appear in two forms. It could be devices, software or a combination of both.

Historical overview

The first speaking machines were developed in Antiquity and Middle Ages. Nonetheless, they were not genuine speaking machines since they depended on people speaking inside of them. The first genuine speaking machine was introduced by Hungarian civil servant and inventor Wolfgan von Kempelen. He described his speech synthesiser in a book "Mechanismus der menschlichen Sprache nebst der Beschreibung seiner sprechenden Maschin" [The Mechanism of Human Speech, with a Description of a Speaking Machine] published in 1791.[4]

In the 18th century, researchers focused also on the help people, who lost their voice or have serious problem with their throat. Jan Nepomuk Czermak described the first laryngeal prosthesis in 1859. His attempt was followed by the introduction of various speech prosthesis and artificial larynges.[5] Later on, an Austrian surgeon Theodore Billroth performed the successful total extirpation of the larynx.[6]


Purpose

Important Dates

  • 1769 - Wolfgang von Kempelen developed the first genuine speech synthesizer[7]
  • 1859 - the first pneumatic laryngeal prosthesis was introduced by Jan Nepomuk Czermak[5]
  • 1873 - Billroth conducted the first successful total laryngectomy[5]
  • 1931 - the first laryngeal puncture was conducted by a patient[8]
  • 1937 - the speech synthesizer Voder was unveiled[9]
  • 1942 - Wright developed the first electrolarynx 'Sonovox'[10]
  • 1972 - Erwin Mozolewski introduced a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis[11]
  • 1987 - Apple Knowledge Navigator was presented[12]
  • 4th February 2010 - Siri Inc. unveiled Siri[13]
  • 6th November 2014 - Amazon.com, Inc introduced Amazon Echo[14]

Enhancement/Therapy/Treatment

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/feature/software/how-digital-assistants-are-replacing-our-brains-3530140/

Ethical & Health Issues

http://www.techadvisor.co.uk/opinion/internet/no-one-cares-about-privacy/

Public & Media Impact and Presentation

Public Policy

Related Technologies, Projects or Scientific Research

http://www.speechtechmag.com/Articles/News/Speech-Technology-News-Features/IBM-Makes-Watson-TTS-More-Expressive--109477.aspx

http://link.springer.com/journal/10772

References

  1. ↑ LALWANI, Mona. Personal assistants are ushering in the age of AI at home. Engadget [online]. 2016, Oct 5. Available online at: https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/05/personal-assistants-google-home-ai/ (Retrieved 5th January, 2017).
  2. ↑ SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH, Judy. Voice of the people. The Jerusalem Post [online]. 2015, Apr 26. Available online at: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Health/Voice-of-the-people-399185 (Retrieved 17th January, 2017).
  3. ↑ TAYLOR, Paul. Text-to-Speech Synthes. University of Cambridge Department of Engineering [online]. 2014. Available online at: http://mi.eng.cam.ac.uk/~pat40/ttsbook_draft_2.pdf (Retrieved 2nd February, 2017).
  4. ↑ DUDLEY, Homer, TARNOCZY, T. H. The speaking machine of Wolfgang von Kempelen. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 22, 151-166. Doi:10.1121/1.1906583. Available online at: http://pubman.mpdl.mpg.de/pubman/item/escidoc:2316415:3/component/escidoc:2316414/Dudley_1950_Speaking_machine.pdf (Retrieved 2nd February, 2017).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 KEITH, Robert L., SHANKS, James, Laryngectomee Rehabilitation: Past and Present. In: Speech and Language: Advances in Basic research and Practice. New York: Academic Press, 1983. Available online at: https://books.google.cz/books?id=0C60BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA126&lpg=PA126&dq=Cooper-Rand+electrolarynx&source=bl&ots=or27eudDf2&sig=22heagC08Fpk57qGILvufHxwCyM&hl=cs&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1--bt3r7RAhWGuxQKHbrFCC04ChDoAQgdMAE#v=onepage&q=Cooper-Rand%20electrolarynx&f=false (Retrieved 13th January, 2017).
  6. ↑ KAZI, R. A., et al. Christian Albert Theodor Billroth: Master of surgery. Journal of postgraduate medicine, 2004, 50.1: 82. Available online at: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/2074/1/jp04025.pdf (Retrieved 25th February, 2016).
  7. ↑ WOODFORD, Chris. Speech synthesizers. EXPLAINTHATSTUFF [online]. 2017, Jan 21. Available online at: http://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-speech-synthesis-works.html (Retrieved 16th February, 2017).
  8. ↑ BLOM, Eric D. Current Status of Voice Restoration Following Total Laryngectomy. Oncology [online]. 2000, Jun 1. Available online at: http://www.cancernetwork.com/head-neck-cancer/current-status-voice-restoration-following-total-laryngectomy (Retrieved 19th January, 2017).
  9. ↑ DUNCAN. Klatt’s Last Tapes: A History of Speech Synthesisers. Communication Aids [online]. 2013, Aug 10. Available online at: http://communicationaids.info/history-speech-synthesisers (Retrieved 2nd February, 2017).
  10. ↑ LIU, Hanjun, NG, Manwa L. Electrolarynx in voice rehabilitation. Auris Nasus Larynx, 2007, 34.3: 327-332.
  11. ↑ TARNOWSKA, Czesława. Wspomnienie o profesorze Erwinie Mozolewskim. Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Szczecinie [online]. Available online at: https://www.pum.edu.pl/__data/assets/file/0009/14868/Wspomnienie_o_profesorze_Erwin_7517.pdf (Retrieved 19th January, 2017).
  12. ↑ DigiBarn Computer Museum. The Knowledge Navigator concept piece by Apple Computer (1987). DigiBarn Computer Museum [online]. Available online at: http://www.digibarn.com/collections/movies/knowledge-navigator.html (Retrieved 5th January, 2017).
  13. ↑ HARRISON, Natalie and BREWER, Teresa. Apple Launches iPhone 4S, iOS 5 & iCloud. Apple [online]. 2011. Oct 4. Available online at: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2011/10/04Apple-Launches-iPhone-4S-iOS-5-iCloud.html (Retrieved 16th December, 2016).
  14. ↑ WELCH, Chris. Amazon just surprised everyone with a crazy speaker that talks to you. The Verge [online]. 2014, Nov 6. Available online at: http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/7167793/amazon-echo-speaker-announced (Retrieved 20th December, 2016).
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