Speech Technologies

From HCE Wiki - The Human Cognitive Enhancement Wiki
Revision as of 10:08, 28 February 2017 by Zuzana Rybaříková (talk | contribs) (a correction)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

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

Purpose

Important Dates

  • 1769 - Wolfgang von Kempelen developed the first genuine speech synthesizer[4]
  • 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[6]
  • 1937 - the speech synthesizer Voder was unveiled[7]
  • 1942 - Wright developed the first electrolarynx 'Sonovox'[8]
  • 1972 - Erwin Mozolewski introduced a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis[9]
  • 1987 - Apple Knowledge Navigator was presented[10]
  • 4th February 2010 - Siri Inc. unveiled Siri[11]
  • 6th November 2014 - Amazon.com, Inc introduced Amazon Echo[12]

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. 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).
  5. 5.0 5.1 1859 - Jan Nepomuk Czermak suggested the first pneumatic laryngeal prosthesis
  6. 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).
  7. 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).
  8. LIU, Hanjun, NG, Manwa L. Electrolarynx in voice rehabilitation. Auris Nasus Larynx, 2007, 34.3: 327-332.
  9. 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).
  10. 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).
  11. 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).
  12. 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).