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The Speech Recognition API (SRAPI) Committee announces the release of SRAPI Version 1.0 for Windows NT and Windows 95 OREM, Utah -- May 6, 1996 -- The Speech Recognition API Committee announces the release of SRAPI Version 1.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT. The SRAPI Committee also announces that OpenDoc, the CORBA distributed component facility, will support SRAPI compliant extensions, allowing for expanding speech technologies to multiple platforms. The SRAPI Committee is currently chaired by Novell, Inc. Core members include: IBM, Dragon Systems, Intel, Lernout& Hauspie, Kurzweil AI and Philips. Other contributors to the standards effort include: Voice Pilot Technologies, Kolvox, Interactive Products, Centigram, Berkeley Speech Technologies, Voice Processing Corp., Speech Technology Laboratories (a division of Panasonic) and other notable companies in the speech industry. The mission of the SRAPI Committee is to provide an easy path for applications to integrate speech recognition and speech synthesis technology. SRAPI 1.0 is the first step in the process of making speech technology readily available to application developers across different operating environments. The future intention of the SRAPI Committee is to also release the API standard for OS/2, Java, NetWare and Unix platforms. The SRAPI specification is a cross-platform specification that creates a standard method for applications to interact with speech technology providers. The API supports Continuous Command Technology, Phrase Recognition Technology, Discrete and Continuous Dictation technology and Speech Synthesis. The OpenDoc technology helps to further achieve the SRAPI mission by enabling the creation of SRAPI-ready application components. An application can easily gain access to the speech recognition API by incorporating the SRAPI OpenDoc component. Along with other facilities of the CORBA standard, SRAPI can participate in any distributed cross-platform application with minimal programming effort. Richard Grant of Voice Pilot Technologies, Inc. states that his firm is prepared to produce SRAPI compliant OpenDoc parts for all OpenDoc enabled platforms. The SRAPI Committee is dedicated to providing open solutions to application developers. As an open solution provider, SRAPI will continue to work with various standards organizations to provide solutions for developers. The Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum (ECTF) and the SRAPI Committee have agreed to a common grammar specification to describe command vocabularies. Also, a translation layer will be provided for Microsoft SAPI. An ECTF compliant version of SRAPI is targeted for release later this year. SRAPI Version 1.0 includes a development environment for application and service providers. The SRAPI DLL is available to application and speech technology developers with a royalty free license. The SRAPI Developers Kit, also produced by the SRAPI Committee, is targeted for speech technology service providers and application developers. Libraries, sample code, documentation, and other tools are available for the following development environments: Visual C++ 2.2, 4.0, Borland C++ 4.5 and Watcom 10.5. "The SRAPI Committee has produced a strong specification. Novell is very pleased to be involved in a leadership role in this speech standardization effort. Cross-platform standards, such as SRAPI, are strategic to Novell's long term commitment to providing solutions to our users," said Alvin Tedjamulia, Vice president and General Manager of the Advanced Technology Division at Novell. "Speech is emerging as an important part of the future human interface. Practical, useful, efficient speech recognition in the market place is dependent upon a strong standards effort like SRAPI. By continuing their efforts with the OMG CORBA standards, we are seeing a winning combination," said John Slitz, Vice President of Object Technology Marketing at IBM. "Philips has identified high market demand for a common, standardized API that simplifies the work of application developers. It will give a strong motivation to integrate speech recognition into applications. Philips will support SRAPI in future versions of its continuous speech recognition system" said Wolfgang Schattgen, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Philips Dictation Systems - Speech Processing Division. For more information regarding this SRAPI release and information on joining the SRAPI effort, please visit the SRAPI home page at http://www.srapi.com, or e-mail queries to srapi@srapi.com.
SRAPI Committee Press Contacts:
Philips
IBM
Kurzweil AI
Voice Pilot Technologies, Inc
Lernout& Hauspie
Intel
Q: How does SRAPI compare to the Microsoft SAPI
specification?
Q: Why does SRAPI focus on a cross-platform solution instead
of just Windows?
Q: Novell Chairs the SRAPI Committee, yet does not produce any
speech recognition or synthesis technology. Why is Novell driving this
effort forward?
Q: Does SRAPI support telephony?
Q: Do you have to use OpenDoc to develop SRAPI
applications? |
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