Speech Technology in 2001: New Research Directions

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 92; no. 22; pp. 10046 - 10051
• Main Author: Atal, Bishnu S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 24-10-1995; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Automatic speech recognition; Automation; Communication; Communication Aids for Disabled; Future; Humans; Machinery; Parametric models; Pattern Recognition, Automated; Sound; Speech; Speech analysis; Speech recognition; Speech synthesis; Technology - trends; Training; User-Computer Interface; Vocabulary; Voice; Voice communications; Voice recognition; Voice response technology; Voice simulation
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.92.22.10046

Research in speech recognition and synthesis over the past several decades has brought speech technology to a point where it is being used in "real-world" applications. However, despite the progress, the perception remains that the current technology is not flexible enough to allow easy voice communication with machines. The focus of speech research is now on producing systems that are accurate and robust but that do not impose unnecessary constraints on the user. This chapter takes a critical look at the shortcomings of the current speech recognition and synthesis algorithms, discusses the technical challenges facing research, and examines the new directions that research in speech recognition and synthesis must take in order to form the basis of new solutions suitable for supporting a wide range of applications.