IBM Releases First Java Speech API Implementation
Developers Can Build Platform Independent Speech Applications for Enterprise Environments With Tools for Java Speech API 1.0
NEW YORK, NY (October 26, 1998) – – Building on its success as a leading worldwide developer of speech technologies, IBM announced support for the Java Speech API with the immediate availability of the first implementation of the 1.0 specification. Additionally, IBM intends to ship a toolkit for the Java Speech API 1.0 in Q1’99. With IBM’s implementation of the 1.0 specification and tools, developers can take advantage of the inherent strengths of the Java technology – platform independence – saving time and resources developing speech applications for multiple platforms.
“Availability of the Java Speech API, announced today by Sun, is a major milestone in our industry effort to make speech recognition a pervasive technology for desktop, mobile and enterprise solutions,” said W.S. “Ozzie” Osborne, general manager of IBM Speech Systems Business Unit. “By pairing IBM’s award-winning ViaVoice speech recognition technology with the leading platform-independent solution, Java Speech API, our partners will have a rich environment for developing speech-enabled applications.”
“IBM’s Java Speech implementation will provide developers with the enhanced functionality they need to incorporate speech into their applications for the Java platform,” said Jon Kannegaard, vice president and general manager of the Java platform at Sun Microsystems, Inc. “Today’s announcement underscores our commitment to work with leading vendors of speech technology like IBM to ensure that the Java platform provides the premier environment for the development and deployment of advanced speech technologies.”
IBM has been working closely with Sun Microsystems to define and develop this industry-standard API to extend the capabilities of the Java platform. IBM Speech for Java 1.0 offers access to the voice command recognition, dictation and text-to-speech functionality in IBM’s ViaVoice technology, allowing developers to integrate speech capabilities into Java applications. Developers will be able to enhance existing user interfaces and create new speech-enabled applications for industries including telecommunications, transportation, mobile, broadcast, finance and medical.
“In order to get pervasive use from industrial-strength applications, Inroad’s customers need speech enhanced computing on the desktop and in Inroad’s Wearable Thin Client(tm) devices,” said Gregg Brown, president and CEO of Inroad. “IBM’s Java Speech API implementation let’s Inroad use world class ViaVoice technology on all of these platforms.”
Availability and Platform Support
IBM’s implementation of the Java Speech API 1.0 is currently available for free download from the IBM alphaWorks Web site at http://www.alphaworks.ibm.com/formula/speech. This implementation runs on Windows 95 and NT. IBM will ship a Java edition of its speech toolkits in Q1 ?. In order to use IBM’s speech tools developers must have a copy of IBM ViaVoice.
Additional information on the Java Speech API is av
Source: IBM