“Life on-the-Go”: The Role of Speech Technology in Mobile Applications

Abstract

The mobile phone is becoming an indispensable personal communication assistant and multifunctional device; increasing electronic options in automobiles and other mobile settings extend this “always-available” paradigm. The range of applications creates user interaction issues that can’t be fully solved by extending the graphical user interface and keyboard to these small devices. Speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, and other speech technologies are part of the solution, ­particularly since, unlike PCs, every mobile phone has a microphone and speech ­output. Two supporting trends are today’s speech technology’s demonstrable ­ability to ­handle difficult interactions, e.g., the free directory assistance services, and a resulting­ interest by deep-pocketed large firms in using and promoting the technology­ and its applications. This chapter digs deeper into these points and their implications, and concludes with a discussion of what characteristics will make voice interaction an effective alternative on mobile devices.