Just as HTML can be used as a markup language for building network-based visual applications, Speech Markup Language is a language for building network-based conversational applications. A conversational application is an application that interacts with the user through spoken input and output. A network-based application refers to one in which the elements of the conversation that define spoken output and input - Speech Markup Language documents - may be obtained over the network.

Speech Markup Language could be used to enable conversational access from (for example) a car, a telephone, a PDA, or a desktop PC, to information sources and applications anywhere on the Internet. Potential applications include the same range of services and information now available visually through HTML.

Use of a markup language to describe the spoken interaction with the user has a number of advantages: it makes possible network-based applications; it provides a seamless transition from one application to another; and it provides an easy-to-use tool to describe conversational dialogs.

FAQ

1. What should I do if I don't hear any sound when I start demo.bat, but the browser still appears to hear me (it produces "volume" messages and responds to commands)?
   
   The most likely problem is that your sound card or device driver is not full duplex. The Speech Markup Language browser requires a full-duplex sound card and driver. In some cases you may be able to obtain an updated device driver from the manufacturer that supports full-duplex sound.
   
   
2. What should I do if I get an error message about "Out of environment space" when I try to run demo.bat or tutorial.bat?
   
   On Windows 95, right click on demo.bat, bringing up the Properties dialog. Click on the Memory tab, and increase the Initial environment setting. Repeat for tutorial.bat.
   
   
3. Why is ViaVoice 98 required?
   
   The browser included with the Speech Markup Language package is uses IBM's Speech for Java implementation of the Java Speech API, which in turn requires ViaVoice 98.
   
   
4. How do I obtain a copy of IBM ViaVoice 98 in order to use Speech Markup Language?
   
   ViaVoice 98 is available through computer retailers. More information is available at the VoiceType/ViaVoice Home Page.
   
   
5. Will Speech Markup Language run on top of versions of ViaVoice or VoiceType earlier than ViaVoice 98?
   
   We haven't tested it on earlier versions than ViaVoice 98.
   
   
6. What versions of Java does Speech Markup Language run on?
   
   Java Versions 1.1.x or 1.2.
   
   
7. What is the relationship between Speech Markup Language and XML?
   
   Speech Markup Language is an XML application.
   
   
8. What is the relationship between Speech Markup Language and Java Speech?
   
   The browser included with the Speech Markup Language package is uses IBM's Speech for Java implementation of the Java Speech API. In addition, the Speech Markup Language design makes use of Java Speech Markup Language (JSML) and Java Speech Grammar Format (JSGF) from the Java Speech API.
   
   
9. What is the difference between Java Speech Markup Language (JSML) and Speech Markup Language?
   
   JSML only supports spoken output, while Speech Markup Language supports a conversation by describing both spoken output and spoken input.
   
   
10. Does Speech Markup Language support dynamically generated content?
    
    Yes, in the same way as HTML. Speech Markup Language content may be stored statically in files, or generated dynamically by CGI programs or Servlets.

Speech Markup Language Platform Requirements
Platform	166MHz Pentium or 150MHz Pentium with MMX
Computer	Windows 95 or 98 with 32MB of memory or Windows NT with 48MB Full-duplex sound card
Java tool	JDK/JRE 1.1.x or JDK/JRE 1.2 32MB of RAM
Other Software	ViaVoice 98 (US English)

Speech Markup Language Installation Procedures

1. Download and run the SpeechML19a.exe file to unpack the files for the Speech Markup Language package. Executing this file will create a directory Speech Markup Language to contain the Speech Markup Language package files, and it will by default place the Speech Markup Language directory in c:\ - you may change this default location if you like.

2. Refer to the Speech Markup Language\README.txt file for further instructions.

File	Size	Comments
SpeechML19a.exe	620 KB	Self-installing file containing Speech Markup Language