Java Speech API Programmer's Guide: Preface

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Preface

The Java^TM Speech API Programmer's Guide is an introduction to speech technology and to the development of effective speech applications using the Java Speech API. An understanding of the Java programming language and the core Java APIs is assumed. An understanding of speech technology is not required.

About this Guide

Part 1

The first three chapters of this guide provide an introduction to speech technology and to the Java Speech API.
Chapter 1, Introduction: This chapter introduces the Java Speech API, reviews the design goals for JSAPI, discusses the types of applications that JSAPI enables and discusses the requirements for using JSAPI.
Chapter 2, Speech Technology: This chapter is a more detailed introduction to speech technology systems with a greater focus on technical issues. It describes both the capabilities and limitations of speech recognition and speech synthesis systems. An understanding of these issues is important to developers who use speech technology in their applications.
Chapter 3, Designing Effective Speech Applications: This chapter is an introduction to the art and the science of effective user interface design with speech technology. As with design of graphical interfaces using AWT or the Java Foundation Classes, good user interface design with speech is important to ensure that applications are usable. Chapter 3 also discusses how some of the limitations of speech technology need to be considered in the design of an effective speech- enabled user interface.

Part 2

The next three chapters of this guide describe in technical detail the three Java software packages that comprise the Java Speech API. These chapters provide both introductory and advanced descriptions of programming with the Java Speech API. Where possible, code examples are included to illustrate the principles of speech application development.
Chapter 4, Speech Engines: javax.speech: introduces the root package of the Java Speech API. The classes and interfaces of the root package define basic speech engine functionality.
Chapter 5, Speech Synthesis: javax.speech.synthesis: introduces the package that supports speech synthesis capabilities. A speech synthesizer is a type of speech engine. Thus, the speech synthesis package inherits the general speech engine behavior from the javax.speech package but extends it with the ability to produce speech output.
Chapter 6, Speech Recognition: javax.speech.recognition: introduces the package that supports speech recognition capabilities. A speech recognizer is also a type of speech engine, so the speech recognition package also extends the general speech engine behavior, in this case, with the ability to convert incoming audio to text.

Getting Started

Newcomers to speech technology are encouraged to read Chapter 2 and then to consider the "Hello World!" code examples at the start of both Chapters 5 and 6. These code examples illustrate the basics of speech synthesis and speech recognition programming.
All developers are encouraged to read Chapter 3 on Designing Effective Speech Applications." Appropriate and effective use of speech input and output makes the development of speech applications easier and faster and improves the experience that application users will have.
Finally, as with all Java APIs, the Javadoc for the three Java Speech API packages is the master description of the functionality of the API and documents every API capability.

Web Resources

To obtain the latest information on the Java Speech API other Java Media APIs visit:
http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/speech/index.html
Related Reading

This document describes the software interface of the Java Speech API. For information on related topics, refer to the following:
Java Speech Markup Language Specification

Java Speech Grammar Format Specification

Both documents are available from the Java Speech API home page:
http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/speech/index.html
Mailing Lists

Discussion lists have been set up for everyone interested in the Java Speech API, the Java Speech Grammar Format specification, the Java Synthesis Markup Language, and related technologies. The javaspeech-announce mailing list carries important announcements about releases and updates. The javaspeech-interest mailing list is for open discussion of the Java Speech API and the associated specifications.
To subscribe to the javaspeech-announce list or the javaspeech-interest list, send email with "subscribe javaspeech-announce" or "subscribe javaspeech-interest" or both in the message body to:
javamedia-request@sun.com
The javaspeech-announce mailing list is moderated. It is not possible to send email to that list. To send messages to the interest list, send email to:
javaspeech-interest@sun.com
To unsubscribe from the javaspeech-announce list or the javaspeech-interest list, send email with "unsubscribe javaspeech-announce" or "unsubscribe javaspeech-interest" or both in the message body to:
javamedia-request@sun.com
Comments and proposals for enhancements should be sent to:
javaspeech-comments@sun.com
Revision History

Version 1.0: October 26, 1998

Version 0.7: May, 1998. Revised public beta release.

Version 0.6: February 98. Initial public beta release

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