Talking with Your Computer
For decades, science-fiction writers have envisioned a world in which speech is the most commonly used interface between humans and machines. This is partly a result of our strong desire to make computers behave like human beings. But it is more than that. Speech is natural---we know how to speak about-five-times faster than they can type and probably 10 times faster than they can write. And speech is flexible---we do not have to touch or see anything to carry on a conversation.
The first generation of speech-based interfaces is beginning to emerge, including high-performance systems that can recognize tens of thousands of words. In fact, you can now go to various computer stores and by speech-recognition software for dictation. Products are offered by IBM, Dragon Systems, Lernout & Hauspie, and Philips. Other systems can accept extemporaneously generated speech over the telephone. AT&T Bell Labs pioneered the use of speech-recognition systems for telephone transactions, and now companies such as Nuance, Philips and Speech-Works have also entered the field. The current technology is employed in virtual-assistant services, such as General Magic’s Portico service, which allows users to request news and stock quotes and even listen to e-mail over the telephone. But the Oxygen project will need far more advanced speech-recognition systems.
I believe the next generation of speech-based interfaces will enable people to communicate with computers in much the same way that they communicate with other people. Therefore, the notion of conversation---which converts audible signals to digital symbols---must be augmented by language---understanding software so that the computer can grasp the meaning of spoken words.
On the output side, the machine must be able to verbalize; it has to take documents from the World Wide Web, find the appropriate information and turn it into well-formed sentences. Throughout this process the machine must be able to engage in a dialogue with the user so that it can clarify mistakes it might have made---for example, by asking questions such as “Did you say Boston, Massachusetts, or Austin, Texas?”
參考答案:Talking with Your Computer
与你的电脑的对话
数十年来，科幻小说作者想象出一个以言语为最普遍的人机交流界面的世界。这部分程度上是我们强烈渴望电脑具有跟人类一样的能力的结果。但是这还不够。言语是自然的，我们说起话来比它们打字快五倍，比它们书写快10倍。言语是灵活的。我们在进行交谈的过程中不需要触摸或者看见什么。
For decades, science-fiction writers have envisioned a world in which speech is the most commonly used interface between humans and machines. This is partly a result of our strong desire to make computers behave like human beings. But it is more than that. Speech is natural---we know how to speak about-five-times faster than they can type and probably 10 times faster than they can write. And speech is flexible---we do not have to touch or see anything to carry on a conversation.
The first generation of speech-based interfaces is beginning to emerge, including high-performance systems that can recognize tens of thousands of words. In fact, you can now go to various computer stores and by speech-recognition software for dictation.
第一代用言语为依据的界面已经开始出现， 这包括了能辨别成千上万的字的高性能的系统。实际上， 你现在可以到各种电脑商店去能识别言语的软件。
Products are offered by IBM, Dragon Systems, Lernout & Hauspie, and Philips. Other systems can accept extemporaneously generated speech over the telephone.
这类产品由 IBM, Dragon Systems, Lernout & Hauspie, and Philips 公司提供。AT&T Bell Labs 首先开创了用于电话交易的言语辩别系统。现在Nuance, Philips and Speech-Works 公司也加入这个行列。
AT&T Bell Labs pioneered the use of speech-recognition systems for telephone transactions, and now companies such as Nuance, Philips and Speech-Works have also entered the field.
现在的技术用于实际的辅助服务， 例如General Magic’s Portico 的服务， 用户能够要求提供新闻， 股票报价， 甚至通过电话听他们的电邮。
The current technology is employed in virtual-assistant services, such as General Magic’s Portico service, which allows users to request news and stock quotes and even listen to e-mail over the telephone.
但是有氧项目需要先进得多的言语识别系统。我相信下一代的言语界面应该能让人们象跟其它人交流一样跟电脑交流。
But the Oxygen project will need far more advanced speech-recognition systems.
I believe the next generation of speech-based interfaces will enable people to communicate with computers in much the same way that they communicate with other people.
因此， 交谈的概念，-- 就是把口头的信号转换成数码信号--必须能被语言识别--嫩能了解软件， 这样电脑才能抓住言语的意思。
Therefore, the notion of conversation---which converts audible signals to digital symbols---must be augmented by language---understanding software so that the computer can grasp the meaning of spoken words.
在输出端， 仪器必须能说， 能从网络上拿来文件， 找到合适的信息， 并转换成合适的句子。
On the output side, the machine must be able to verbalize; it has to take documents from the World Wide Web, find the appropriate information and turn it into well-formed sentences.
在这个过程中， 仪器应该能跟用户交流， 以便能澄清可能出现的错误。 例如， 可以问， “您是说波士顿、马萨诸塞, 或奥斯汀, 得克萨斯吗?”
Throughout this process the machine must be able to engage in a dialogue with the user so that it can clarify mistakes it might have made---for example, by asking questions such as “Did you say Boston, Massachusetts, or Austin, Texas?”
大概意思。
