erci18@castle.ed.ac.uk (A J Cunningham) (03/19/90)
This is an extract from an article which appeared in 'New Scientist' on the 17th March. In the light of the discussion of ManinTalk's lack of a future I thought it might be interesting to others on this group. Reprinted without permission. 'Scottish software may run voice-controlled computer' A computer system which can recognise continuous speech, launched by researchers from Edinburgh last week, may form the basis of a personal computer controlled by voice. The American computer company Apple, famous for its Macintosh range of personal computers controlled with a "mouse" which moves a pointer around the screen to select various icons, are (sic) planning to adapt some of the approaches used in the new system for its own computers. Mervyn Jack, director of Edinburgh University's Centre for Speech Technology Research, says that work with Apple began several months ago and that an agreement on collaborative research is expected soon. End of Extract. So will the next MacinTalk sound like Sean Connery? The article describes the hardware being used at the moment which consists of 4 transputers working together to recognise the user's speech (at the moment it's in the back of a PC). Interestingly it doesn't need to be coached for each user's voice. Dictionary size is 300 words. Can anyone in Apple comment on this article? The finished product (if there is to be one) looks to be some years away. Anyway I'm off to the Centre to lubricate a few throats and (hopefully) loosen some tounges :-) Tony -- Tony Cunningham, Edinburgh University Computing Service. erci18@castle.ed.ac.uk Yuppies think I'm a wino 'cos I seem to have no class, Girls think I'm perverted 'cos I watch them as they pass.
rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) (03/20/90)
In article <2909@castle.ed.ac.uk> erci18@castle.ed.ac.uk (A J Cunningham) writes: > A computer system which can recognise continuous speech, launched by > researchers from Edinburgh last week, may form the basis of a personal > computer controlled by voice. The American computer company Apple [...] > are (sic) planning to adapt some of the approaches used in the new > system for its own computers. > [...] > Can anyone in Apple comment on this article? Yes. American grammar considers a "company" to be a single object, hence Americans would say "Apple Computer *is*..." The British consider a "company" to be a group of individuals, hence a collective object referred to in the plural; hence they say "Apple Computer *are*...". Both usages are considered correct. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) > Tony Cunningham, Edinburgh University Computing Service. erci18@castle.ed.ac.uk ========================================================================== Rick Holzgrafe | {sun,voder,nsc,mtxinu,dual}!apple!rmh Software Engineer | AppleLink HOLZGRAFE1 rmh@apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. | "All opinions expressed are mine, and do 20525 Mariani Ave. MS: 67-B | not necessarily represent those of my Cupertino, CA 95014 | employer, Apple Computer Inc."
fiddler@concertina.Sun.COM (Steve Hix) (03/21/90)
In article <7266@goofy.Apple.COM>, rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) writes: > > Yes. American grammar considers a "company" to be a single object, hence > Americans would say "Apple Computer *is*..." The British consider a > "company" to be a group of individuals, hence a collective object referred > to in the plural; hence they say "Apple Computer *are*...". Both usages > are considered correct. > Back in the '60s, Suzuki (motorcycle division) entered the American market with an ad campaign proclaiming "Suzuki Are Here!". Most people didn't catch it, and thought they were just mangling English. Got Suzuki lots of attention among motorcyclists, though. ------------ "...Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded..." Plato, _Phaedrus_