Speech recognition applications using small vocabularies deliver significant cost reduction for the service providers and also expand markets to rotary telephone users. The industry must be able to work in this environment where significant technological advances are possible yet growing numbers of commercial applications deliver real benefits. In this environment the challenge for system integrators is to learn how to apply developing technology in ways that deliver results, rather than disappointment, because the match between the job to be done and the application of the available technology was inappropriate. Early successful commercialization of the right level of technology in the right applications will benefit users, service providers, and the research community. In today's world of cost cutting, reengineering, and impatience with long lead time projects, investors are looking for a near-term payback for their interest.
Examples are plentiful.
It took 20 years for speech recognition to be deployed widely in a telecommunications application. Speech synthesis is only now being deployed on a large scale for reverse directory applications. In addition, the application required working with users, systems integrators, and human factors professionals. The payout was recognized, out tne direction was different and the technical research was not as chal- lenging as others. As a result, the speech recognition community lost out on an opportunity to demonstrate the viability of this technology for at least 5 to 10 years.