The program, which uses only 150K, is embedded in the browser and activated when a Web page using the technology is called up. Web users then pronounce phrases that appear as choices on the menu bar. The plug-ins give added value to a site and make Web surfing a playful experience, says the company. But it's telephony, whether through a cell or a traditional phone, that will change the cyber click as we know it today. According to the French company, adapting voice technology to mobile phones will be relatively simple.
Programmers have yet to come up with a plug-in small enough for use with a mobile phone.
Other obstacles to overcome involve the ability of the system to prioritize sounds and disregard background noises, as well recognizing the same word pronounced in different accents. Vocal portals, available in the U.S. since this summer, use a more complex technology capable of recognizing entire phrases. Traditional phone users dial up a number and ask questions, which then send a computer on an Internet hunt for information about, say, weather, traffic, or movie programs. The choice of possibilities, though, remains limited. Responses to queries are then given vocally to the user, eliminating the need for screens, keyboards, and clicks.