Another advantage of using Web capabilities in this way is that the materials can be put on a local server, and don't necessarily have to be linked to the world wide web, which means that students can have easy access on campus without having to worry about difficulties in accessing due to heavy use of the web. Thus, learning to use this software is relatively easy and doesn't require extensive training. This was an interesting report on how speech recognition technology is being used in the French curriculum at West Point to assure that homework time is more productive. The materials include a series of multi-media pronunciation exercises, including demonstrations and explanations for each minimal pair, along with practice exercises that provide immediate feedback. Voice recognition does well with discrete sounds, including vowels and liquid consonants, but apparently less well with stops.
Students continue practicing the sound until they get it right.
These materials are based on Aria Soundcard technology, which apparently is no longer being sold. LaRocca's hope is that software will be developed that can do the same thing, thus making it possible for cadets to do this homework in their rooms. Conversations were recorded from 3 angles, allowing a frontal view of the two speakers seated casually, as well as a close-up view of each speaker's face. As the learner is watching and listening to the conversation, the script shows on the screen as well. Learners can click on words or phrases in the conversation, and that section of the video will repeat.