Web Site Seeks to Create an Online Speech Community

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories and Nuance Communications announced plans today to form an online community for the entire speech technology industry. Phase one of the effort will involve launch of the Web site www.speech-community.com next month.

Though the site's initiation stems from two companies, both claim the Web site will act as a forum for exchanging developments, best practices, and resources on speech technology for businesses.

In a statement released by Genesys today, a project director explained the site's functions and future plans in greater detail. "Phase One of the project will be launch[ed]...with information on the technology and examples of applications already live," said Bernhard Steimel, whose company, Director of the Mind, is coordinating the speech community. "Phase Two will provide facilities for business managers to view and test
sample speech applications, enabling them to specify their own particular business requirements. They can then deploy the application, either on premises or in a hosted capacity."

The site is targeted for  developers and designers, but will also offer content for  decision-makers within businesses. This focus stems from what Steimel calls, "one of the greatest failings of speech technology." That, he says, "is that too few businesses realize the significant benefits that an intelligent deployment will give them."

By providing insight and information to businesses looking to adopt a speech application, Nuance and Genesys claim the site will help potential speech customers learn more so their deployments achieve a return on investment and accomplish business goals.

The site, which caters to members of the call center community, follows the success of two similar Web sites, German Voice Community and
Voice-Community.de. The German community has 2,000 active members since its launch in early 2005.