VoiceXML Builder Arturo Ramirez ACS 494 Master’s Graduate Project May 04, 2001.

VoiceXML Builder

Arturo RamirezACS 494 Master’s

Graduate Project

May 04, 2001

VoiceXML Builder

Agenda

VoiceXML LanguageWhat is VoiceXML?History of VoiceXMLAdvantages of VoiceXMLVoice Portals

VoiceXML BuilderPurpose and goalsFeaturesVoiceXML Builder TutorialCreating a Voice Enabled Course Registration App

VoiceXML Builder

What is VoiceXML?

Voice Extensible Markup Language• A standard language for voice applications• Builds upon the work of earlier technologies:

– Motorola’s VoXML – IBM’s SpeechML

VoiceXML Forum• Founders: AT&T, IBM, Lucent and Motorola• Developed the VoiceXML 1.0 specification

– Approved by the W3 consortium, May 2000

VoiceXML Builder

whatever

VoiceXML Builder

Voice Web Characteristics

Users may be mobile

No expensive device or software needed

One-dimensional interface time

Dialog design a challenge

Interface suited to transactions rather than surfing

Session duration is less than usual

There is not one World Wide Web, but several

VoiceXML Builder

Browsing the Internet using voice

Visual browsers vs. Voice browsers

Elements:

Phone VoiceXML VoiceXML

Gateway

Server Scripts Grammars

Elements:

Computer Network HTML

Server: Scripts Multimedia

VoiceXML Builder

Advantages of VoiceXML

Cost savings• Main input/ output device (initially) is the phone• A voice browser (phone) instead of a web browser• Implementation of speech solutions without prior

knowledge of voice technologies

Make the Web more accessible• To people with visual and motor disabilities• No need for wired connection, just a phone!

VoiceXML Builder

VoiceXML Document

Looks a lot like HTML • Tag based

– To play an audio file or message – <audio> Hello world! </audio>

– To end a user's call:– <disconnect/>

• Different user Interaction– Audio output:

– recorded and/or– text-to-speech (TTS)

– Audio input:– touch- tone keys (DTMF) and/or– automatic speech recognition (ASR)

VoiceXML Builder

Structure of a VoiceXML document

Head: ?xml, vxml initial tags• <?xml version="1.0" ?>• <vxml version="1.0">• <!--main_greeting form.-->

Body: Form “main_greeting” • <form id="main_greeting">• <block>• <audio>

– Welcome to my application </audio>

– <goto next="#ssn_prompt" />– </block>

• </form>

Close: vxml end tag• </vxml>

VoiceXML Builder

What is Voice XML Builder?

Project Goal• A development platform for voice-based applications

General Features• A Java / XML application

– runs on multiple systems

• Makes writing VoiceXML code a lot easier– Provides VoiceXML insert tag tree,– Parsed VoiceXML syntax colorizing – Tutorials, online reference and more…

• No need to install – Access to it using a web browser

VoiceXML Builder

VoiceXML Builder Features

VoiceXML Builder• Designed as an editor for speech-based telephony

applications

• Compliant with the VoiceXML 1.0 Specification

General Purposes• Platform for the development of voice-based applications

• Encourage the interest in voice browsing programs

• Create Voice driven applications:

– e-commerce

– banking

– voice portals

VoiceXML Builder

VoiceXML Tutorials

Tutorials act as guides on how to use the editor

They also provide insight on how to build vxml applications

Start up a tutorial

How to create a simple VoiceXML application

http://www.acs.ilstu.edu/faculty/javila/vxml/index.html

VoiceXML Builder

VoiceXML Builder Demo

http://www.acs.ilstu.edu/faculty/javila/vxml/index.html

Lets create our first VoiceXML program!

VoiceXML Builder

Voice Portal Tests using VoiceXML

Application Creation & Setup

Online Documentation & Resources

– (1) Not available

Tests and product analysis for this review performed by CT Labs• An independent third-party product testing and certification lab.• www.ct-labs.com

VoiceXML Builder

Loading our program into a server

http://café.bevocal.com Provides tools and resources to create

speech applications for the telephone.

1-877-33-VOCAL

•File Management•VoiceXML Checker•Vocal Player•Trace Tool•Documentation•Help

VoiceXML Builder

Building a Course Registration App.

VoiceXML application • A voice-enabled student registration system • Access granted through any phone

Main objective • Allow students to log in into the system• Register for classes• Drop classes• Get a course description of the classes• Obtain help from an operator or assistant

VoiceXML Builder

Design vs. Coding

User / Programmer Interaction• Challenge is the application design

VoiceXML Builder

Course Registration System

Application Flow Diagram• Each module represents one VoiceXML document

VoiceXML Builder

Course Registration

Main menu options• Add a class (1)• Drop a class (2)• Course Schedule (3)• Logout / Exit (4)• Operator (0)

Available Classes • ACS 261• ACS 352• ACS 355

VoiceXML Builder

Programming the first module

<?xml version="1.0" ?> <vxml version="1.0"> <form id="main_greeting"> <block> <audio>This is the Student Information System</audio> <goto next="#ssn_prompt" /> </block> </form> <form id="ssn_prompt"> <field name="ssn_number"> <grammar> [(1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)] </grammar> <prompt> <audio>Enter your Social Security

Number</audio> </prompt> <filled> <if cond="ssn_number == '1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9‘" />

<goto next="#confirm" /> </if> </filled> </field> </form> <field name="confirm_ssn"> <grammar>[yes no dtmf-1 dtmf-2 ]</grammar>

VoiceXML Builder

Programming the first module cont.

<prompt> <audio>If this is correct, say YES, If this is NOT correct, say NO</audio> </prompt>

<filled> <if cond="confirm_ssn == 'yes'"> <goto next="#enter_pin" /> </if> <if cond="confirm_ssn == 'no'"> <goto next="#ssn_prompt" /> </if> </filled> </field> </form> <form id="enter_pin"> <field name="pin_number"> <grammar> [(2 0 9 9 )]</grammar> <prompt> <audio>Please enter your PIN </audio> </prompt> <filled> <if cond="pin_number == '2 0 9 9'"> <goto next="main_menu.vxml" /> </filled> </field> </form> </vxml>

VoiceXML Builder

Voice Enabled Registration Demo

Testing the system• A four step process

1. Call 1-877-33-VOCAL

2. Provide Developer ID and Password

3. Once in the system: student ssn = 123456789 student pin = 2099

4. Interact with the system using your voice!

VoiceXML Builder

Questions?

Thank you!

If you want more information• Visit the VoiceXML Builder site• http://www.acs.ilstu.edu/faculty/javila/vxml/index.html