ABSTRACT
A conversational speech interface for a computer emulates human-to-human interaction by calling on our inherent ability as humans to speak and listen. While human speech is a skill we acquire early and practice frequently, getting computers to map sounds to actions and to respond appropriately with either synthesized or recorded speech is a massive programming undertaking. Because we all speak a little differently from each other, and because the accuracy of the recognition is dependent on an audio signal that can be distorted by many factors, speech technology, like the other recognition technologies, lacks 100% accuracy. When designing a spoken interface, one must design to the strengths and weaknesses of the technology to optimize the overall user experience.
