Prologix to unveil speech synthesizer

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow-based Prologix Software Solutions Ltd is all set to
unveil ‘Vaachak’- a text to Hindi speech synthesizer. "This is going to
be our first product and we are going to unveil it with in six months time.
Initially we would be targeting verticals like financial services, tourism, and
later e-governance projects," said Prologix president Vibhu Agarwal.

For near life-like speech production, it is necessary to have a fine level of
control on generation of phonemes and syllable utterances. This is not possible
through a stored vocabulary synthesizer and all high quality text to speech
programs today generate speech by simulating the human vocal tract.

Prologix has mapped Hindi phonemes to a software model of the human vocal
system. "We are currently studying intonation control and inference and
hope to have a production version of the Hindi synthesizer ready within six
months," he added.

The company is presently engaged in talks with MTNL for introducing the
synthesizer in Delhi, on a pilot basis. The product has a wide variety of
applications, including unified messaging system. With the help of this product,
one can operate from anywhere by calling a pre-defined number.

The company with its 25-member team based on the outskirts of Lucknow has
also developed an interpreter for VXML (voice XML). The Voice Extensible Markup
Language (VoiceXML) is a new computer language designed to make Internet content
and information accessible via voice and phone.

With the support of leading industry players such as Lucent, Motorola and
IBM. VoiceXML has made speech-enabled applications on the Internet a reality.
"We have implemented and own one of the few fully functional (VoiceXML 1.0
compliant) interpreters available today," he added.

Prologix commenced its operations three years ago and mainly focuses on voice
interfaces, speech production, analysis. It works on technologies such as broad
band, real time media over IP, telephony and NGN. The company is also looking at
the ASP model and is keen to have a tie up for marketing its product in the sub
continent.