Introduction to SALT (Part 4): Microsoft .NET Speech SDK
ASP.NET-based Speech Controls
The ASP.NET-based Speech Controls allow developers using ASP.NET and Microsoft Visual Studio.NET to create multimodal/telephony applications and/or add speech interactivity to existing web applications. The screenshot below (click to enlarge) shows these tools being used to develop a speech-based interactive pizza ordering application.
These controls add to the existing .NET class libraries and provide developers with the ability to add speech-based interaction to their existing applications or to build new applications. The table below shows a quick reference to the functionality provided by these controls.
Control | Function | ![]() |
Speech Controls | ||
QA | Collects & process speech/DTMF input from the user | |
Command | Collects inputs such as help, repeat, cancel which is not processed by QA Control | |
Custom Validator | Validates input data through a script | |
Compare Validator | Validates input data by comparing with another control/value | |
Semantic Map | Contains a set of values which provide input controls semantic state and its bindings | |
Style Sheet | Contains a set of common speech controls properties | |
Call Control Controls | ||
Smex Message | Sends a CSTA (Computer-Supported Telecommunications Applications) Message | |
Transfer Call | Transfers the current call | |
Disconnect Call | Disconnects a call | |
Make Call | Initiates a telephone call | |
Answer Call | Answers a Call | |
Call Info | Contains basic information about the current call | |
Application Controls | ||
Alpha Digits | Collects a string of numbers and lettrs | |
Currency | Collects an amount in US dollars | |
Date | Collects a date | |
Natural Number | Collects and validates a natural number | |
Navigator | Allows navigation of a list of table based elements | |
Phone | Collets a US telephone number | |
Single Item Chooser | Allows a user to select a single item from a list by dynamically creating a grammar | |
SSN | Collets a US Social Security Number | |
Yes No | Collects a Yes/No answer | |
Zipcode | Collects a US Zip Code |
Speech Tools
The Speech Tools include grammar builder, prompt builder (shown below) and speech debugger, which aids in constructing and testing different parts of a speech application.
The table below provides a quick reference for the tools provided by .NET Speech SDK.
To be Continued
We will continue our exploration of SALT in the next article by actually walking step-by-step through what is involved in developing a telephony/multimodal application using SALT and Microsoft .NET Speech SDK.
Resources
About Hitesh Seth
A freelance author and known speaker, Hitesh is a columnist on VoiceXMLtechnology in XML Journal and regularly writes for other technology publications on emerging technology topics such as J2EE, Microsoft .NET, XML,Wireless Computing, Speech Applications, Web Services & Enterprise/B2BIntegration. Hitesh received his Bachelors Degree from the Indian Instituteof Technology Kanpur (IITK), India. Feel free to email any comments or suggestionsabout the articles featured in this column at hks@hiteshseth.com.
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This article was originally published on December 21, 2002