when it’s easier said than done.™ speechtek west 2007san francisco | february 23 | session c303...

When it’s easier said than done.™

SpeechTEK West 2007 San Francisco | February 23 | Session C303

Accessible Database Applications

Presented by

RJ Sharp, President

InquireTec Software



Millions of working-age adults would benefit from using accessible technology.

When considering a typical database application, how can speech assist with navigating tables, searching and selecting records, running reports and performing data entry?

This session will suggest techniques and will demonstrate a database with an assistive conversational interface.



Millions of working-age adults would benefit from using some form of accessible technology…

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 American Community Survey

Population Status (16-64 Years: 188,041,309)

With a sensory disability (5,310,142)

47.2% Employed

With a physical disability (13,606,356)

31.8% Employed

Speech technology should be more widely implemented to increase the % employed and improve career possibilities.



Types of Disabilities

• VISUAL Blind / low vision / color blind

• HEARING Cannot hear audible system cues

• MOBILITY Unable to use mouse/keyboard

• COGNITIVE Difficulty processing visual information

This session focuses on Visual (blind/low vision) & Mobility.



IBM Software Accessibility Checklist - Version 3.5.1

2) Object Information

2.1 Provide a visual focus indicator that moves among interactive objects as the input focus changes. This focus indicator must be programmatically exposed to assistive technology.

2.4 When electronic forms are used, the form shall allow people using assistive technology to access the information, field elements and functionality required for completion and submission of the form, including all directions and cues.

Source: SOFTWARE ACCESSIBILTY (http://www-03.ibm.com/able/guidelines/software/accesssoftware.html)

4) Display

4.1 Provide text through standard system function calls or through an API (application programming interface) which supports interaction with assistive technology.



Navigating Tables

“Show Products”

“Switch to Products”

“Sort by Name”

“Show Invoices”

“Select row four”

“Describe headers”



Three approaches to voice-powered searching:

• Canned (static phrases trigger a hard-coded query)

• Flexible phrasing using <attribute><noun> searches

• Fully voice-driven query editor

Searching & Selecting Records

D E M O



“Print 3 copies of the April Sales Journal, Eastern Region”

How many steps if standard GUI?

1) Select a report name (Sales Journal)

2) Select a time period (April)

3) Select a report population (Eastern Region)

4) Specify 3 copies in the print dialog box

Running Reports



While BNF grammars may be “early-technology”, they are still efficient for the voice-entry of most data types:

Performing Data-Entry

• Dates (“This Friday”, “March 14th”, “Tomorrow”)

• Times (“Twelve thirty-two P M”, “In twenty minutes”)

• Numbers (“One thousand two hundred fifty”, “twelve fifty”)

• Alpha (Confined by pop-up menus and radio buttons)

Navigation: speak label, object takes focus, activate grammar.



Menu Commands (“Show Invoices”)System Reporting (“Print the Sales Journal for March”)Defined Searches (“Show hot selling items”)Information Q & A (“When’s the next flight to Boston?”)Record Selection (“Select rows one thru seven”)Global Data Updates (“Lower the price of these by 20%”)Form Data Entry ([label]…[data type specific grammar])Form Data Dictation ([label]…(dictation)…[stop phrase])

Speech Interface Phrase Summary



FULL DEMO

Assistive Conversational Interface



THANK YOU

RJ [email protected]://www.inquiretec.com

when it’s easier said than done.™ speechtek west 2007san francisco | february 23 | session c303...

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