Frequently Asked Questions - Development
| Q. | How do I create speech applications for Speech Server? |
| A. | Developers can create speech-enabled Web applications for Speech Server using the development tools in the Microsoft Speech Application SDK, included with Speech Server and available for free on the MSDN Downloads Web site. These tools integrate with Visual Studio .NET 2003, automatically embedding the appropriate Speech Application Language Tags (SALT) required for speech-enabled telephony and multimodal Web applications. |
| Q. | What is SALT and how is it used by Speech Server? |
| A. | The open standard Speech Application Language Tags (SALT) specification contains a lightweight set of extensions to existing markup languages that speech-enable multimodal and telephony access to information, applications, and Web services from PCs, telephones, Tablet PCs, and wireless mobile devices. A key component of Speech Server is the SALT Interpreter used to translate a Web-based speech application's SALT markup into the appropriate speech and media processing events. |
| Q. | What versions of Visual Studio .NET 2003 are required by the SASDK? |
| A. | The Microsoft Speech Application SDK requires one of the following English Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 versions: Professional, Enterprise Architect, Enterprise Developer, Academic, or Trial Edition. |
| Q. | Is there any integration between Speech Server and Visual Studio .NET 2003 to make application deployment easy? |
| A. | Speech Server-based applications are speech-enabled Web applications, and thus conform to the familiar Web application model for development and deployment. The basic steps for deploying a speech application on Speech Server are as simple as deploying a Web application, essentially by creating a Web Setup and Deployment project in Visual Studio .NET, then running the created setup program to deploy it to a designated Web server. Alternatively you can use XCOPY to simply copy the Web application files to the Web server. |
| Q. | Does Speech Server support VoiceXML? |
| A. | No. Speech Server supports many open industry standards such as XML, SSML, SRGS, as well as Speech Application Language Tags (SALT) for adding speech to Web applications and services. SALT was architected from the ground up as a Web-based specification designed to support both telephony and multimodal applications. In contrast, VoiceXML does not natively support multimodal applications, and has evolved over time by tacking support for speech and the Web onto the conventional and limited IVR menu-based touchtone application programming model. |
| Q. | How can I create my own custom Application Speech Controls? |
| A. | Application Speech Controls are composite controls designed to simplify the collection of common information so developers can focus on unique functionality and build applications more rapidly. While the Microsoft Speech Application SDK (SASDK) already includes several Application Speech Controls, developers can create their own using the SASDK. Developers can learn more by referring to the ColorChooser sample custom Application Speech Control included with the SASDK. |
